Chicken and Strawberry Spinach Salad

Submitted by LAURIE

"Sweet and savory, great combo of flavors bursting on your taste buds!!!"

 

• Ready In: 10mins
• Ingredients: 8
• Serves: 4

ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup pecan halves
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 6 cups spinach, washed and torn into bite-sized pieces
• 2 cups cooked chicken breasts, diced
• 2 cups strawberry slices
• 2 cups nectarines, slices
• 1⁄2 cup poppy seed salad dressing (bottled or homemade)

directions

1. In a small heavy saucepan or skillet, melt butter.
2. Add pecans; saute 2 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
3. Sprinkle with cinnamon; mix well.
4. Continue cooking 2 minutes more.
5. Cool on a foil-lined baking sheet.
6. In a large bowl, combine spinach, fruit and chicken.
7. Place on four salad plates.
8. Top with pecans.
9. Serve with poppy seed dressing.

Reviews

[MsBindy]

I stumbled upon this recipe tonight as I looked through the slim selections in my fridge. I really hit the jackpot with this recipe. Today was our first hot day of the year, and this salad was perfect. I used the honey poppyseed dressing from recipe 213485 and together the salad and dressing were bliss. I didn't have a nectarine, so had to skip that and had to sub slivered almonds for the pecans. I really liked the cinnamon almonds. They added so much to this salad. I never would have thought to use the cinnamon. Thanks for such a great dinner tonight.

 

[WI Cheesehead]

This was great! My DH (who won't eat fruit in any dish) liked it, just wanted a few less strawberries next time. I did a spinach/lettuce mix, added 2 C broccoli and didn't use the nectariness. Also added 2 green onions. It's great to have more spinach salad recipes, now that my CSA box comes with spinach every week.

 

[Cilantro in Canada]

I saw the photo of this and had to make it. It is fantastic. When I sauted the pecans I added a few tsp of sugar to carmelize a little. I did not have any nectarines so I substituted a chopped navel orange and it was very good but next time I want to try with the nectarine. This is a very refreshing salad especially for the hot weather months. Thanks for the recipe.

 

[justcallmetoni]

Have to admit I cheated a bit on the pecans, toasting mine with butter flavored cooking spray. I also added two very thin slices of red onion which was a lovely contrast to the sweetness of the fruit and a couple of other berries. This was absolutely beautiful and delicious to boot. Will certainly be making this again as I loved the addition of peaches to the traditional combination of strawberries and spincach. Betting this would be fantastic with a balsamic dressing as well. Thanks Laurie!