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Fuji Apple Chicken Salad Recipe

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4.1 from 38 reviews

This Fuji Apple Chicken Salad combines the crisp sweetness of thinly sliced Fuji apples with tender chicken breast, crunchy pecans, and tangy gorgonzola cheese, all tossed with a luscious creamy champagne vinaigrette. Served over a bed of fresh spring greens with grape tomatoes and pickled onions, this salad offers a perfect balance of flavors and textures, making it an ideal light lunch or elegant dinner option.

Ingredients

Salad

  • 2 Fuji apples, thinly sliced (or 1 to 2 cups apple chips)
  • ½ cup pecans
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • Pickled onions, for serving
  • 1 cup cubed or shredded chicken breast
  • 8 cups spring greens
  • ½ cup sliced grape tomatoes
  • ⅓ cup crumbled gorgonzola cheese
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Creamy Champagne Vinaigrette

  • ¼ cup champagne vinegar
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tablespoon heavy cream
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • Pinch of salt and pepper
  • ½ cup extra virgin olive oil

Instructions

  1. Prepare the candied pecans: In a small skillet over medium heat, toast the pecans with 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, stirring constantly until the sugar melts and coats the nuts evenly. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
  2. Prepare the vinaigrette: In a bowl, whisk together the champagne vinegar, minced garlic, heavy cream, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper until well combined. Slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil while continuously whisking to emulsify the dressing. Adjust seasoning as needed.
  3. Assemble the salad: In a large salad bowl, combine the spring greens, Fuji apple slices, shredded or cubed chicken breast, sliced grape tomatoes, and crumbled gorgonzola cheese.
  4. Toss and serve: Drizzle the creamy champagne vinaigrette over the salad and gently toss to coat everything evenly. Sprinkle the candied pecans on top and add pickled onions as garnish to serve. Season with salt and pepper to taste if needed.

Notes

  • You can substitute Fuji apples with other sweet, crisp apples like Honeycrisp or Gala if desired.
  • For a lighter vinaigrette, omit the heavy cream and increase the amount of mustard for emulsification.
  • Pickled onions add a nice tangy contrast but can be omitted if unavailable.
  • The pecans can be prepared in advance and stored in an airtight container for up to a week.
  • To make this salad vegetarian, omit the chicken and add extra nuts or chickpeas for protein.

Find it online: https://justsosavory.com/fuji-apple-chicken-salad-recipe/