Cook With Jennifer

margarita chicken salad
with pepitas, cranberries, and cojita cheese
From Simply Salads by Jennifer Chandler

Automatic Slim’s Tonga Club is one of my favorite restaurants in Memphis, Tennessee. This is my rendition of one of the many great salads that Chef Karen Blockman Carrier serves there. MAKES 4 DINNER SALADS

salad..................

- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

- 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

- 1/4 cup tequila

- 1 tablespoon chili powder

- 1/2 fresh jalapeno, seeded and minced

- 2 small garlic cloves, minced

- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

- 1 bag (5 ounces) Spring Mix

- 1/2 cup toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

- 1/2 cup dried cranberries

- 2 tangerines, peeled, sectioned, and seeded

- 1 cup crumbled Cojita Mexican cheese

In a large bowl mix together the lime juice, orange juice, tequila, chili powder, jalapeño, and garlic. Add the chicken breasts and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 6 hours.
Heat a clean grill to medium high. Remove the chicken from the marinade, shaking off the excess, and season both sides with salt and pepper to taste. Discard the marinade. Grill until no longer pink in the middle, 6 to 8 minutes per side. Remove the chicken from the grill and let rest for 5 minutes. Slice thinly against the grain.
In a large salad bowl, toss together the Spring Mix, pepitas, cranberries, tangerine sections, and cheese. Add the dressing to taste and gently toss to coat. Divide the salad among individual plates. Top with the sliced chicken. Serve immediately.

citrus dressing..................

- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice

- 2 teaspoons sugar

- 3 tablespoons canola oil

- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

In a small bowl whisk together the lime juice, orange juice, sugar, and oil until the sugar has dissolved. Season with salt and pepper to taste. MAKES ABOUT 1/3 CUP

Cojita is a firm, salty cheese from Mexico. If you can't find it at your local market, Feta cheese is a substitute.

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