Honey Chicken Salad

These flavors worked perfectly to create a delicious salad! The chicken could easily stand alone and would be perfect for fajitas. The original recipe calls it spicy honey chicken, but I decided to drop "spicy" from the title since it was full of flavorful spices, but not spicy hot. Next time I will at least double the chicken rub and get creative with other ways to devour that delicious meat!

1-2 heads Romaine or Red Leaf Lettuce

2 ripe but firm mangoes, chilled

2-3 ripe but firm avocados
sliced red onion (optional)

Spicy Honey Chicken (see recipe below)

Honey-Citrus Vinaigrette (see recipe below)

This serves 4 large salads or 6 smaller sized ones.

While chicken is grilling, wash lettuce and divide among serving plates. Slice avocados, onions, and mangoes and place them on top of the lettuce. When chicken is finished, let it sit for 5 minutes before slicing to preserve the juices. Then slice it up and divide among the salads. Drench it all in the Honey-Citrus Vinaigrette and pretend you're at a fancy restaurant!

Honey-Citrus Vinaigrette

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 T grated onion

1/3 C fresh orange juice

3T fresh lime juice

2T honey

3/4 t cumin

1/2 t salt

1/4 t ground black pepper

1/2 C vegetable oil

Place all ingredients in a tightly sealed jar and shake your bootie (and the jar) vigorously. Store in the fridge, and shake before dressing salad.

Spicy Honey Chicken

8 boneless skinless chicken thighs, about 2lbs

2 t vegetable oil

Rub:

2 t granulated garlic

2 t chili powder

1/2 t onion powder

1/2 t coriander

1 t kosher salt

1 t cumin

1/2 t chipotle chili powder

Glaze:

1/2 C Honey

1T Cider Vinegar

Combine the rub spices in bowl and mix well.

Use kitchen shears (or a pair of clean scissors) to trim off any excess fat from the chicken pieces. Pat dry. Drizzle oil over chicken and rub in with your hands to lightly coat all the pieces. Then toss chicken with the spice rub to coat all sides well. Use your hands and get in there! Grill chicken for 3-5 minutes on each side, until cooked through.

While chicken is cooking, warm honey in the microwave so it's not so thick. Add the vinegar and combine well. Take the rest and brush on chicken (both sides) in the final moments of grilling.