Chicken Salad with Melon, Feta and Greens
- 1/2 cup large walnut pieces (about 2 ounces)
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup coarsely chopped mint, plus 1/3 cup small mint leaves
- 2/3 cup pure olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (6 to 8 ounces each), pounded 1/2 inch thick
- 1 ripe cantaloupe (2 pounds)peeled, thinly sliced and slices cut crosswise into thirds
- 3/4 pound feta cheese, coarsely crumbled
- 3 bunches watercress (about 6 ounces each), tough stems discarded
- Preheat the oven to 350.
- Spread the walnuts in a pie plate and toast in the oven for 8 minutes, or until golden and fragrant.
- Let cool, then coarsely chop.
- In a small saucepan, combine the lemon juice with the chopped mint and cook over high heat just until the mint is wilted, about 1 minute.
- Remove from the heat and let steep for 10 minutes.
- Strain the lemon juice into a small bowl and discard the mint.
- Whisk the olive oil, vinegar and sugar into the lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in each of 2 large skillets.
- Season the pounded chicken breast halves with salt and pepper, add 3 to each skillet and cook over moderately high heat until golden and just cooked through, about 3 minutes per side.
- Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let cool.
- Thinly slice the chicken across the grain and transfer it to a large bowl.
- Add the cantaloupe, feta and half the mint leaves to the chicken.
- Whisk the vinaigrette, add half to the chicken and toss gently.
- Put the watercress in another large bowl, add the remaining mint leaves and vinaigrette and toss gently to coat.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Arrange the watercress on 6 plates or a large platter.
- Top with the chicken salad and serve immediately.
lemon juice, mint, olive oil, red wine vinegar, sugar, salt, vegetable oil, skinless, cantaloupe, feta cheese, bunches
Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/chicken-salad-with-melon-feta-and-greens (may not work)