Recipe Copycat: Cherry-Berry Chicken Salad

I'm not even a salad fan, but as soon as I tried the Rio Grande restaurant's Cherry Chicken Salad, I was hooked. When so many lively flavors and textures retain their individual identities, yet all get along so well with one another in a single dish, it's pretty exciting.

Maybe too exciting. When I began craving this salad every day, I was compelled to create my own (more economical) version at home. My mix is not the identical twin, but a cousin who bears a strong resemblance.

And as much as I like to monitor my own "senseless brand loyalties," in this case, a few key items cannot be substituted if you want it to be quick, easy, and still similarly delicious.

Ingredients and calorie counts

I visited the very handy Daily Plate (www.dailyplate.com) for some numbers, using their guide to build a salad recipe within normal portion size conventions. Personally, I have no problem overloading the chicken and cherries, but let your conscience be your guide.

Boneless / skinless chicken breasts - 281 calories / 27 fat calories per 6 ounce serving

Lawry's Mesquite with Lime Juice 30-Minute Marinade - 5 calories / 0 fat calories per 1 tablespoon serving

Ken's Steak House Fat-Free Raspberry Pecan Dressing - 50 calories / 0 fat calories per 2 tablespoon serving

Chopped pecans - 70 calories / 63 fat calories per 11 pecan serving

Dried cherries - 160 calories / 0 fat calories per 1/3 cup serving

Dole Spring Mix (consisting of baby lettuces, greens, endive, radicchio) - 15 calories / 0 fat calories per 2 cup serving

Putting it together

Marinate the chicken breasts in the mesquite marinade according to instructions (or longer, if you like a strong flavor). Grill the chicken breasts until well-done. Letting them go until their edges are crisp and slightly blackened adds to the overall color.

Plating each salad individually, layer dried cherries over and through well-chilled greens. Same with pecans (actually, once chopped, 11 pecans are a lot - you may be satisfied with fewer, cutting your calorie count).

Slice chicken breast crosswise and gently place the whole breast across the top of the mix. Spread apart slices only far enough to reveal some of the juicy white meat inside - this adds an appealing color contrast.

The original recipe calls for red onion and blue cheese crumbles. I skip these at home without missing them, but they're always terrific in Rio Grande's salad. Just remember: add 100 calories / 70 fat calories per ounce of crumbles.

Lightly drizzle Ken's vibrant Fat-Free Raspberry Pecan dressing over the greens and chicken slices in whatever inspired pattern that suits you. I say "lightly," because you'll regret adding too much too soon. I'll admit I never measure my portions when it comes to this salad, but since this awesome dressing is candy-sweet, take it easy.

Admire your work briefly and serve while the chicken is warm and greens are cold.

At around 581 calories / 90 fat calories per plate, my salad may be healthy and / or low-cal in someone's relative terms - that's for the dieticians to decide. What I can say is it's a gorgeous treat that may even help you say "no" to dessert.

And if you're in the neighborhood, support a Michigan business and visit the Rio Grande. Order their inspirational original - the Cherry Chicken Salad - and compare.

SOURCES:

http://michiganmenu.com/index.html

http://michiganmenu.com/linkedgraph/RIODinner.pdf

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1184975/learn_to_save_money_at_savealot_stores.html?cat=3

http://www.thedailyplate.com/

http://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/generic/grilled-chicken-breast

http://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/lawrys/30-minute-marinade-mesquite-with-lime-juice-12-fl-oz

http://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/kens-steakhouse/fat-free-raspberry-pecan-dressing

http://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/generic/11-pecans

http://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/generic/dried-cherries

http://www.thedailyplate.com/nutrition-calories/food/dole/spring-mix-salad

http://www.buymichigannow.com/