Happy Hump Day! My rump is killing me thanks to a new uber-hard Spin class I tried yesterday. Tabata Trex. Sounds innocent enough, but it was killer. Long sprints on the bike with very short ‘breaks’ off the bike for intense muscle conditioning intervals. But I did it, and I can walk today 🙂 And it really helped to inspire an extra-healthy lunch when I got home.
What I wanted a big pile of veggies, but not my usual salad. Not something completely cold. Think spicy. Think warm chicken on top of greens and a cool, bleusy dressing for the top. But could I really, in good conscience, add a bunch of full-fat bleu cheese dressing on top of this uber-healthy lunch??
BRAINSTORM! I decided to use a wee bit of plain Greek yogurt to cut the bleu cheese dressing. It is so much like sour cream, minus all the fat plus the added bonus of protein, I knew it would work well. It was FANTASTICO! The dressing was creamy and zesty and still bleusy — the exact right topping for this crisp salad topped with spicy chicken.
I happened to have some buffalo-marinated chicken breast waiting to be cooked up (which I did easily and quickly on the George Forman). If all you’ve got is plain chicken, simply douse it in hot sauce and grill it up, brushing with a little more hot sauce as you go. You just need a little bit of the flavor to stick to give it that zing! You could also completely take the easy route and buy the buffalo-inspired sliced chicken breast at the deli counter. You’ll get a lot more sodium this way, but it’d work fine in a pinch.
For the lightened up dressing, I simply took 1 tablespoon of bleu cheese dressing and whisked in 1 tablespoon of nonfat Greek yogurt. I cut the fat in half just like that!
So, if you’re looking for a perked up salad packed with protein and flavor, this might just be for you! And try cutting the fat in any of your fave creamy dressings using yogurt. I think this would work great with ranch, too!
ENJOY!
Buffalo Chicken Salad with Half-Fat Bleu Cheese Dressing
Serves 1
2 cups greens (I use baby spring mix)
1 celery stalk, sliced
1 carrot, cut into julienne sticks
3 ounces grilled buffalo-style chicken breast
1 tablespoon bleu cheese dressing
1 tablespoon nonfat plain Greek yogurt
Pile your greens on a large plate. Add the carrots and celery. Lay sliced chicken breast on top. In a separate bowl, whisk the yogurt and dressing together. Drizzle over the salad. Enjoy!
whenever.. and imean every.single.time… i see grileld buffalo chicken salad on the menu, I must order it! It’s my favorite type of salad – the bleu cheese dressing usually comes on the side since it sort of negates the idea of a healthy lunch. i have to combine the greek yogurt + dressing when i make these at home next time! Love it!
You should! I am pretty dang proud of myself for thinking of this 🙂
Great idea with the secret ingredient! This looks so yummy….
Thanks, Shan 🙂 and thank goodness for besties, or my post would have no chatter 🙂