On the Vine Summer Salad

Summer is here, and with it comes that craving for light and delicious meals! This On the Vine Summer Salad has the freshness and deliciousness you’re looking for! The combination of grilled Pure Flavor® RedRoyals® Sweet Cherry Tomatoes and grapes makes it a salad show-stopper!

What You’ll Need

Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Recipe Card Below

Salad

• Pure Flavor® RedRoyals® Sweet Cherry Tomatoes 
• Seedless Red Grapes
• Olive Oil
• Leafy Greens
• Red Onion
• White Cheddar Cheese
• Asparagus
• Berry Vinaigrette
• Marcona Almonds

Chicken

• Chicken Breasts
• Olive Oil
• Lemon Juice
• Barbecue Seasoning Blend

Tools You’ll Need

• Grill Basket
• Basting Brush
• Cutting Board
• Chef's Knife
• Vegetable Peeler
• Metal Tongs

Why You’ll like this Recipe

• It's the perfect balance of sweet and savory in a salad!
• It's a great light meal option during these hot summer days!
• It's got incredible flavors and is full of healthy nutrients!

How to Make this Recipe

1. Preheat a grill to medium-high heat or 350°F; grease grate well. Lay Pure Flavor® RedRoyals® Sweet Cherry Tomatoes and grapes on a grill basket. Brush each with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. 

2. Toss chicken with oil, lemon juice and barbecue seasoning mix. Grill the chicken, flipping every 4 to 5 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and registers with an internal temperature of 165°F.

3. Place the grill basket of tomatoes and grapes on the grill. Cook 10-12 minutes, or until the skin on both are starting to split. Remove and set aside. 

4. Build the salad on 1 large platter or on individual salad plates. Start with lettuce, followed by red onion, cheese and asparagus. Using kitchen shears, snip the cooked grapes and tomatoes into 3 inch segments. Lay the segments on top of the salad, followed marcona almonds.

5. Thinly slice chicken across the grain. Serve chicken and dressing on top of the salad or or the side.

Tips and Substitutions

• While the vine makes for beautiful presentation, guests might not know how to remove them from the vine. Most of the time, they will easy pull away from the vine. You can also demonstrate by pulling off with your fingers or by sliding your fork between the tomato and/or grape and the vine and pushing away into the salad.
• If you don't have a grill, this recipe can easily transition to a stove-top made meal! Simply use a grill pan on medium-high heat and cook the chicken, tomatoes and grapes the same way as instructed on the grill.
• Marcona almonds can be substituted with regular or candied almonds, walnuts or pecans.
• To make the asparagus easier to shave, lay flat on a cutting board and run the vegetable peeler from the top to the bottom.

Storage

• Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. The crispness and freshness lesses the longer it's stored. This recipe is not ideal for freezing.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is this salad gluten-free?
  • The ingredients I used were 100% gluten-free. Check the label of the dressing and barbecue seasoning blend to ensure yours is gluten-free as well.
• How are tomatoes a healthy ingredient?
  • Tomatoes are low in calories but packed with essential nutrients. They are an excellent source of vitamin C, potassium, folate, vitamin K, and various B vitamins. They're also high in antioxidants and can help with vision and digestive health.

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