1 c. of heavy cream in my last post, so this 200 calorie dinner-sized salad will hopefully strike a balance. “Big Salad” is a Seinfeld reference but it’s also the best way to describe this recipe. Since making dinner for many nights in a row gets monotonous for me, I like to categorize meals. You know how I love breakfast for dinner, but we also do “big salad” about once week.
Big salad is usually topped with canned tuna (because big salad night could also be called lazy night) and tossed with whatever veggies I have on hand, shaved parmesan and some oil and vinegar. Considering the fact that part of my pregnancy palate involves anything and everything grapefruit (which includes certain types of Sauvignon Blanc – Â no judging, I only order a half-glass), I thought up a jazzier recipe for big salad night, and it was a hit!
If chicken isn’t your jam or if you want to serve this as a side salad, omit the poultry and sub in toasted walnuts. You really can’t go wrong here. I gave my daughter chunks of the chicken and grapefruit and a few lettuce leaves, which she usually likes to take and hide in her toy box after chewing them halfway.
Big Salad with Grilled Chicken and Grapefruit Vinaigrette
Serves two as a main dish, four to six as a side (without the chicken)
1 pink grapefruit, halved and segmented, 3 tbsp. juice reserved
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. olive oil mayonnaise
1 tbsp. honey mustard
1 tsp. poppy seeds
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
1 head green leaf lettuce, leaves torn, washed and dried
1 thinly sliced shallot
1 large chicken breast, cooked and sliced
1. Whisk reserved grapefruit juice, olive oil, mayonnaise, honey mustard, poppy seeds, salt and pepper together in small mixing bowl.
2. Combine lettuce, shallot, chicken and grapefruit segments in a large mixing bowl and toss with dressing to evenly coat.
3. Serve, adding salt and pepper to taste.
Per serving (main dish): 201 calories, 9.5 fat grams (including 1.1 grams saturated fat), 37 milligrams cholesterol, 686 milligrams sodium, 14.3 grams carbs, 2.8 grams dietary fiber, 9.3 grams sugar, 16.1 grams protein.
