Chicken and Mango Salad

This Chicken and Mango Salad is my new favorite.  If you know me, I am all about eating salads and they are so healthy! However, eating the same old salad can become boring or monotonous.  Therefore, I try to be creative with my salads.  Sometimes, my salads only have a few ingredients. A simple Cesar salad with crunchy chopped Romaine Lettuce, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and a little Cesar Dressing.  

 

Change it Up

Sometimes, my salads have every fresh veggie I can throw in with the Romaine Lettuce, meats, cheese, sliced Pepperoncini, Hearts of Palm, and/or Artichoke Hearts.  Using leftover grilled meats in salads is a great way to get a little extra protein and use your leftovers.  I like using crumbled cheese, or freshly grated cheese.  Sometimes I will make a simple Chef Salad with chopped deli meat, cut cheese, and hard-boiled eggs.  The combination of the Chicken and Mango, and balsamic vinaigrette dressing is so yummy. 

Get Creative

Here’s another fun way to change things up and liven up a salad.  Throw in some freshly chopped cilantro or mint, squeeze some Lemon or Lime Juice into it, and add chopped Avocado and pickled beets.  Shredded carrots and cabbage are also good.  Sometimes I make my salads without lettuce.  The options are endless, which is how I came up with my latest favorite salad for Spring and Summer. 

Clean and Dry the Lettuce

Using a Salad Spinner is ideal for cleaning and drying lettuce.  Oftentimes, I use the spinner to store my dried lettuce in the fridge to crisp it up before making a salad!  Having fresh lettuce is a must for the base of a great salad.  For this particular salad, I had leftover grilled chicken breast, so it was all ready for me to chop up and use.  

Use What You Have on Hand

There was a Mango in my fridge that had ripened and looked so tasty.  Who would have thought a Chicken and Mango would go together so nicely?  Also, I usually add red onion to my salads, because it adds an extra level of flavor.  Green onion can also be used if you aren’t fond of red onion.

You are Making Memories with this Chicken and Mango Salad

When I chop cucumbers, the fresh smell reminds me of when we lived in Prairie Village, Kansas.  Growing up my dad, who grew up on a farm in Lawrence, always had a garden in our backyard.  Our meals consisted of Meat, Vegetable, and Salad with fresh produce and vegetables from the garden.  Cucumbers were always a wonderful garden treat, and there was always a lot of them at harvest time.  They also add a nice crunch to this chicken and mango salad.

Keep the Tomatoes out of the Fridge

When I buy Cherry Tomatoes, I rinse them and let them drain.  Cherry tomatoes are so easy to keep and use.  Store them on the counter to keep them tasty.  Need something to munch on in the afternoon or morning?  Grab a handful of cherry tomatoes, they are a delicious snack!

Put the Ingredients All Together

Building a great chicken and mango salad is easy.  Start with the chopped lettuce, then layer the toppings one by one.  When it is all done, It looks very pretty.  If I am dressing the salad, I will add the dressing and mix the salad up.  Typically, I add a touch of salt and freshly ground pepper.  If I am serving the salad without dressing, I keep it layered.  This way you can use tongs to grab a nice layered salad, ensuring you get all the elements together at once.  Either way, it’s a great way to get lots of veggies, some fruit, and protein for a well-balanced dinner. 

I hope you enjoy this chicken and mango salad recipe and that this post helps you be creative with your next salad.

Enjoy!