Chicken Wild Rice Salad With Dried Fruits and Peanuts

If you are looking to cut back on heavier foods and eat more salads, this is a great recipe for you. Do you enjoy salads but they leave you hungry (and wanting to snack!) a couple of hours after your meal? If so, this is a perfect salad recipe for you. It is healthy, much lighter than most meals, yet it contains protein, grain, fruits and nuts which will keep you from having hunger pangs before time for your next meal. Try this Chicken Wild Rice Salad with Dried Fruits and Nuts. It is a salad you will be glad to have in your recipe file.

CHICKEN-WILD RICE SALAD WITH DRIED FRUITS AND PEANUTS

1 pkg (6.2 oz) fast-cooking long-grain and wild rice mix

2 cups chopped, cooked chicken (or turkey)

1 medium apple, unpeeled and chopped

1 medium green bell pepper, chopped

1 medium stalk celery, chopped

1/2 cup dried chopped apricots

1/3 cup dried chopped cherries

2 tbsps soy sauce

2 tbsp tap water

2 tsp granulated sugar substitute such as Splenda

2 tsp cider vinegar

1/3 cup dry roasted peanuts

Cook rice mix as directed on the package, omitting the butter. Spread rice out evenly in a thin sheet on a large cookie sheet. Let stand for 10 minutes to cool. Stir occasionally to ensure even cooling.

In a large mixing bowl, mix chicken, apple, bell pepper, celery, apricots and cherries. In a small mixing bowl, mix together soy sauce, water, sugar substitute, and vinegar until sugar substitute is dissolved.

Add rice and soy sauce mixture to the chicken mixture; toss gently until all is coated. Add peanuts and toss gently.

Enjoy!