Smoked Chicken, Spinach, Grilled Pineapple and Pomegranate Salad

Smoked Chicken, Spinach, Grilled Pineapple and Pomegranate Salad

Just had to post this one for Dole National Salad Day! I do love a colorful, flavorful dinner salad and this one was totally outstanding. The chicken breasts are dry rubbed with smokey spices and then slowly open roasted on a rack in the oven (or under indirect low heat on a backyard gas grill). This provides delicious juicy chicken chunks to enjoy with the spinach and other vegetables and of course, the sweet grilled pineapple and tangy pomegranate seeds. A simple homemade lemon dijon dressing completed this balanced, nutritious, colorful, flavorful and oh so satisfying dinner salad.

Serves 4

4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts

Wash and pat dry, then roll in the dry rub.

Dry Rub

• 2 tbsp smoked paprika
• 3 tbsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp chipotle powder
• 2 tbsp powdered ginger
• 2tbsp dry mustard
• 1 tsp dry thyme
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp brown sugar1 tbsp chili powder

Place the chicken breasts on a rack in a roasting pan and roast at only 275 degree F for about an hour depending on the size of the chicken breasts. Always use a meat thermometer inserted into the middle of the thickest part of the chicken breast reaches 170 degrees F or 77 degrees Celsius. Let he chicken rest for 10 minutes before dicing and adding to the salad.

The salad is composed of :

• about 6 cups baby spinach or mixed baby greens, like Dole Tender Garden
• 1/2 cup sliced radishes
• 1 cup julienne sweet bell peppers
• 1/2 sliced English cucumber
• seeds of half a pomegranate
• 1 1/2 cups lightly grilled diced golden pineapple    

Lemon Dijon Salad Dressing

Shake together in an airtight container until well combined:

• 1/3 olive oil
• juice and finely minced zest of one lemon
• 3 tbsp dijon mustard
• pinch of salt
• pinch of pepper
• 1 1/2 tbsp honey