Ingredients

  • ½ cup plain or Greek non-fat yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary (or 1 tablespoon fresh)
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ cup sliced almonds, toasted
  • 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cooked*
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 1 bunch of green onions (both white and green portions), chopped
  • 1 cup red or green seedless grapes, halved
  • 1 red apple, unpeeled and diced
  • 2 whole-wheat pita pockets, halved
  • 4 romaine lettuce leaves

Directions

  1. Mix yogurt, garlic powder, rosemary, pepper and salt in a large bowl.
  2. Toast nuts to bring out their flavor. Cook in a dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, or bake at 350° F for about 10 minutes.
  3. Cut cooked chicken into cubes (or shred into bite-sized pieces). You should have about 2 ½ cups of cooked chicken. See note below for poaching instructions.
  4. Add chicken, celery, green onion, grapes, and apple to the yogurt mixture.  Mix well; refrigerate for an hour or two.
  5. Top salad with toasted almonds and serve with a romaine leaf in a whole wheat pita pocket.

Variations & Tips

  • Instead of rosemary, use curry, paprika or a combination of your favorite herbs/spices.
  • You could purchase a rotisserie chicken and shred 2 ½ cups for the salad; use the rest in another meal.
  • Chop yellow, white or red onions if you prefer them to green onions.
  • You could replace the grapes with raisins or dried cranberries.
  • Use toasted walnuts or pecans in place of the almonds.
  • You could add shredded carrots for an additional veggie.

Nutrition Facts

YIELD: 4 servings (1 ¼ cup salad in ½ pita pocket with 1 romaine leaf)

Calories: 357 per serving, Carbohydrates: 34g, Fiber: 6.7g, Sugar: 13.9g (0g added sugar), Protein: 35.6g, Fat: 9.9g, Saturated fat: 1.2g, Cholesterol: 85mg, Sodium: 345mg

* Nutrition facts will change as variations and substitutions are included. Above nutrition facts include ½ whole wheat pita and 1 romaine leaf per serving.

SOURCE: adapted from SkinnyMs.com

Watch the cooking demo video below for extra tips and guidance!

* Cooking Skills: How To Poach Chicken

The healthiest and easiest way to cook chicken in a hurry is to poach it. Place boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a saucepan. Add lightly salted water (or chicken broth) to cover and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer gently until the chicken is cooked through, about 10 to 15 minutes. Use a food thermometer to verify that the internal temperature has reached 165°F. See video below for additional guidance on how to poach chicken.