Summer Sunshine Salad

Prep time: 30 minutes Servings: 4
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Summer fare should be easy, breezy – and chock full of healthy veggies. With so many vegetables at season’s peak, this is a flexible main-dish salad that can be made with any seasonal vegetable you have on hand for a satisfying, healthful entrée. The grains are flexible too – swap out the orzo for hearty grains like quinoa, brown rice, wheat berries or faro for a boost of fiber, protein and B vitamins. The secret ingredient is our Lemony Yogurt Dressing, which only gets better with a handful of chopped herbs and makes a great tenderizing marinade for grilled chicken.

Ingredients

Dressing

1 (6 oz.) container Green Valley Lactose-Free Plain Yogurt

2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

Juice and zest of one lemon (about 2 Tbsp. juice and 2 tsp. zest)

1 clove garlic, finely minced or pressed (2 tsp.)

salt and pepper to taste

3 Tbsp. chopped fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, lemon balm) (optional)

 

Salad

1 cup dry orzo pasta

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, about 1 lb.

1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas/garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed

2 ears fresh sweet corn, kernels removed or 1 cup frozen sweet corn, thawed

1 cucumber, sliced (1 cup)

1 cup grape tomatoes, halved (about 15)

5 to 6 fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced

2 to 4 green onions, thinly sliced

1 avocado, peeled, pitted and sliced

Instructions
  1. Whisk together dressing ingredients, adjust seasonings to taste and refrigerate until needed.
  2. Cook orzo in salted boiling water, until just tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  3. While the orzo cooks, poach chicken in a sauté pan filled with enough water to cover the chicken. Bring to a simmer and cook 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from pan and allow to cool on a cutting board.
  4. Shred chicken using two forks and place in a bowl with orzo, garbanzo beans, corn, cucumbers, tomatoes and basil. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Divide evenly and garnish with green onions and avocado. Serve with dressing on the side.

EZ TIP: Substitute rotisserie chicken from your favorite market for the chicken breasts.

EZ TIP: For tender, juicy chicken, double the dressing recipe and pour over 4 to 6 pieces of chicken, cover and refrigerate for at least one hour, up to eight hours. Grill or pan sear, as usual. Stir 2 tsp. garam masala into the dressing/marinade for a taste of India.

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