Low-Fat Blackened Chicken Salad

Applebee's original Blackened Chicken Salad quickly became
a favorite, encouraging this popular full-service chain to
create a low-fat version of the delish dish. While most of
the fat in the original comes from the tasty honey mustard
dressing, this version creates a dressing that tastes just
as good, yet has not a single gram of fat. Combine that with
fresh lettuce, shredded carrot, a little egg white, non-fat
shredded cheese, and a delicious Cajun spice blend which
generously coats chicken seared in light butter then grilled,
and you have a majorly munchable salad which is incredibly
easy on the waistline. Who says you need gobs of fat to create
a tasty meal?

Dressing

• 1/4 cup fat free mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup Grey Poupon Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon prepared mustard
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• 1/8 teaspoon paprika

Chicken Marinade

• 1 cup water
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire

Cajun Spice Blend

• 1/2 tablespoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon white pepper

2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
2 tablespoons light butter

Salad

• 8 cups chopped iceberg lettuce
• 1/2 cup shredded red cabbage
• 1/2 cup shredded carrot
• 1/2 cup fat free shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup fat free shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 large tomato, diced
• 1 hardboiled egg white, diced
• 
  

1. Make dressing by combining ingredients in a small bowl.
Mix well by hand. Store in a covered container in the
refrigerator until salad is ready.

2. Combine water, lime juice, soy sauce, and Worcestershire
in a medium bowl, and stir. Add the chicken breasts to the
marinade, cover bowl and keep in refrigerator for several hours.
Overnight is even better.

3. When chicken is marinated, preheat a frying pan or skillet
(an iron skillet, if you’ve got it) over medium/high heat. Also,
preheat your barbecue grill to medium/high heat.

4. Combine the spices for the Cajun spice blend in a small bowl.
Sprinkle a teaspoon of the spice blend over one side of each of
the chicken breasts. Cover the entire surface of the chicken
with spice.

5. Melt the butter in the hot pan, then sear the chicken breasts
for 2-3 minutes on the side with the spices. While first side
cooks, sprinkle another teaspoon of spice over the top of each
chicken breast, coating that side as you did the other. Flip the
chicken over, and sear for another 2-3 minutes. The surface of
the chicken will be coated with a charred, black layer of flavor.
This is exactly what you are shooting for.

6. Finish the chicken off on your barbecue grill. Grill each breast
on both sides for 2-3 minutes, or until they are done.

7. While chicken is cooking prepare the salads by splitting the
lettuce into two large bowls. Toss in the red cabbage and carrots.
Mix the cheeses together, then top the salad with the cheeses
and hardboiled egg. Sprinkle the diced tomato on each salad.

8. Slice the chicken breast, across each breast in 1/2-inch-thick
slices. Spread the chicken over the top of the salad and serve
immediately with dressing on the side. Serves 2 as an entree.