Grilled Chicken Salad With Pesto Raisins Sun Dried Tomatoes Recipes

GRILLED PESTO-MARINATED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix together pesto, Parmesan cheese, lemon juice, pepper, and salt in a 1-gallon resealable freezer bag. Add chicken, coat with the marinade, squeeze out excess air, and seal the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator 8 hours to overnight.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Remove chicken from the marinade and shake off excess. Discard the remaining marinade.
• Cook chicken on the preheated grill over indirect heat until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 6 to 8 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

PESTO CHICKEN WRAP WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Pour 1 1/2 cups boiling water mixed with 1/8 teaspoon of the salt over the couscous in a small bowl. Cover well and set aside.
• To make the pesto: Combine the garlic, basil, olive oil, remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt, and pepper in a blender. Blend well until smooth. Stir in the cheese.
• Toast the walnuts in a small heavy dry skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly, until aromatic, watching closely to prevent burning, about 3 to 5 minutes. Set aside.
• To assemble: Heat the tortillas, one at a time, directly on a gas flame, on a grill, or in a hot skillet, turning frequently, until hot and pliable, about 5 to 15 seconds each. Or heat, stacked between 2 damp paper towels, in the microwave for about 10 seconds per tortilla. Distribute 2 tablespoons pesto, 1/2 scant cup couscous, 3/4 to 1 cup chicken, and a quarter of the walnuts, sun-dried tomatoes, and peppers evenly over tortilla, leaving a 1-inch border. Roll up into a wrap. Complete the wraps with the remaining ingredients. Or if you prefer, prepare all at once, assembly-line style. Cut in half on the bias.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place chicken in shallow baking dish, add chicken stock & white wine.
• Bake uncovered in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
• Add sun dried tomatoes to dish (sprinkle them around the chicken so they are soaking in the wine & broth.
• Return to oven & bake uncovered for an additional 10-20 minutes or until juices run clear.
• When chicken is fully cooked, remove to plate or cutting board & shred using two forks.
• Set chicken aside & chop softened tomatoes into 1/2 inch pieces.
• In medium bowl stir together mayonnaise, chopped tomatoes, salt & pepper, pine nuts, shallots & asiago cheese.
• Serve on a bed of fresh spinach leaves or sandwich chicken salad mixture & spinach between two slices of fresh bread.

GRILLED TUNA SALAD WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO DRESSING

Steps:

• Make the dressing: In a blender blend together the garlic, the vinegar, 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice, the sun-dried tomatoes, the plum tomatoes, and 1/4 cup water until the mixture is smooth and with the motor running add the oil in a stream. Add the sour cream, the coriander, the additional lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste and blend the dressing until it is combined well. (The dressing may be made 1 day in advance and kept covered and chilled. Let the dressing return to room temperature.)
• In a large bowl toss the mesclun with the tomatoes and the corn and divide the mixture among 4 plates. Brush the tuna on both sides with the oil, season it with salt and pepper, and grill it on an oiled rack set about 4 inches over glowing coals for 4 to 5 minutes on each side for medium-rare, or until is cooked to the desired degree. Let the tuna stand for 3 minutes and cut it against the grain into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Divide the tuna slices among the salads and pour about 1/4 cup of the dressing over each serving. Serve any remaining dressing separately and garnish the salads with nasturtium blossoms.

GRILLED CHICKEN SALAD WITH PESTO, RAISINS, SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Coat the chicken breast with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Arrange on grill and cook until cooked through.
• Remove chicken breast from grill and set aside to cool.
• When cool enough to handle, thinly slice the breasts.
• Transfer to a mixing bowel and add pesto(see steps below for pesto), raisins, sun-dried tomatoes, and pine nuts.
• Mix well to combine, season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Serve or store covered in fridge for up to a day.
• For the pesto.
• Combine basil, garlic, pine nuts and salt in a blender or food processor.
• Process until pureed.
• Pour into bowel and add the cheese and olive oil, stirring until pesto is smooth and creamy.
• Pesto can be kept in fridge for up to 2 days, bring to room temperature before serving.