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Dinner TBD

Spiced Nut-Crusted Chicken & Smoked Sweet Potato Salad

Nut-crusted chicken with smoked sweet potato salad and honey-lime vinaigrette.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups mixed blend of whole almonds, walnuts, and pecans (for crust)
  • 1 egg white (binding for crust)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2-3/4 teaspoon cayenne
  • pinch salt
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar (for crust)
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar (for final bake)
  • baby spring mix, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • to taste salt and pepper
  • goat cheese, crumbled (to garnish salad)
  • 2-4 breasts chicken breasts
  • 2 cups spiced nuts, chopped
  • BBQ sauce (to coat chicken)
  • 2 pieces sweet potatoes (peeled and sliced into 1/2-3/4 inch rounds)
  • olive oil (brush with olive oil)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (or cayenne if you want heat)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar

Method

  1. 1

    Make the nuts first, then the dressing, season & slice the potatoes, then coat the chicken.

  2. 2

    In a mixing bowl, toss the nut mixture with the egg white until thoroughly coated.

  3. 3

    Add the rest of the ingredients and stir to incorporate.

  4. 4

    Bake on a parchment lined cookie sheet at 300 for 20 minutes.

  5. 5

    Remove the toasted nuts, sprinkle on the other TBSP of brown sugar, and bake for an additional 3-5 minutes.

  6. 6

    Cool completely, chop 1 cup per 2 breasts of chicken, and store any leftover in a pretty little Ball jar or air-tight container.

  7. 7

    Make the Honey Lime Vinaigrette by whisking all ingredients in jar or dressing bottle with a spout.

  8. 8

    Peel & slice the 2 sweet potatoes into 1/2-3/4 rounds, brush with olive oil, & sprinkle with the noted blended seasonings.

  9. 9

    Preheat the smoker to 350 & place the rounds to one side (these will take longer than the chicken at this temp)

  10. 10

    Meanwhile, tenderize the chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap (if needed), dredge the chicken in BBQ sauce, then coat with the chopped, spiced nuts.

  11. 11

    Place breasts next to the potatoes (over a piece of foil (so nuts don’t fall through) and smoke for about 20 min, checking & turning halfway, making sure to not over-cook. They will be done when they reach 155, then you can rest them for 5 min to reach 160.

  12. 12

    Plate dinner by drizzling on BBQ sauce over the chicken, placing 2-3 potato rounds over top the Baby Spring Mix, and garnishing with crumbled goat cheese & any extra spiced nuts.

  13. 13

    ENJOY!