For our September salad, I chose Chicken Garden Salad with Ranch dressing.

It’s colorful and versatile. You can serve it for lunch or dinner.

Served without the chicken, it makes a perfect side salad that would work well with most main courses.

Here is the link for the recipe,

https://www.aheadofthyme.com/2016/03/grilled-chicken-garden-salad-with-homemade-ranch-dressing/

I like this recipe because you can use whichever vegetables you have on hand, and you can substitute dressings.

I used cherry tomatoes, red onions, carrots, green peppers, kalamata olives, black olives, radishes, cucumber, mixed greens, and romaine lettuce. I used plant-based chicken, a bottled dressing, and store-bought croutons.

The recipe includes directions for homemade ranch dressing. You can make it vegan by using cashew milk yogurt or dairy-free sour cream, hemp milk, and plant-based mayonnaise instead of sour cream, whole milk, and mayonnaise.

The recipe calls for chicken strips with directions on how to pan fry or bake them. You can also substitute breaded chicken strips. That would be my son James’ vote.

For my second serving of this salad I used a balsamic vinaigrette instead of ranch dressing, and it was delicious.

This recipe is quick, easy to follow, and flexible – three winners in my kitchen.

I served the salad on a large plate with the dressings, croutons, and chicken/chicken substitute kept separate, so my dinner companions could build their own salads.

I think next time I serve this recipe; I will include bowls of raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, almonds, and walnuts.

It would also be great served with mushrooms, tuna, shrimp, or salmon.

Please be sure to check the Ahead of Thyme website for other delicious recipes. 

Our October salad will be Kale, Butternut Squash and Pomegranate Salad 

The Twelve Months of Salads - 2023

January – Celery Salad with Apples

February - Strawberry Avocado Salad

March – Spring Pea, Asparagus and Mint Salad

April - Spring Salad with Edamame, Cucumbers. Snow Peas and Tofu Croutons

May – Southwestern Bean Salad

June – Salad Niçoise

July –  Blueberry Cucumber Summer Salad with Creamy Balsamic Vinaigrette

August – Italian Pasta Salad

September – Chicken Garden Salad with ranch dressing

October – Kale, Butternut Squash and Pomegranate Salad

November – Hearty Farro Salad

December – Vegan Soba Noodle Salad