Orange Cranberry Chicken Salad
Navel Oranges: A Sunshine Fruit
LISA GRENTZ, MS, RDN, CD/LDN, FAND
If you find yourself missing the bright glow of the sun during the winter months, try increasing your citrus intake for a bit of edible sunshine. Navel oranges, with their colorful thick skin and flavorful flesh, are a great way to brighten your day.
This seedless fruit was named for the indentation at the top of the fruit resembling a bellybutton or navel. Each juicy orange segment is packed with nutrition and compounds that provide health benefits. Oranges are loaded with vitamin C, which is used by the body to boost immune function and enhance iron absorption. Oranges are also a good source of folate and fiber. The white pith is where you can find most of the flavonoids and antioxidants that reduce inflammation. Vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants are also abundant in the orange peel or zest and can add a burst of flavor to baked goods, salads, salad dressing, sauces, pasta, and rice or curry dishes.
Navel oranges are in peak season from January through March, making now a great time to enjoy this nutritious and tasty fruit.
Orange Cranberry Chicken Salad
Yield: 3 cups
2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
1 Tbsp. diced green onions
½ cup diced celery
¼ cup dried cranberries, chopped
3 navel orange segments, diced (about ¼ cup)
2 Tbsp. thawed frozen orange juice concentrate (not diluted)
2 Tbsp. Greek yogurt
1 tsp. orange zest
¼ cup chopped almonds
Instructions:
In a medium bowl, combine chicken, green onions, celery, cranberries, and orange pieces then set aside.
In a small bowl, whisk together orange juice concentrate, yogurt, and zest until well combined. Pour over chicken mixture and stir to combine. Cover and chill salad for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator to allow flavors to combine. Just prior to serving, mix in almonds. Delicious when eaten with a spoon or as a spread on crackers.
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To prevent the extra concentrate from going to waste, mix it with slightly less water than suggested on the can to make a batch of orange juice.