Warm bacon vinaigrette and blueberry-maple pan sauce are a sweet and savory match made in salad heaven.
Blueberry Maple Chicken Kale Salad with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 chicken cutlets
- 1½ teaspoons salt, divided
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 small shallot, thinly sliced
- 2 cups fresh blueberries
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- 4 cups fresh baby kale
- Warm Bacon Vinaigrette (recipe follows)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- In a large cast-iron skillet, heat oil and butter over medium heat until butter is melted and bubbly. Sprinkle chicken with ½ teaspoon salt and pepper. Add chicken to skillet; increase heat to medium-high. Sear both sides of chicken until lightly browned. Remove from pan, and set aside.
- Add shallot to skillet; cook until softened and lightly caramelized, 3 to 4 minutes. Add blueberries, and cook for 1 minute. Stir in maple syrup and remaining 1 teaspoon salt; simmer for 10 minutes. Place chicken on top of blueberries
- Bake until a meat thermometer inserted in thickest portion of chicken registers 165°, 5 to 10 minutes. Toss baby kale with Warm Bacon Vinaigrette. Place chicken atop salad, and drizzle with blueberry sauce from pan.
Warm Bacon Vinaigrette
Makes about 2 cups
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup bacon drippings
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup water
- ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup cane vinegar
- 2 tablespoons cane syrup
- ½ tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons cold water
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
Instructions
- In a medium skillet, heat bacon drippings over high heat. Add garlic; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add sugar, ½ cup water, vinegars, cane syrup, and mustard, whisking to combine; bring to a boil.
- In a small bowl, stir together 2 teaspoons cold water and cornstarch. Add cornstarch mixture and pepper to vinaigrette, whisking until thickened, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat, and stir in crumbled bacon. Use immediately.
