Grilled Ruby Grapefruit and Chicken Salad with Candied Nuts

Grilling the grapefruit adds a rich, smoky note to the flavor for a unique taste in this delicious and nutritious salad. Add crunchy nuts baked with ginger and other spices, good for you greens, and a light grapefruit vinaigrette, and it’s a delectable appetizer or main dish any day of the week.

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Course Salad

Ingredients

Candied nuts

1 tablespoon crystallized ginger finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup honey
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups mixed unsalted nuts pecans, almonds, and walnuts
3 tablespoons granulated sugar

Dressing

2 ruby grapefruits
1/4 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons grainy Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon fresh chives minced
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Salad

4 cups mixed salad greens
2 cups cooked chicken cut into bite size pieces
1/2 cup feta cheese

Instructions

Nuts

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees, and use parchment paper to line a baking sheet.
Add the nuts to a mixing bowl.
Blend the ginger, salt, honey, and nutmeg together in a food processor.
Pour the ginger mixture over the nuts, and stir until they are well coated.
Transfer to the baking sheet and sprinkle with sugar, turning them over to coat as evenly as you can.
Bake in the oven about 20 minutes, stirring them once to turn over. They should be a golden brown.

Dressing & Salad

Preheat a barbecue to a medium-high heat.
Cut both grapefruits into halves.
Use 1 tablespoon of olive oil to brush lightly on the cut sides of the grapefruits.
Take 1 tablespoon of honey and drizzle it over the grapefruits.
Place the cut side down on the grill, and cook for about 2 minutes.
Turn the grapefruit halves on their side and grill for another 2 minutes or so.
Remove from the grill and set on a plate to cool.
Squeeze the juice from one half of one grapefruit (only) into a bowl. Add the rest of the olive oil and honey, mustard, chives, salt, and pepper, and whisk thoroughly to combine.
Add the salad greens, chicken, feta, and nuts to a large bowl.
Separate the remaining grilled grapefruit halves and add them to the salad bowl.
Drizzle the dressing over the salad and serve immediately.

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