Applebee's Low-Fat Blackened Chicken Salad

Applebee's 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?

That is why the recipe is collectible

Dressing

1/4 cup fat free mayonnaise

1/4 cup Grey Poupon Dijon mustard

1/4 cup honey

1 tablespoon prepared mustard1 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 salt1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon onion powder1 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, diced1 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抳e 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.