Consider this a homemade version of the Panera Fuji Apple Salad with Chicken, one of my favorite salads. It’s delicious, it’s healthy, and it’s pretty enough for entertaining. Aside from making my own apple vinaigrette and using fresh apples instead of dried apple chips, the ingredients are identical: a mix of lettuces (romaine, arugula, and radicchio), red onion, crumbled Gorgonzola cheese, roasted chicken breast, and pecans.
For the chicken, I picked up a rotisserie chicken at the market and chopped up the breast meat, because when you have a 4-month-old baby, you take the easy route when you can. (That reminds me: how long do you think I can go on using the excuse that I have an infant? I was thinking of something like another 2 to 18 years but let me know.) You could always roast your own chicken at home!
And if you’ve never made your own vinaigrette before, this recipe would be a great starter. The base is a classic vinaigrette (vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, shallot, salt, and pepper), with apple jelly added for a touch of sweetness and a subtle hint of apple. Don’t have apple jelly? Don’t worry—honey would make a fine substitute. The vinaigrette will keep for three days if you cover it and store it in the refrigerator, (just whisk it well before using or put it in a mason jar and give it a good shake). It also happens to get better the longer it sits.
Homemade Panera Fuji Apple Salad with Chicken
Ingredients
Apple Vinaigrette:
- 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons minced shallot optional
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple jelly or honey
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- .125 tsp of freshly ground black pepper pepper
Salad:
- ½ large head of romaine lettuce chopped
- 2 cups arugula
- 1 head radicchio chopped
- ½ medium red onion thinly sliced (optional)
- 2 to 3 apples any kind you like, cored and sliced
- 12 ounces rotisserie chicken breast or any chicken breast you like, chopped into 1-inch pieces
- ½ cup crumbled gorgonzola cheese
- ½ cup pecans roughly chopped
Instructions
- For the vinaigrette, in a small bowl or small glass jar with a lid, combine the vinegar and shallot and let sit for 5 minutes. Add the oil, apple jelly, mustard, salt, and pepper and whisk until blended or put the lid on the jar and shake for about 20 seconds. (The vinaigrette will keep for three days in the refrigerator. Shake well before using.)
- In a large bowl, toss the chopped romaine, arugula, radicchio, and sliced red onion. Divide among 4 plates or bowls and top each one evenly with the apple slices, chopped chicken, crumbled Gorgonzola, and pecans. Drizzle about 2 tablespoons dressing over each salad and serve.
Notes
325 calories, 19g carbs, 15g fat 31g protein, 278mg sodium, 10g sugar
My baby is 21. You’re good.
I vote until the kid can cook you dinner on occasion, you still get to use it :-)
Sounds about right! I can no longer use this excuse, as both my sons now cook for me whenever I visit them.
Yummy !!
I made this salad for lunch today and it was delicious! I’m looking forward to having it again tomorrow. :)
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I shared this with my wife and that night we had it and it was yummy thank you.
Can golden balsamic be subbed in for this?
Hi Kaitlin! Yes I bet that would be a fine sub!
This recipe is on my menu for this week. Your presentation is beautiful! I’m sure it tastes better when a dish is so pretty.