Roasted Grape Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

Roasted grapes could make an old shoe taste amazing!  If you have never tried roasting grapes before I hope that this recipe will inspire you to give it a try.  Roasting fruits and vegetables (for that matter) helps concentrate the sugars and brings out the sweetness.  Making them taste like candy.  They are so delicious!  One of my husbands favorite places to go eat has a roasted grape salad on their menu and we always get it when we visit.  Grape season is just beginning to start so this salad is the perfect addition to any seasonal menu rotation.  I hope that Roasted Grape Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette will be your go to, especially now that the weather is warming up.

There really isn’t much to this salad but it doesn’t need to be complicated to taste good now does it?  In fact I find that most of my clients prefer recipes that are simple and to the point.  I don’t know anyone that has the time to spend hours and hours in the kitchen making complex dishes with lots of ingredients.  Here I took a little extra time to season and toast my own nut and seed mixture but you could save that time by purchasing your favorite mixture already done for you.  Save even more time by roasting a whole chicken over the weekend and use the leftovers to add protein to this salad.  If you can find a quality rotisserie chicken in the store or even sliced chicken lunch meat done for you already then go for it.

The star of the show here is the roasted grapes so I do encourage you to make those yourself.  You might even want to make extra and use them in different ways.  Top your toast for a sweet homemade jam, mix into yogurt, or serve with cheese and crackers.  My absolute favorite way to use them, if you can’t guess, is to toss them into salads.  I served this salad to my husband last night and got his seal of approval!  I see many more Roasted Grape Salads in my future.

Getting in a salad rut?  Here are more ideas you might enjoy…

Massaged Mexican Kale Salad

Seared Ahi Tuna Salad with Sesame Dressing

Summer Salad with Ginger Dressing

Tuna Power Salad with Peanut Dressing

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Author Sara

Ingredients

• 1 pound red seedless grapes
• 1/2 cup your choice raw nuts and seeds I used cashews, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds
• 1/2 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• pinch salt
• 8 cups spring mix lettuce
• 1 pound cooked chicken *see note
• Citrus Vinaigrette
• 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice about 1 large orange
• 2 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar
• 4 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon raw honey
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

Instructions

1. Roast the grapes in a 425 degree F oven on a lined baking sheet until softened (they will look wrinkled) about 30 minutes, tossing on the pan every 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile mix the nuts and seeds with coconut oil and spices to coat.
3. Spread out on a lined baking sheet and toast in the oven until golden, about 10-15 minutes.
4. Make the salad dressing by adding the dressing ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
5. Add the dressing to a large bowl and coat the spring mix in the dressing.
6. Top with roasted grapes, toasted nuts, and roasted chicken if desired.
7. Serve immediately.

Recipe Notes

**to cook chicken. I take 1 pound chicken breast, add it to a baking dish, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and roast in the oven with the grapes until firm to the touch, about 20-25 minutes.
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