Recipe: Chicken Salad with Grapes

🍇 This is a lunch you’ll look forward to!

Serve this on top of a piece of sprouted grain bread, over salad greens, or in a wrap.

Make 6 servings.

Ingredients:

• ½ cup (115 g) plain Greek yogurt

• ⅓ cup (75 g) mayonnaise made with olive oil

• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh dill

• 2 tsp lemon juice

• ½ tsp sea salt

• Pinch of dried ginger

• 3 cups (420 g) cooked chicken, chopped

• 1½ cup (145 g) seedless grapes, cut in half

• 2 stalks of celery, diced

• ½ cup (60 g) pecans, chopped

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, mix together the yogurt, mayo, dill, lemon juice, salt, and ginger until it forms a dressing. Stir in the chicken, grapes, and celery. Sprinkle nuts over the top.

2. You can serve this immediately (at room temperature) or chilled. Delicious!

Recipe by: Dr. Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by Merinka from Getty Images

Recipe: Strawberry Poppyseed Chicken Salad

I’ve got a DELICIOUS healthy copycat recipe for you —

It’s a fresh and easy take on one of Panera’s favorite seasonal salads. I know you’ll love it. 

We’ve taken the sweetness down a bit in this revamped version, but if you really want to add it back in: add a few tablespoons each of no-sugar-added canned mandarin oranges or pineapple chunks.

Make this for lunch, you won’t be sorry!

Chicken Salad Ingredients:

(makes 2 servings)

• 4 big handfuls (cups) mixed salad greens

• 1 cooked chicken breast, diced

• 4 large strawberries, hulled and sliced

• ½ cup (75 g) blueberries

• ¼ cup (30 grams) goat cheese crumbles  

• ¼ cup (30 g) chopped toasted pecans

Poppyseed Dressing Ingredients:

(makes 4 2-tbsp servings)

• ½ tsp sea salt

• 1 Tbsp honey

• 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar

• ¼ cup (55 g) plain Greek yogurt

• 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

• 1 tsp poppy seeds

Directions:

1. First, make the dressing: Place all of the ingredients in a mason jar, screw on the cover, and shake until well combined. Or, place the ingredients in a bowl and whisk until combined. This dressing will keep in the refrigerator, covered, for 2-3 days.

2. Make the salad: Place the salad greens, chicken, strawberries, blueberries, and goat cheese in a large salad bowl. Drizzle 4 Tbsp (half the recipe) of the salad dressing over the top of the salad and toss well. If using, sprinkle the pecans over the top.

3. Divide into two portions and serve. Yum!

Tag me @dr_saara_haapanen if you try this recipe 👩‍🍳

Recipe by: Dr. Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by VeselovaElena from Getty Images

Recipe: Spinach and White Bean Soup

This recipe takes just 20 minutes from start to finish but tastes like it’s been simmering all day. You can sub kale, escarole or your favorite “green” for the spinach in this tasty soup!

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp avocado or olive oil

• 1 small onion, chopped

• 2 garlic cloves, chopped

• 1 pound spinach, washed and chopped

• 4 cups low-salt chicken broth or bone broth

• 1 (15 oz.) can white beans, drained & rinsed

• Sea salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

• (optional: crumbled goat cheese)

Directions:

1. In a large pot over medium heat, heat 2 tbsp of the oil. Add the onion and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes.

2. Add garlic and saute for about 15-30 seconds before stirring in the chopped spinach. Saute until wilted, about 2 minutes. Add the broth and beans and cover to simmer about 5 minutes, until the beans are heated.

3. Ladle into soup bowls and add optional 2 tbsp of crumbled goat cheese.

Recipe by: Saara Haapanen

Photo Credit: Canva by nata_vkusidey from Getty Images