It’s so much more than the name suggests. Bright and flavorful!
Chicken and Mango Salad
This has to be one of my favorite salads. Starting with a bed of peppery arugula it’s bursting with flavors of fresh mango, tomatoes and red onion with a healthy dose of chicken for some protein all topped off with mustard lime vinaigrette. Awesome!
Adapted from Gurpareet Bain’s Indian Superfood Diet.
Serves 2
The original recipe calls for poached chicken breast. In an effort to punch up the flavor of the chicken, I have opted to oven bake it with Madras Curry powder. Not that there is a lack of flavor in this salad, but I wanted something faster, easier and with less mess for a weekday dinner. Plain left over chicken or rotisserie chicken may also work.
The dressing is simple and the heat can be adjusted to your preference. The rest of the salad goes together in minutes and is bursting with fresh flavors.
Dressing
1 t Brown Mustard Seeds
2 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 T chili oil (alternately, add another tablespoon of olive oil and a giant pinch of Crushed Red Pepper Flakes)
2 limes, juiced
Pink Himalayan Salt
Salad
Boneless skinless chicken breast, I use tenders for fast cooking
1 t Madras Curry Powder
Arugula,mixed greens or baby spinach also work well
Red Onion, thinly sliced
Cherry Tomatoes
1 mango, peeled and sliced
A handful fresh basil leaves, torn or chopped
A handful fresh cilantro
Place chicken breast or tenders on a large piece of foil using enough foil to wrap them for cooking. Sprinkle the chicken on both sides with Madras Curry Powder and a little salt. If desired add a drizzle of olive oil. Wrap the chicken up and place in 375* oven, I use my toaster oven, for 15-20 minutes. Can be prepared in advance and served cold.
Meanwhile, add olive oil, chili oil and mustard seeds to a small deep saucepan. Heat the oil until the seeds start to pop. Remove from heat and add the lime juice and salt to taste. Set aside.
In a bowl add the chicken, arugula, cilantro, basil, mango, cherry tomatoes, and red onion. Add the salad dressing and toss well.