Name: Chicken Fruit Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 to 6
Ingredients: 125 grams uncooked pasta; 1-1/2 to 2 cups thinly sliced cooked chicken; 3 tablespoons pesto; 2 stalks celery; 1 carrot; 20 seedless grapes; 2 tablespoons toasted bacon bits; 3/4 cup fruit-flavored yogurt ((I recommend mango)); 1/3-1/2 cups mayonnaise; 2 tablespoons lemon juice; grated rind of one lemon; salt; pepper; toasted sliced almonds for garnish; grated Parmesan cheese

With less fat than the usual chicken and macaroni salad, part of the mayonnaise in this chicken fruit salad is substituted with fruit-flavored yogurt. And the salad is more aromatic with the inclusion of lemon juice and rind.

For variety in texture, it has seedless grapes and toasted almonds. Grapes? Why not? Pineapple is so common already. Grapes have just the right amount of tang and more crunch than pineapple to boot.

And the almonds? Take note: it’s toasted almonds. You’d be surprised at home much flavor the toasting adds to the salad.

Finally, for an unexpected kick, a small amount of pesto.

If you want to cut down even more on the fat, omit the bacon bits.

Chicken Fruit Salad

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Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: to 6

Author: Connie Veneracion

Ingredients

125 grams uncooked pasta
1-1/2 to 2 cups thinly sliced cooked chicken
3 tablespoons pesto
2 stalks celery
1 carrot
20 seedless grapes
2 tablespoons toasted bacon bits
3/4 cup fruit-flavored yogurt (I recommend mango)
1/3-1/2 cups mayonnaise
2 tablespoons lemon juice
grated rind of one lemon
salt
pepper
toasted sliced almonds for garnish
grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain well.
Toss together the chicken and pesto.
Cut the celery stalks into one-fourth inch slices.
Peel the carrot and cut into matchsticks.
Cut the grapes into halves.
Place everything in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Go easy on the salt at this point; you can always add more later. Remember that the pesto and bacon bits already contain salt. Toss until blended. Place is a covered container and chill in the fridge for a few hours before serving.
To serve, sprinkle with toasted sliced almonds and Parmesan cheese. Toasted bread brushed with pesto is a good accompaniment.

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