Hot Winter Chicken Salad
Welcome to January. A lot of us have made resolutions to loose weight, get into better shape or at the least are looking to eat healthier. Even if you have not made any such promises to yourself, after all the turkey, pastries and other goodies over the holidays a salad probably would be a welcome option. There is one problem with that; it’s bloody cold out there! If only there were a way to combine the lighter fare of a salad with the warmth of a roast dinner.
Hot salads are not the first thing that comes to mind, the powers that be have us thinking of ceasar, garden or spinach whenever the word salad is used. While traditionally salads are a cold dish, with a little out of the box thinking a warm salad is perfectly doable while not always thought of.
When thinking up ideas for a warm winter salad think sturdy vegetables. If you have ever tried to cook spinach, you know it shrivels to nothing when cooked. Cabbage, carrots, radishes, broccoli, cauliflower and fennel bulbs can all make for excellent ingredients in this type of salad. Tomatoes can be used, if used correctly. Get a meatier variety such as roma or lightly roast off some cherry tomatoes. They can add an element of acidity that may be lacking otherwise.
Recipe
Ingredients:
1 Lb. shredded cabbage
4 sliced onions
3 sliced radishes
200g. Fresh dill
1 skinless chicken breast
Directions:
- Roast the chicken breast in a 350 degree oven for 20 -30 min or until fully cooked.
- Boil or steam cabbage, onions and radishes until softened, 3-5 minutes.
- Shred chicken breast.
- Plate the vegetable mixture onto a plate, topping with shredded chicken.
- Drizzle balsamic vinegar lightly overtop as a dressing.
As the winter winds blow and we all get a good shot of the white stuff in our faces as soon as we venture outdoors nothing is better than a hot, home cooked meal when we do eventually arrive. While this time of year is often associated with big, heavy meals to help fill our bellies there is always a need to balance out our diets every now and again. This hot chicken salad may be just what is needed. It’s nutritious, it’s hot, and quite a hearty meal considering the fact that it is a salad. Remember to keep warm out there; spring is still a few months away.