Many times, the inspiration for a dish comes from one simple ingredient I have on hand. In this case, it was these beautiful, flavorful tomatoes. Cherry sized kumatos.
One thing led to another, and before long I had a delicious, healthy entree worthy salad ready for the taking.
It was a sunny, yet crisp afternoon that I wandered into our garden. I was harvesting the vegetables that remained before Jack Frost beat me to the job! These little tomatoes were bountiful. I also found 2 small cucumbers, a variety of peppers, a lone (slightly misshaped) zucchini, 1 globe eggplant and a half dozen Japanese eggplants.
I knew the eggplant would be used for another round of Fae’s Moussaka. The rest left me thinking.
Me, thinking, can be a dangerous activity…just ask Glenn!
Thank goodness it didn’t take long to realize having a few more ingredients lurking in the pantry and refrigerator, I could produce a fresh, flavorful and filling meal in no time.
Cannellini beans + pasta + fresh baby spinach + fresh mozzarella + chicken + the prime garden picks = dinner (plus a lunch the next day, too)!
I used a simple concoction of lemon olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, fresh chopped basil and oregano to both marinate the chicken and to dress the salad. It was light and flavorful.
Garden Pasta Salad with Grilled Chicken
Ingredients:
For the salad:
8 ounces pasta, any shape
15 ounce can cannellini beans
12-18 cherry sized tomatoes, quartered
4 cups baby spinach, loose packed
2 ounces fresh mozzarella, cubed
2 cups assorted chopped vegetables (I used a variety of peppers, cucumbers, etc)
4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (substitute breast meat if desired)
For the dressing/marinade:
12 ounces white balsamic vinegar
6 Tablespoons lemon infused olive oil
2 Tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
2 Tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped
salt & pepper to taste
Directions:
- In a measuring cup, whisk dressing/marinade until well blended.
- Place chicken in a zip-top bag, pour half of dressing/marinade in the bag and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the salad.
- Cook pasta according to package instructions; drain and rinse with cold water; set aside.
- Drain and rinse the cannellini beans.
- In a large bowl, combine the pasta, beans, tomatoes, mozzarella and chopped vegetables (not the spinach). Dress the salad with remaining dressing to taste. I used about 1/2 of the remaining dressing, reserving the remaining amount for serving. Place salad in refrigerator.
- Remove the chicken from the marinade, allowing excess to drip off. Discard the marinade. Grill chicken over medium-high heat until internal temperature of 165°F is achieved.
- To serve, place approximately 1 cup of spinach on a serving plate, top with pasta salad and a cooked, sliced chicken thigh/breast. Serve with additional dressing.
This is one, great salad, Nancy! You’ve still so much to reap from your garden. Mine gave out weeks ago, though there really wasn’t all that much to begin with I’ve half of a roasted chicken in my fridge and you’ve just given me inspiration to put it to very good use. Thanks!
Thanks, John. After the Halloween snow, the garden officially gave out…the gate has been opened to allow the herd of deer to feast with their friends! This salad made me feel a little healthier and a lot less guilty about my sweet indulgences. 🙂 Have a great week!
Oh yeah…this is my kind of salad…my kind of meal. This looks so delicious, Nancy! The dressing sounds perfect.. I’d use it for more than just this salad.. ❤ Wonderful recipe!!
Thank you, Prudy. Everything just kind of fell together for a great meal, with very little effort in the work department! 🙂
Look at those tomatoes! Amazing dark color! I think they super tasty! 🙂 By the way, love the salad too!
Thanks…and taste of the tomatoes matched their beauty perfectly! I’m definitely planting the same kind next year…I miss them already and I’ve yet to see any in the stores in my area.
The satisfaction of picking your veggies from your garden is unbeatable. Never saw ‘kumatos’. And oregano is my favorite herb. Love the total look of your salad 🙂
Thanks, skd. Until I grew these in my garden, I had only seen the large, full-size kumatos. I’ll definitely grow them again next season, as I loved the taste! The salad was a hearty and delicious meal. 😀
Looks real good Nancy! I do not use my white balsamic vinegar much but now I have a good dressing to try. The beans are a good ingredient to add making it healthier, right? 🙂
Thanks, Judi! The beans definitely add another level of healthiness…and the simplicity of the dressing can’t be beat. 🙂
Nancy, everything about your salad looks and sounds delicious 🙂
Thank you, Linda…it was satisfyingly delicious. 🙂
I love me a good salad, and I could definitely go for this right about now. Great job Nancy 🙂
Thanks, Jess…it was a plate full of yummy goodness. 🙂
This looks delicious! Funny though when I tell my hubby “I was just thinking….” he immediately responds with “oh know”. 🙂
Lol…happy to hear I’m not alone in “dangerous thinking”, Julie!
Thats a beautiful salad. Delicious!
Thank you, Suzanne. Food doesn’t always have to be “pretty” to get me to eat it…but it sure does help. 😉
So true rhe best food may not be pretty.
Or photogenic either…especially with my photography skills!
Your photos look really good to me.
🙂 Thanks…through trial and error I’m slowly learning.