Warm Chicken Salad On Mesclun Lettuce Recipes

CHICKEN MILANESE WITH MESCLUN SALAD

Steps:

• Gently pound the chicken cutlets (if they are not already thin enough) with a meat mallet between two sheets of plastic wrap or waxed paper until they are ¼ inch thick. Season with salt and pepper.
• Place the flour in a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, combine the eggs and milk. In a third shallow bowl, combine the regular breadcrumbs, the Panko breadcrumbs, and the grated Parmesan cheese.
• Lightly dredge each piece of chicken in the flour, then dip in the egg mixture, and then coat with the breadcrumbs.
• In a large skillet (I use a 12-inch cast iron skillet), heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter over medium heat. Add two pieces of the breaded chicken, and fry for 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until the chicken is golden brown and crispy and cooked through. Note: Watch the heat and adjust as needed. You don't want it so hot that the breading gets too dark before the chicken cooks through, but you want it hot enough that the breading gets nicely golden and crispy.
• Remove the chicken from the skillet and place on a wire rack placed on a baking sheet. Do not cover. It should stay warm enough while you cook the remaining chicken, but if you want, you can put it in a 200°F oven to keep it warm.
• Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter to the pan and cook the other 2 pieces of chicken.
• If you didn't make the Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette in advance, go ahead and make it while the chicken is cooking.
• In a large bowl, toss the mesclun greens and tomatoes with the Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette. Note: You won't need all of the vinaigrette for this recipe. I use 4 tablespoons, but use more or less depending on your tastes.
• For each serving, place one piece of the chicken on the plate, top with ¼ of the mesclun salad, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon shredded Parmesan cheese.

ROAST CHICKEN SALAD WITH CROUTONS AND SHALLOT DRESSING

Steps:

• Make the dressing: In a bowl, combine shallots and vinegar and set aside 10 to 30 minutes to soften. Add 2 big pinches of salt and a dozen grinds of black pepper. Whisk in the oil and then the parsley. Taste and add more oil, salt and pepper as needed.
• Make the croutons: Gently warm the olive oil in a skillet. When a piece of bread sizzles when dropped into the pan, add all the bread and cook slowly, stirring, until golden brown on all sides. Sprinkle with salt, transfer croutons to a bowl and wipe out the pan.
• In the same pan, add the cooled chicken juices (they may have jelled). Don't worry if your chicken doesn't have juices; the salad will still be excellent. Add a tablespoon of water to pan and heat juices until smooth and runny. Dice or tear the chicken into bite-size pieces.
• In a large bowl, toss the greens well with about 2/3 of the dressing. Taste and add more if needed. Divide greens among 3 or 4 bowls or plates. On top, divide the chicken, then the croutons, then the juices. Using a vegetable peeler, shave 3 or 4 thin, wide slices of cheese on top of each salad. Spoon a little more dressing on top and grind pepper over. Serve immediately.

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH SHREDDED MESCLUN SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare chicken and salad:
• Whisk together lime juice, honey, red pepper flakes, and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl and add oil in a slow stream, whisking.
• Transfer chicken to a 1-gallon sealable plastic bag and add 1/3 cup lime vinaigrette, then seal bag. Marinate chicken at room temperature 15 minutes.
• Transfer another 1/3 cup lime vinaigrette to a bowl, stir in tomatoes and shallots, and marinate until chicken is finished cooking. Transfer another 1/3 cup lime vinaigrette to a large bowl and set aside for cooked chicken. Put remaining lime vinaigrette in a small airtight container and reserve for lettuce wraps (recipe follows).
• Remove chicken from bag, discarding marinade, and sprinkle all over with remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt.
• To cook chicken using a charcoal grill:
• Open vents on bottom of grill and on lid. Light a large chimney starter of charcoal briquettes (80 to 100) and pour them evenly over 1 side of bottom rack (you will have a double or triple layer of briquettes).
• When charcoal turns grayish white (after 15 to 20 minutes) and you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack for 3 to 4 seconds, sear chicken breasts, starting with skin sides down, on a lightly oiled rack over coals, uncovered, turning once, until well browned, 5 to 6 minutes total.
• Move browned chicken breasts to side of grill with no coals and cook, covered with lid, turning over occasionally, until just cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes more.
• To cook chicken using a gas grill:
• Preheat all burners on high, covered, 10 minutes, then adjust heat to moderately high.
• Sear chicken on lightly oiled grill rack, covered with lid, turning frequently, until well browned, about 6 minutes total.
• Turn off 1 burner (middle burner if there are 3) and arrange all seared chicken on rack above shut-off burner. Cook seared chicken, covered with lid, turning over once, until just cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Toss grilled chicken with lime vinaigrette:
• Transfer hot grilled chicken to large bowl with lime vinaigrette and turn to coat. Leave in bowl 5 minutes, then transfer to a platter and loosely cover with foil.
• Assemble salad:
• Toss together mesclun, basil, tomato mixture, and salt to taste. Drizzle some lime vinaigrette from bowl over chicken and serve with mesclun salad.

GRILLED TANDOORI-SPICED CHICKEN BREASTS OVER MESCLUN SALAD

Steps:

• Make marinade:
• In a blender or small food processor grind onion with garlic, gingerroot, lemon juice, and water to form a paste. In a bowl stir together onion paste and remaining marinade ingredients.
• With a sharp paring knife make three 1/2-inch-deep diagonal cuts in each chicken breast half, being careful not to cut all the way through. Rub chicken with marinade, rubbing it into cuts. In a large resealable plastic bag marinate chicken, chilled, overnight.
• Prepare grill.
• Grill chicken on an oiled rack 5 to 6 inches over glowing coals until cooked through, about 7 minutes on each side, and transfer to a platter. Let chicken stand while preparing salad.
• In a large bowl whisk together vinegar and salt and pepper to taste and add oil in a stream, whisking until emulsified. Add mesclun and toss lightly.
• Slice chicken 1/4 inch thick and serve over salad.