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I couldn’t decide who the star of this post was going to be, at first I was leaning towards the nutty brown rice salad using my favorite sprouted rice from Planet Rice. Or maybe it should have been the juicy grilled chicken skewers, gahh being a Pisces makes for a bad decision maker so I just chose both. I’m so lame at making decisions which is why I check restaurant menus on-line before I arrive, true story but for another day.

Grilled chicken and brown rice salad with snow peas and cashew nuts

I’m not saying you need to make both though, the salad will melt your socks on it’s own and has the ability to bedazzle any plate of food hot or cold. Personally I prefer it cold but that may be because of the early California summer and the last thing I want to do is crank up the heat in the kitchen. You can usually catch me out in the yard with something on the grill, tongs in one hand and a wine glass in the other.

The brown rice is packed with crunchy bits. Water chestnuts, snow peas and toasted cashew verify the healthy check box and there’s even a little sweetness thrown in by adding some diced pineapple. The dressing has a sesame oil flavor with honey and orange juice and as with almost all of my salad dressing recipes, you’ll probably have a little extra. But this time instead of shoving it in the fridge, grab a pastry brush and glaze those chicken skewers with it as they come off the grill and then glaze them again…and again.

Juicy grilled chicken with a brown rice salad

Hey, here’s some more tasty grilled chicken recipes for ya!

Joyful Healthy Eats- Grilled Chicken Pizza

Love Bakes Good Cakes- Grilled Chicken Asian Salad

Home Sweet Jones- Grilled Moroccan Chicken

 

Grilled chicken and brown rice salad with snow peas and cashew nuts

Grilled Chicken Skewers with Snow Pea Rice Salad

Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Author: Gerry Speirs
Juicy grilled chicken skewers served with a brown rice and snow pea salad.
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Ingredients

For the Dressing

  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes
  • Pinch of dried ginger
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 1/3 cup olive oil

For The Salad

  • 4 cups cooked brown rice
  • 1/4 cup diced pineapple canned is okay
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced green onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped toasted cashew nuts
  • 1/2 cup water chestnuts
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
  • 2 cups snow peas with ends trimmed
  • 2 large skinless chicken breasts
  • Salt and black pepper

Instructions

  • Place the orange juice, honey, cider vinegar, garlic, salt, red pepper flakes, sesame oil and ginger in a bowl and whisk until well combined.
  • Add the olive oil in a steady stream while whisking. Set aside.
  • In another large bowl, combine the cooked rice, pineapple, green onion, cashew nuts, water chestnuts, cilantro and snow peas.
  • Add 1/2 cup of the dressing to the rice and toss well.
  • Slice the chicken into thin strips and attach to wooden skewers.
  • Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
  • Preheat the grill to high and place the chicken directly on the heat.
  • Cook for about 5 minutes and then turn over to cook for a further 5-7 minutes.
  • Once the chicken is fully cooked, use a pastry brush and any leftover dressing to coat the chicken.
  • Serve at once with the rice salad.