This Strawberry Chicken Salad features a bed of fresh lettuce topped with grilled chicken, slices of ripe strawberries, blue cheese, and honey-roasted sunflower seeds. This salad is finished off with a sweet and tangy balsamic-mustard vinaigrette.
Cut chicken breast into two thinner filets for an even cooking. Then, add 1 tbsp of olive oil into a heavy-bottom or cast iron skillet to cook the chicken. Cook chicken filets for 3-4 minutes each side until the chicken is well done. Avoid overcooking it for juicy chicken. Chop chicken into bite-size pieces and set it aside.
Heat a heavy bottom skillet to medium heat, then incorporate sunflower seeds. Stir continuously for 2-3 minutes to roast them. When they begin to get brownish, add 1 tbsp of honey and stir until it caramelizes. This should take only one minute. Stir sunflower seeds continuously while roasting to prevent burning. This ensures an even toasting of the seeds for added crunch.
Remove it from heat and place caramelized seeds into a plastic container, as they will stick to any surface. Spread them if possible. As caramelized seeds cool down, they will harden. Let them set entirely before crushing them.
To make the salad dressing, you just need to mix ingredients together.
Salad assembly. First, add chopped lettuce to the bottom of a large salad bowl. Incorporate sliced red onion, sliced chicken, sliced strawberries, crushed caramelized seeds, and blue cheese. Finally, pour the salad dressing just before serving.