Blackberry Grilled Chicken Salad with Fried Goat Cheese
The perfect salad to serve for a luncheon. A fresh salad with marinated blackberry grilled chicken with blackberry balsamic vinaigrette, fresh blackberries, pistachios, avocado and topped with crispy, creamy fried goat cheese!
Place blackberries, vinegar, olive oil, honey, dijon, tamari, garlic, salt & pepper in blender or small bowl and blend until smooth - a few chunks are fine. Pour ⅓ dressing over the top of chicken to marinate. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or overnight.
Refrigerate reserved dressing for salad.
SALAD & CHICKEN
Once chicken has marinated, heat grill pan or grill to medium-high heat, brush or spray with a little oil and grill for 6-8 minutes per side if breasts are thick. Rotating ¼ turn after 2 minutes if grillmarks are desired.
Flip chicken and cook another 4-6 minutes. Remove to plate and allow to cool before slicing.
ASSEMBLE SALAD
Place generous handful of spring mix on each plate. Slice and arrange avocado slices on side of lettuce. Arrange ¼ of the chicken slices onto lettuce. Toss some blackberries (5-8 depending on how big they are) on salad. Sprinkle on some pistachios. Slice some red onions and place on greens (or use pickled red onions)
Make Fried Goat Cheese
FRIED GOAT CHEESE
Slice goat cheese into ¼ inch discs. Heat pan with a couple tablespoons oil (olive or avocado oils work nicely). Dredge goat cheese disc in egg wash, flour (optional) and panko breadcrumbs and carefully place in hot oil.
Repeat with remaining goat cheese discs. Fry until golden, then turn to crisp other side. Remove from pan to paper towels to drain for 1 minute, then place 2 discs on each salad. Drizzle with reserved Blackberry Balsamic Vinaigrette and serve immediately
Notes
If chicken is still pink in center when you slice it, toss back in a hot pan and stir around for a minute or microwave for 20-30 second intervals until no longer pink.Other berries may be substituted, try sliced strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries. Also try toasted walnuts, sweet pecans, slivered almonds, or pine-nuts.GLUTEN FREE | To make GF, substitute GF flour and Panko or breadcrumbs.