Chicken Salad Recipes: Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad

Do you enjoy the refreshing sweet and tangy flavor of eating mandarin oranges? Have you ever had them in a salad made with grilled chicken and fresh vegetables? If not, you may be missing out on a real treat, because mandarin oranges are not just for desserts and cake decorations. They taste great when you mix them up in a mouthwatering salad with dressing as well.
salad

Mandarin oranges are a citrus fruit that is kin to the family of oranges. They may go by different names. For instance, a Satsuma, Clementine, or tangerine may be a mandarin orange. They grow in tropical and sub-tropical climates. They are conveniently easy to peel while using your fingers. However, most often you may see mandarin oranges to use in various types of recipes come in a can.
Mandarin orange essential oils are useful for flavoring such products as bakery goods, ice cream, hard candy, gelatins, and chewing gum formulas. However, the orange segments are often found for decorating cakes, fruit salads and other desserts as well as in puddings and gelatins. You can use them to make this delicious mandarin oranges salad with grilled chicken and a sweet tangy raspberry yogurt dressing recipe.
So, anytime you are ready to start planning to bring out the grill to make grilled chicken you might want to consider making this salad to serve along with all the other great tasting foods and beverages you will be preparing for family and friends.
Recipe for Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad
What You Need
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup tarragon vinegar
  • 1 cup plain yogurt
  • 1 cup raspberry jam
  • 1 cup Thousand Island dressing
  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
  • 2 heads green bibbed lettuce
  • 2 heads red bibbed lettuce
  • 2 heads iceberg lettuce
  • 2 large cans mandarin orange segments
  • 4 sliced carrots
  • ¾ cup chopped pecans or walnuts
How to Make It
Add the olive oil and tarragon vinegar into a large size zip lock food bag and shake well. Set aside until needed.
Combine the plain yogurt, raspberry jam, and Thousand Island dressing in a large mixing bowl and mix until well blended. Chill this dressing mixture in the refrigerator until needed.
Rinse and drain the green bibbed lettuce, red bibbed lettuce, and iceberg lettuce. Leave whole leaves or cut and shred the lettuce for the salad. Toss into a large serving bowl. Place in the refrigerator to chill until needed.
Place the chicken strips into the bag of marinade. Seal and shake. Place in the refrigerator overnight or for at least 3 to 4 hours to marinade before grilling. After marinating the meat cook it over hot coals on the grill until done.
Cut the grilled chicken breast halves into 1 ½ to 2 inch wide strips. Arrange the grilled chicken strips, mandarin orange segments and sliced carrots on top of the lettuce in the serving bowl. Spoon the raspberry yogurt dressing over the top of the entire salad and then top with chopped pecans or walnuts.


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