Harvest Apple Salad with Grilled Chicken and Candied Pecans

With fall officially in full swing, I know everyone is all “ZOMG pumpkin spice everything!” Usually I’m there along with you, but this year I’ve only made one pumpkin thing thus far. Instead I’m aaalll about apples. Last week we made fab muffins with them, this week it’s this salad, and my favorite baked oatmeal is on the books for this weekend, along with about 20 other ideas I’m mulling over in my mind. I first made a version of this salad a few years ago and we make it often, but over time it has morphed bit by bit, as favorite recipes sometimes do. I thought I would share this updated version because we love it so much.

We love grilled chicken on salads, and a touch of herbes de provence goes perfectly with the other flavors in this meal. I usually make an extra piece of chicken so I can make another salad as a lunch later in the week, and it’s a lunch hour I definitely look forward to. I’m sure we’ll be enjoying this salad all through the rest of apple season, all while I’m plotting my next apple dessert…

Yield 4 servings

Ingredients

For the dressing:

3 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
3 tbsp. white wine or champagne vinegar
2 tsp. sesame seeds
Pinch of paprika
1 tbsp. honey
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper, to taste

For the pecans:

2 tbsp. unsalted butter
2 tbsp. brown sugar
Pinch of coarse salt
Dash of cayenne pepper
1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

For the salad:

4 medium boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tsp. herbes de provence
Salt and pepper
¾ cup white whole wheat flour*
1-2 tbsp. olive oil
10-12 oz. baby spinach and/or salad greens
1-2 medium apples, cored and thinly sliced
4 oz. crumbled feta cheese

Directions

01
To make the dressing, combine the vinegars, sesame seeds, paprika, honey, and olive oil. Whisk thoroughly until well blended. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
02
To make the candied pecans, melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat with the sugar, salt, and cayenne. Add the chopped pecans to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until toasted and well coated in the sugar mixture. Remove from the pan and let cool.
03
Season both sides of the chicken pieces with the herbes de provence as well as salt and pepper. Place the flour in a shallow bowl, and dredge the chicken pieces in the flour, shaking off the excess. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces to the pan and saute until lightly golden, about 3-4 minutes per side, and an instant-read thermometer reads 160˚ F in the thickest part of the chicken. (Keep in mind that pieces of different sizes will finish cooking at different times to avoid overcooking.) Remove the chicken pieces to a plate or cutting board and let rest a few minutes before slicing.
04
Divide the salad greens between serving plates. Top with apple slices, crumbled feta, candied pecans, and a piece of the grilled chicken. Drizzle lightly with the dressing and serve immediately.
05
*Note: For a gluten free option, try almond meal for coating the chicken.

Source

adapted from Bon Appétit via The Curvy Carrot