Plum-Glazed Chicken and Mandarin Orange Salad is a refreshing and vibrant dish that combines succulent poached chicken and a tangy plum sauce with the fresh flavors of mandarin oranges and crisp salad greens.

Poaching chicken is a straightforward cooking technique that requires minimal effort. Poaching chicken helps retain its moisture and absorb the flavors of the accompanying poaching liquid, resulting in tender, juicy, and flavorful meat. Poached chicken is a great option for use in salads. It’s neutral flavor lends itself well to a variety of seasoning and sauce combinations.

Tangy plum sauce is made by simmering ripe plums along with soy sauce, apple cider vinegar, sugar, herbs, and spices to create a sauce that strikes a balance between sweetness and acidity. The luscious and natural sweetness of the plums is balanced by the refreshing tang, creating a well-rounded and harmonious flavor profile that complements tender and juicy sliced poached chicken.

Crisp mixed greens provide a refreshing base for the salad, while segments of fresh mandarin oranges add bursts of juicy sweetness. The citrusy tang of the mandarin oranges adds a bright and invigorating element to the salad. Sliced red onions lend a mild sharpness and a touch of crunch. For an added dimension of texture and flavor, optional toasted sesame seeds, provide a delightful nuttiness.

The mandarin orange salad is dressed with a light and zesty dressing, combining the smoothness of olive oil with the tang of fresh lime juice. A drizzle of honey brings a touch of sweetness to balance the flavors, while salt and pepper round off the dressing with a subtle seasoning.

When presented together, Plum-Glazed Chicken and Mandarin Orange Salad is a dish that embraces freshness, balance, and the harmonious blending of flavors, inviting you to savor each bite and enjoy the delightful interplay of ingredients.

Plum-Glazed Chicken and Mandarin Orange Salad

5 from 2 votes

Course: MainsCuisine: Fusion, AsianDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Total time

minutes

Plum-Glazed Chicken and Mandarin Orange Salad is a dish that embraces freshness, balance, and the harmonious blending of flavors.

Ingredients

Poached Chicken
2 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 cups 4 chicken broth
2 2 bay leaves
2 cloves 2 garlic, smashed
1 tablespoon 1 whole black peppercorns (ground is fine if necessary)
Plum Sauce
1 pound 1 plums, pitted and chopped
1/4 cup 1/4 apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup 1/4 brown sugar
2 tablespoons 2 soy sauce
2 cloves 2 garlic, minced
1 teaspoon 1 ginger, freshly grated
1/2 teaspoon 1/2 ground black pepper
Mandarin Orange Salad
4 cups 4 mixed salad greens
2 cups 2 fresh mandarin orange slices
1/2 cup 1/2 red onion, sliced
1/2 cup 1/2 green onion, chopped
2 tablespoons 2 sesame seeds, toasted (optional)
2 tablespoons 2 extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon 1 lime juice, freshly squeezed
1 tablespoon 1 honey
1/2 teaspoon 1/2 salt
1/2 teaspoon 1/2 ground black pepper

Directions

Poached Chicken
In a large pot, combine the chicken broth, garlic cloves, bay leaves, and whole peppercorns. Bring the broth to a boil over high heat.
Carefully add the chicken breasts to the pot, ensuring they are fully submerged in the broth. If needed, add additional broth or water to cover the chicken entirely.
Cover the pot, turn the heat off, and let the chicken poach for about 15-20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.
Once cooked, carefully remove the chicken breasts from the poaching liquid using tongs or a slotted spoon, and transfer them to a plate or cutting board.

Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing or serving.
Plum Sauce
Place all of the ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
Reduce the heat and simmer the ingredients for 20-25 minutes, until the garlic cloves and plums are soft.
Remove the saucepan from the heat. Either transfer the ingredients to a blender, or use an immersion blender, to puree the mixture until it’s smooth. Return the mixture to a saucepan, and over medium heat, bring to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes.
Transfer the sauce to a bowl and set aside.
Mandarin Orange Salad
In a large bowl, combine the mixed salad greens, mandarin orange segments, sliced red onion, chopped green onion, and toasted sesame seeds (optional).
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, honey, salt, and ground black pepper to create the dressing for the salad.
Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently to combine.
To Serve
Divide the Mandarin Orange Salad among plates.
Top each plate with sliced poached chicken.
Drizzle plum sauce over the chicken.
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