Healthy Crispy Chicken Salad

Healthy crispy chicken salad with ranch dressing is an easy and healthy take on the classic fried chicken salads. It’s gluten-free, dairy-free, air fried or baked - not deep fried, and full of protein, veggies and healthy fats! 

The biggest game changer for this recipe is the crispy chicken! I honestly should make a post on its own because once you master the cooking and preparing method, you will never look at chicken the same! 

To make a mouthwatering, juicy chicken: 

• Slice the chicken breast halfway through in a crisscross pattern. You can use chopsticks on both sides as a guide to not cut completely through the chicken. 

• This allows the chicken to absorb the marinade, sauce, and seasonings when cooking as well as making the chicken get cooked evenly and quickly. 

It’s that easy! And what is more easy, is preparing this salad! If you grew up in the south like I did, you know the chicken frying method by memory. But for this recipe, you are tweaking it using gluten free alternatives with a healthy fat focus and using the air fryer or baking method - whichever you prefer. 

I also want to mention that if you are following the Nourishment Program, you will see that this crispy chicken salad is considered a Six Senses Nourish Meal! 

Six Senses Nourish Components: 

Non-starchy carbs | lettuce, corn, carrots, tomatoes

Starchy carbs | chicken breading

Protein | chicken breast, pork rind

Fats | chicken, pork rind, avocado, dressing

Probiotics | pickled red onions

Flavor | herbs, seasonings on chicken and in dressing

If you would like more information on how to build more six senses nourish meals and why it’s an easy and seamless way of getting nutrient dense, whole foods into your diet, then check out the Nourishment Program for more information! 

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!

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Healthy crispy chicken salad with ranch dressing is an easy and healthy take on the classic fried chicken salads. It’s gluten-free, dairy-free, air fried or baked - not deep fried, and full of protein, veggies and healthy fats! 

Servings: 4 | Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 6 min

Ingredients

For the chicken

• 1 lb chicken breasts or tenderloins

• 2 large eggs

• ¼ cup plant based or milk

• 1 cup pork rind bread crumbs

• ½ cup GF baking flour

• 1 Tbsp of your go-to spicy or chicken seasoning

• 1 tsp salt

• Avocado oil spray

For the ranch dressing 

• ½ cup mayo (primal kitchen, chosen brand)

• 1 tsp fresh or dried dill

• 1 tsp fresh or dried parsley

• 1 tsp fresh lemon juice

• ½ tsp garlic powder

• ¼ tsp mustard powder

• S+P

For the salad

• 6 cups romaine lettuce, chopped

• ½ cup pickled red onions

• 1-2 avocado, sliced or chopped

• 1 cup shredded carrots

• 1 cup corn 

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• For the pickled onions: 

• ½ red onion (thinly sliced)

• ½ cup apple cider vinegar (with the mother)

• 1 tsp fine sea salt

• ½ Tbsp pure maple syrup

• Filtered water

Directions

1. Start with making the crispy chicken! Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel and make diagonal slices. You can use chopsticks on both sides of the chicken to make sure you are not cutting straight through to the bottom. (look at IG reel or description above). Sprinkle salt and your go-to seasoning on both sides of the chicken - making sure you are massaging the seasonings in the diagonal cuts.  In a small bowl, whisk the eggs and milk until combined. In a separate bowl or plate, whisk the panko, flour, and seasonings. If using an air fryer, make sure you have it preheated. Now, you are ready to dip a chicken breast or tenderloin in the egg wash, and then in the dry mixture - making sure you are getting in the crannies of the chicken! Shake off any excess flour mixture and place in the air fryer rack. Repeat. Once your rack is full, but not cramped - spray avocado oil spray and cook for 400 degrees 4-6 min (flipping halfway). Lightly sprinkle with sea salt and set aside. 

2. To make the dressing, add all the ingredients to a small dish and whisk until smooth. Place in the fridge until ready to serve. 

3. To make the pickled onions, combine all ingredients into a mason jar and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. If you want them to pickle faster, heat vinegar, salt, maple syrup and 1 cup filtered water over medium high heat until fully dissolved. Pour liquid mixture over the sliced onions in a sealed container (mason jar). Seal and shake the jar a few times and let sit for at least 20 min for onions to pickle. 

4. While your chicken is cooking, prep the rest of the salad. Add the lettuce to a large bowl and top with sliced avocados, carrots, pickled onions, cherry tomatoes, corn and additional toppings. Place the chicken breast or tenderloins on top of the salad and serve with prepared dressing. *What’s great about preparing the chicken in this way - you don’t have to pre-cut! You just fork off a bite size chicken piece and that’s it!

Classic Vegan Truffles

These truffles are rich, creamy smooth and just melt in your mouth! Literally, as I am writing this post, my mouth is watering! 

Classic vegan truffles are to die for!

Valentine’s day is coming up, so truffles are a great safe option to make for that special someone or just for you! Truffles are great to make the day before as the flavor consistency tastes best when chilled overnight. 

As most of you know, a classic chocolate truffle includes a ganache that is composed of heavy cream and bittersweet chocolate. You can dip the truffles in chocolate or dust them off with cocoa powder.

I am lactose intolerant, so I haven’t been able to eat a classic truffle in quite some time. Through countless recipe testings, I am finally at a point where I can eat a truffle and not be sick!

While this recipe follows the traditional approach on making a classic truffle, the special ingredients that are orchestrated in these special little balls are what makes them stand out the most.

Check out below on how to make these amazing bad boys!

If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo with #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love seeing what you come up with!

These classic vegan truffles are made with ingredients that are naturally lower in sugar while maintaining the classic creamy ganache texture!

INGREDIENTS

• 12 oz good quality vegan dark chocolate ((60% or higher))

• 1 can coconut cream

• 1/4 cup coffee

• 1 Tbsp pure maple syrup

DIRECTIONS

1. In a small saucepan, heat coconut cream, coffee, and pure maple syrup while whisking consistently. Just as it starts to boil, take the saucepan off the burner.

2. Cut the chocolate bark into pieces (can use small chocolate chips too) and place into a medium bowl.

3. Pour the cream mixture over the chocolate. With a spatula, fold the cream mixture with the chocolate until fully incorporated.

4. Let the mixture sit until room temperature and place into fridge to chill for up to 2 hours.

5. When the ganache is firm, use a small scooper or spoon and form the ganache into balls. Roll them in your favorite toppings like cocoa powder, coconut flakes, or melted chocolate with clean, cold hands.

6. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve!

NOTES

1. Before setting your ganache mixture in the fridge to chill, cover the top layer with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from developing as well as to keep the ganache away from dirt and fridge odor.

2. Best when chilled in the fridge overnight. If you are putting it in the freezer to speed up the "chilling process", set the ganache out until room temperature before scooping into balls. If you try to scoop when the ganache is really firm to frozen, then the ganache will fall apart and it will be hard to form balls.

3. If you find the balls are melting in your hands as you are forming them, wash your hands and keep an ice packet or frozen bag of peas at bay to lower your hand's body temperature.