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Sassy Salads: Chopped Chicken, Roasted Eggplant and Quinoa and Orzo Salad

EatPost Category - EatEat - Post Category - Eating InEating In - Post Category - RecipesRecipes

Welcome our new contributor Sherna from My Skinny Salad Bowl! She’s going to be sharing some Sassy Salads with you every now and again – who knew greens could be so delicious?

I love spending the little free time I have away from my girls in search of recipes that are good for me and also those that serve as an ‘all in one’ rather than an accompaniment. Here are a few of my fave summer salad recipes, modified slightly from their original creator so that they not only satisfy my taste buds but my conscience too. I hope you enjoy them.

summer salad recipes

Chopped chicken salad with a honey mustard dressing

Serves 2

I absolutely love a good chicken salad and this ones my absolute fave! Its quick, delicious and good for my waistline. If you don’t mind a few extra calories or would like to entertain with it then add some crumbled feta and fried wonton strips for added flavour and crunch.

For the dressing

  • ½ cup fat free plain greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 3½ tablespoons honey
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

For the salad

  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • ½ teaspoon each salt, pepper, and garlic powder
  • 2 tomatoes, diced
  • 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
  • ½ red onion, diced
  • 1 cup honey mustard dressing

Method

  1. Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper and garlic and cook in a preheated oven.
  2. Once cooled, chop and set aside.
  3. In a large bowl toss together lettuce, onion, chicken, and tomatoes with the dressing.

summer salad recipes

Roasted eggplant and quinoa salad

Serves 1

This one is unlike most salads you’ve had before, it oozes flavour and although i eat it all by itself my husband says it goes great with middle eastern food and usually has it with homemade kababs and hummus so theres an idea for your next BBQ if you need one.

For the dressing

  • 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tsp. honey or agave nectar

For the salad

  • 1/2 medium long eggplant, sliced or diced
  • Sea salt
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Toasted pine nuts
  • 1/2 cup quinoa, cooked
  • Half of a small red onion, chopped
  • Generous handful each of fresh basil, dill and cilantro

Method

  1. Toss the eggplant in sea salt and olive oil.
  2. Either throw it in to the oven (takes longer), grill it on your Foreman or in a pan, the choice is absolutely yours and it won’t affect the flavour one bit.
  3. Next, just add it to the quinoa, onion and herbs and mix in with the dressing.

summer salad recipes

Orzo Salad with Truffle Vinaigrette

Serves 2

Okay so this one’s not the leanest but it’s soooo good that I had to share. It’s the kind of recipe that makes you want to throw a dinner party.

For the dressing

  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1/3-cup truffle oil (available at Waitrose)
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

For the salad

  • 450g orzo pasta (available at waitrose)
  • ½ cup toasted pine nuts
  • 225g fresh white button mushrooms, sliced and sautéed
  • 2 cups loosely packed fresh arugula, coarsely chopped
  • 1 cup grated parmesan

Method

  1. Boil the orzo and set aside to cool.
  2. In a separate pan sauté the mushrooms and set aside.
  3. Mix all of the salad ingredients with all of the dressing and there you have it! Easy-peasy lemon squeezy!

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