I was given an opportunity to try The Produce Box free and all opinions are my own. Strawberry, Goat Cheese, Avocado, Arugula Salad with Beer Brined Chicken and Limoncello Poppyseed Dressing
Did y’all have a wonderful weekend and Mother’s Day? We certainly did, which is why I’m a little late to the party this week. Speaking of parties, we are rolling out this week in style with a double boozy strawberry and goat cheese salad. Now, I know a strawberry and goat cheese salad isn’t the most original idea on the planet and there are many delicious recipes out there.
So I added my own boozy style and twist to an old classic. I took some of NoDa Brewing Company’s CAVU Blonde Ale and brined a couple of chicken breasts. I chose CAVU because it’s a delicious summery beer with tropical fruit and citrus notes that makes it the perfect complement to a chicken and strawberry salad with limoncello dressing. Trust me.
Trivia tip: CAVU is a flight term that means Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited and one of the brewery owners is an experienced pilot. How cool is that?!?!
Next I grabbed a bottle of limoncello and whipped up a perfect dressing to finish off this salad. Again. Trust me. I’m not exactly sure what in tarnation made me put limoncello in salad dressing, but the angels started singing. Ok. Maybe I hit the bottle and imagined the angels, but either way it’s a game changer.
Of course, I’m always inspired by beer and all things boozy, but this time the salad inspiration came from some beautiful strawberries and everything else fell into place. As a member of the Charlotte Food Bloggers, I was lucky enough to receive a free trial from the kind people at The Produce Box. The Produce Box is delivers fresh local produce and specialty items, such as meats, cheeses, and breads all over North Carolina.
Remember when I said I was up to my eyeballs in strawberries?!?!?! I ordered some in my produce box then my garden exploded with strawberries! I certainly had enough to share, but I was on a mission to keep the birds from making a habit of dining on my berries! There were many shenanigans happening over here from pounding on the windows, to garden hoses, to running and hand waving. Needless to say, expect a few more strawberry dishes. I’ll also be sharing another recipe later this week from The Produce Box contents.
I’ve got to go watch Dancing With the Stars now, so I hope y’all have a fantastic week!
Strawberry, Goat Cheese, Avocado, Arugula Salad with Beer Brined Chicken and Limoncello Poppyseed Dressing
Ingredients
- 2 Chicken Breasts
- 1 16 ounce can of beer - I used NoDa Brewing Company's CAVU Blonde Ale because it has fruit and citris notes to complement the chicken and the salad
- 2 cups strawberries hulled and quartered
- 1 avocado removed from shell, pitted, and sliced
- 1/2-3/4 cup sliced almonds toasted
- 4 ounces goat cheese crumbled
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- a few pinches salt
- a few pinches pepper
- a few pinches garlic powder
- 6-8 cups arugula
For the Dressing
- 1/2 small shallot diced
- 4 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon poppyseeds
- 3 tablespoons Limoncello
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3/4 cup olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
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Combine chicken and beer in a zipper bag or container with a lid, refrigerate for 45 minutes to 1 hour
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Meanwhile make the dressing by combining all ingredients to a mason jar, cover with the lid and shake vigorously, set aside
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Remove chicken from the beer brine and transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet
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Discard beer brine - sadly, you can't drink it now
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Sprinkle chicken with olive oil, salt and pepper
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Broil chicken for 6-8 minutes each side, or until the internal temperature is 160 in the thickest part
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While chicken is cooking, prepare the salad
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In one very large bowl or two big salad bowls, add arugula and top with strawberries, avocado, and goat cheese
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Top with chicken and almonds
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Serve with dressing
Full Disclosure: NoDa Brewing Company did not sponsor this post. I just really love them and their beer!
This salad looks amazing! I made a similar one for lunch today, but this looks so much better! The Produce box sounds interesting!
Oh my goodness…I haven’t watched Dancing with the Stars in so long, but I used to enjoy it! This salad looks delicious, Rachelle! Such a classic combo of strawberries and goat cheese (and for good reason. Avocado? Yes please. And that limoncello dressing sounds unreal! Who would have thought to put in a dressing? Well, you did! Bet it pairs so well with everything.
Now this is my kind of salad! I love that you brined the chicken, Rachelle! So creative and perfect for summer! This is such a classic dish and I love the fun twist you gave!
This is one perfect salad! You’ve got something for everyone….and every taste. I love all these different ingredients brought together in a great big ‘ol salad and getting a little bit of everything in each bite.
Hahaha…I totally know all about the strawberry shenanigans! But water hoses. That’s a new one! I love the idea of marinating chicken in beer. What a fun way to add a summer flavor in there. We’re on a serious veggie kick this week, and these salads sound delicious. Great recipe, Rachelle!
This is one big, bodacious salad. There is a lot of awesome going on in here. The goat cheese, the strawberries, the ale! Yum! And oh my gosh, that dressing. That dressing sounds flipping delicious!
This recipes looks so delicious! I make a similar salad regularly with spinach, grilled chicken, goat cheese and sliced pears. I usually top it with a tangy home made apple cider honey mustard. I never thought brine the chicken in beer! My husband would love that! Thank you so much for sharing!
That’s funny…I hear angels singing when I’m drinking our limoncello, too! Okay – this salad sounds so yum! And the pictures just pop with color, I can imagine how delicious this is!
Darn…forgot to ask – who do you want to win DWTS? 🙂
Dang! Tough question, Annie! I can’t decide who I like more – Nyle, Paige, or Ginger!
Girl, I don’t care how many chicken and strawberry salads there are out there, yours is the best! I literally just finished dinner and am stuffed but I would eat that whole bowl of salad if it was sitting in front of me right now. Perfect summer salad that I’m sure I’ll be making all the time 🙂
What a stunning looking salad! This has summer written all over it and I love that you used limoncello in your dressing… I always love when you can add a drinky, drinky to your food 😉
This salad looks absolutely amazing, Rachelle! This dressing sounds absolutely delicious. And love these vibrant pictures are awesome! 🙂
A double boozy salad with the beer and the limoncello?! You are speaking my language lady! This is some fun spring time perfection right here 🙂 Yummed and pinned!
A boozy salad? Sign me up!! LOVE it! My son just walked by and said, Mom make that–ha, ha, I will but not for him!
Wow, what a totally gorgeous salad Rachelle! Love how you’ve jazzed it up with booze. A little booze never hurt anyone! The flavors, the colors! Love it!
love the sound of that dressing Rachelle!
Boozy chicken, strawberries, and goat cheese sound like the perfect combo. Can’t wait to try this recipe!
You need to be my mixologist, Rachelle. It’s too amazing what you do with liquor. I mean, limoncello?! That’s such a good idea!
I had a salad like this in Greece and I couldn’t get enough of it. Well, I could, as it was HUGE! But I love the combo of strawberries and almonds.
This looks so healthy and so delicious!
This salad looks fantastic! Poppyseed dressing is my favorite and your addition of limoncello sounds AMAZING!
Rachelle, Salad looks awesome. Strawberry and goat cheese itself is an amazing combo. Chicken brewed up makes it my favorite. Save me a bowl full and leave me alone in a couch. Heavenly
This salad is everything I’m craving right now. Great job!
This has got to be one of the best sounding salads ever! I was legit just on the hunt for a good summery salad to make this weekend, and bingo, found it!