Description
A vibrant and flavorful salad featuring grilled chicken marinated in a tangy blackberry balsamic vinaigrette, fresh greens, crispy fried goat cheese, avocado, and bacon. This recipe combines sweet, savory, and creamy textures for a gourmet dining experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Blackberry Vinaigrette & Marinade
- 3/4 – 1 cup fresh blackberries, washed and patted dry
- 3 1/2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar (or dark balsamic)
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 1/2 tablespoons honey
- 2 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons tamari sauce (or soy sauce)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Salad Ingredients
- 1/2 lb chicken breasts (boneless, skinless; about 2 large breasts)
- 6 cups spring baby greens (organic preferred)
- 1 cup fresh blackberries
- 1–1 1/2 avocados, peeled and sliced
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced (or pickled red onion)
- 1/4 cup pistachios (or walnuts, pecans, slivered almonds, or toasted pine nuts)
- 3–4 slices of bacon, cooked until crispy and crumbled
Fried Goat Cheese
- 8 oz goat cheese, sliced into 1/4-inch discs
- 1/4 cup flour (optional; use gluten-free if needed)
- 1 large egg, slightly beaten
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs (regular or gluten-free)
Instructions
For the Blackberry Vinaigrette & Marinade
- Combine blackberries, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, tamari sauce, garlic, salt, and pepper in a blender or food processor.
- Blend until smooth, leaving a few chunks if desired.
- Pour 1/3 of the vinaigrette over the chicken breasts to marinate. Reserve the rest for the salad dressing.
- Refrigerate the marinated chicken for at least 30 minutes or overnight for best flavor.
For the Grilled Chicken
- Heat a grill pan or outdoor grill to medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grill surface.
- Remove chicken from the marinade and discard the used marinade.
- Grill chicken for 6–8 minutes per side, flipping once, until cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F).
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes, then slice into strips.
For the Fried Goat Cheese
- Slice goat cheese into 1/4-inch thick discs. Chill the discs in the freezer for 10–15 minutes.
- Prepare a dredging station with three bowls:
- Flour (optional).
- Beaten egg.
- Panko breadcrumbs.
- Dredge each goat cheese disc in flour (if using), then coat with egg, and finally cover with Panko breadcrumbs.
- Heat 2–3 tablespoons of oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat.
- Fry goat cheese discs until golden brown, about 1–2 minutes per side. Drain on a plate lined with paper towels.
Assembling the Salad
- Arrange a generous handful of baby greens on each plate or a large serving bowl.
- Add sliced grilled chicken, fresh blackberries, avocado slices, red onion, and crumbled bacon.
- Sprinkle pistachios over the salad.
- Top with 1–2 fried goat cheese discs per plate.
- Drizzle the reserved blackberry vinaigrette over the salad just before serving.
Notes
- Substitutions: Use strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries instead of blackberries. Swap pistachios for walnuts, almonds, or pecans.
- Make It Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs for the fried goat cheese.
- Storage Tips: Store components separately and assemble just before serving for maximum freshness.
- Baking Option: Instead of frying, bake the goat cheese discs at 400°F for 8–10 minutes until golden and crispy.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Grilling and Pan-Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salad
- Calories: ~450–500 kcal
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 70mg