Green Asparagus Chicken Caesar Salad with Honey Pecan Nuts

Recipe From What's For Lunch, Honey?

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

For the dressing

• 1 egg, room temperature

• 1 garlic clove, crushed

• 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• 100 ml olive oil

• 75 ml milk

• 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard

For the Salad

• 500g green asparagus, cut in about 2 cm pieces

• 200g Romaine lettuce, washed and torn into pieces

• 50g Pecorino, grated or very thinly sliced using a vegetable peeler

• 2-3 slices rustic ciabatta bread, cut into cubes

• 4 tablespoons olive oil

• 30g pecan nuts, coarsely chopped

• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped

• Small bunch thyme

• 400g chicken breast, skin removed and sliced

• 2 tablespoons clear honey, like acacia

• 2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard

Method:

1. To make the dressing put the egg, garlic clove, mustard and 1 tablespoon lemon juice in a tall mixing container. Pour the oil and using an immersion blender blend the mixture until the dressing thickens. Add the milk and the remaining lemon juice and mix well. Season to taste.

2. Prepare a bowl with ice cold water. Blanch the asparagus pieces in salt water for about 3 to 4 minutes, making sure that they do not overcook and keep a slight crunch. With a slotted spoon remove the asparagus and immediately put into the ice water. Drain well.

3. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet, then throw in the ciabatta cubes and mix to coat in the oil. When the bread begins to turn golden, add the chopped garlic and toss. Transfer to a plate and set aside.

4. WIth the remaining olive oil fry the chicken slices on all sides until cooked through and browned. Add the nuts, honey, thyme and whole-grain mustard and mix. Allow to cook for about 1 minute until everything is nicely glazed. Season to taste.

5. Toss the asparagus and lettuce in the dressing and place on a platter (or divide into bowls). Lay out the honey-nut-chicken slices over the top and finally sprinkle with the croutons and the Pecorino cheese.

6. Sprinkle with freshly cracked pepper. Notes: Make sure that all the ingredients for the dressing are at room temperature as if they are used straight out of the fridge they will not blend into a homogeneous mixture.

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