Grilled Chicken and Strawberry Mason Jar Salad with Poppyseed Dressing
This grilled chicken and strawberry Mason jar salad with poppyseed dressing, tasty and colorful, is assembled in wide-mouth jars for a take-along lunch, freshly made with marinated grilled chicken and homemade dressing. It can also be a time-saver in several ways. You can use purchased poppyseed salad dressing, and grill a little extra chicken the next time you pull out your grill, or use leftover rotisserie chicken.
Ingredients
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1/2 cup olive oil
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3 large cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
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1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
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1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
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1 lemon, zested
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3/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
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1 pinch freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
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1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast, pounded to about 1/2-inch thickness
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1/4 cup olive oil
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1 teaspoon mayonnaise
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2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
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2 tablespoons white sugar
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1 tablespoon peeled, grated shallot
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1/4 teaspoon ground dry mustard
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1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
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2 teaspoons poppy seeds, or to taste
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2 stalks celery, chopped
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1 scallion, chopped
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1 cup broccoli slaw
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1 cup quartered strawberries
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2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese
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3 cups torn salad greens, or as needed
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3 tablespoons sliced almonds
Description
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Combine olive oil, garlic, thyme, oregano, lemon zest, salt, and pepper in a blender or small food processor the day before. Pulse several times to purée; pour marinade into a resealable plastic bag. Add chicken pieces; massage the contents until chicken is coated with marinade. Press out as much air as possible, seal the bag, and refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours.
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Combine olive oil, mayonnaise, white wine vinegar, white sugar, shallot, dry mustard, salt, and poppyseeds in a small jar with a lid for the dressing. Stir rapidly to blend, or cover and shake vigorously. Refrigerate until ready to use. Liquids will separate, so shake again before use.
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Preheat an outdoor grill to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Clean and oil the grates.
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Grill chicken on the hot grates until chicken is no longer pink at the center and juices run clear, 3 to 4 minutes per side. An instant read thermometer inserted near the center should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Remove chicken to rest and cool for about 10 minutes, then chop into bite-sized pieces.
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To assemble salad, add about 3 tablespoons poppyseed dressing to the bottom of each of 2 (1-quart) Mason jars. Alternatively, you may keep dressing separate, and dress salad on the plate.
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To each jar, add 1/2 of chopped celery, 1/2 of scallion, 1/2 cup broccoli slaw, 1/2 cup strawberries, and 1 tablespoon feta. Fill each jar with torn salad greens, and add 1 1/2 tablespoons sliced almonds on top of greens. Put lids on the jars, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
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To serve, open the jars and shake out the contents on a plate. Dress with poppyseed dressing, if kept separate.