Sunnys Grilled To Chill Salad Recipes

SUNNY'S GRILLED COBB PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• For the grill: Prepare a grill for high heat.
• Cut each chicken breast open and in half to make 4 thin chicken fillets. With a meat mallet, gently pound each chicken fillet to even thickness. Sprinkle the chicken with the paprika and some salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil.
• Put both the chicken and corn on the grill above the direct heat. Cook the chicken on one side for about 4 minutes, then flip and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. For the corn, simply rotate to get charred and blistered kernels on all sides. This takes about the same time as the chicken, so tend to both simultaneously. Remove the chicken from the grill and cover with aluminum foil for 10 minutes. Allow the corn to cool enough to cut the kernels off, then do just that. Put the corn in a bowl. Once rested, finely chop the chicken: not big chunks, nice lil bits the size of peas.
• For the pasta: Bring a pot of water to a boil and season with salt. Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package instructions. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
• For the dressing: In a small food processor, add the mayonnaise, avocado, scallion, lime zest and juice, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Blend until smooth; if needed, add a splash of water to thin to desired consistency.
• For the salad: To the large bowl of pasta, add the sun-dried tomatoes and dressing and mix to combine. Arrange the chicken, corn, eggs, bacon and cheese on top of the pasta salad.

SUNNY'S BBQ SALMON AND EASY SALAD

Steps:

• For the salmon: Pat the salmon dry. Place the salmon skin-side down on a piece of nonstick aluminum foil on a baking sheet or a cedar plank that was soaked in water for 1 to 2 hours. In a zigzag motion, drizzle the liquid smoke over the flesh of the salmon and brush it in; let rest 5 minutes. Season the salmon with salt.
• For the rub: In a medium bowl, stir together the sugar, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, chile flakes, salt and pepper. Gently pour the seasoning blend over the entire top of the salmon, patting it into the flesh evenly. Let rest at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven or a grill to 300 degrees F.
• Drizzle the olive oil over the salmon. Place the salmon on the foil directly onto the grill or in the oven (or the salmon on the plank). Cook until medium rare, 20 to 25 minutes, depending on the size.
• For the easy salad: In a large bowl, toss the lettuce, onion and lemon juice. Sprinkle lightly with salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Rest for a few minutes, then drizzle over the olive oil and toss again.
• Remove the salmon from the skin and flake over the salad.

SUNNY'S GRILLED CHICKEN AND KALE SALAD WITH SUNNY'S CREAMY "EQUAL-PARTS" HARISSA SALAD DRESSING

Steps:

• For the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the harissa paste, mayonnaise, buttermilk, cilantro, scallions and a few grinds of black pepper.
• For the salad: In the same large bowl, add the kale salad mix, chicken, grapes, strawberries and tomatoes. Use 2 serving spoons or tongs to toss and coat everything with the dressing on the bottom. Serve, but this is a salad that actually will hold 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator without the kale wilting!

SUNNY'S EASY GRILLED GARDEN STATE SALAD

Steps:

• For the pork roll and corn: Preheat the grill to 400 degrees F.
• Mix the honey and liquid smoke in a small bowl. Brush on both sides of the pork roll. Brush the corn on all sides with the olive oil. Place the pork roll slices and corn on the grill above the direct heat, flipping the pork once when a peek beneath reveals grill marks, 3 to 5 minutes total, and rolling the corn occasionally to get some charred kernels, about 10 minutes total. Let cool enough to handle, then chop the pork into cubes small enough to fit on your fork with the other ingredients, like corn and tomato. Cut the kernels of corn off the cobs and discard the cobs. Add the pork and corn kernels to a large bowl.
• For the dressing: Combine the olive oil, vinegar, mustard, cilantro, thyme, garlic, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper in a small jar with a lid or in small bowl. Shake or whisk until combined.
• For the salad: Add the chopped tomatoes to the bowl with the chopped pork roll and corn. Drizzle over the dressing and gently toss. Garnish with additional chopped cilantro and thyme.

SUMMER GRILLED SHRIMP SALAD

Steps:

• Combine olive oil, maple seasoning, and lemon juice in a glass bowl. Add shrimp and toss to coat. Refrigerate until ready to grill.
• Whisk olive oil, honey, lime juice, cilantro, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl. Set vinaigrette aside.
• Preheat an indoor or outdoor grill to medium-high heat. Thread the shrimp onto skewers. Grill until shrimp turn pink and opaque, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from skewers and set aside.
• Place mixed greens in the bottom of a large salad bowl. Lay cucumber, corn, tomato, red onion, and avocado in sections on top of the greens. Pile the grilled shrimp in the center of the salad. Drizzle with the vinaigrette and toss to coat. Serve immediately.

GRILLED SALMON SALAD WITH LIME, CHILES AND HERBS

Steps:

• Light the grill for indirect heat, or heat the oven to 450 degrees.
• As the grill or oven heat up, make the dressing: Halve 1 lime, and squeeze its juice into a small bowl. Add the chile slices, half of the sliced shallot (save the rest for serving), the fish sauce and a pinch each salt and sugar. Let sit for 1 minute to dissolve the salt, then whisk in the olive oil. It won't emulsify, so mix again before using.
• Brush the salmon with oil, and place it in a grilling basket if you have one. Cook over the indirect (unlit) side of the grill, for 2 to 5 minutes per side, depending on how hot the grill is and how thick the salmon is. Note that individual fillets will cook faster than a single large piece. Check the salmon often. (Alternatively, roast the salmon on a baking sheet in the oven, until just cooked to taste, 7 to 12 minutes; you don't have to flip it.)
• As the salmon cooks, halve the other lime. Brush the cut sides with olive oil and grill, cut-side down, over direct heat until charred, about 1 minute. If using the oven, throw the halves, cut-side up, on the roasting pan with the salmon. They won't char, but they will cook and mellow in flavor, which is the aim.
• When the salmon is cooked, transfer it to a plate and spoon some dressing over it. Let it cool slightly, then break up the fish into large chunks.
• Place greens, remaining shallots, herbs, and radishes or cucumber, if using, in a large shallow bowl or on a platter, and add a little more of the dressing. Squeeze some of the juice from a charred lime half over it and drizzle with a little olive oil. Toss and taste, adding lime juice, olive oil or salt as needed.
• Top with the salmon chunks and drizzle with more (or all) of the dressing. Serve with the remaining charred lime half on the side for squeezing.