Salads

Say the word salad to ten different people, and chances are that, with the exception of egg, potato, or tuna salads, the majority of answers will consist of lettuce, tomatoes, possibly onion rings, and dressing.

But salads don't have to be boring, as these six salads prove. Check out the Hot Chinese Chicken Salad or Light Spinach Salad and go from there. Enjoy!

GARDEN PASTA SALAD

Yield: 8 servings. Serving size: 1 1/4 cups salad.

This comes from Diabetes Self-Management.

View this online at https://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/recipes/salads/garden-pasta-salad/.

Ingredients

6 cups (about 12 ounces) cooked penne pasta

2 cups shredded cooked boneless skinless chicken breasts

3/4 cup chopped red onion

3/4 cup chopped red or green bell pepper

3/4 cup sliced zucchini

1 can (4 ounces) sliced black olives, drained

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon salt (optional)

1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed reduced-fat reduced-sodium cream of chicken soup, undiluted

1/2 cup lemon juice

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 cup chopped fresh basil (optional)

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Directions

Combine pasta, chicken, onion, bell pepper, zucchini, olives, red pepper flakes and salt in large bowl; toss lightly.

Combine soup and lemon juice in small bowl; mix well. Pour soup mixture over pasta salad; mix well.

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, basil, and parsley.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Calories: 286 calories, Carbohydrates: 33 g, Protein: 18 g, Fat: 10 g, Saturated Fat: 2 g, Cholesterol: 36 mg, Sodium: 886 mg, Fiber: 3 g

Exchanges per serving: 2 Bread/Starch, 1/2 Fat, 2 Meat.

ARTICHOKE CHICKEN SALAD

Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings; Serving Size: 3/4 cup

Source: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan

Book Title: The Complete Diabetes Prevention Plan

This is from Diabetic Gourmet.

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups shredded roasted chicken breast

1 cup marinated artichoke hearts, drained and coarsely chopped

1/2 cup 1-inch pieces roasted or broiled asparagus spears

1/4 cup chopped roasted red bell pepper

3 to 4 tablespoons light olive oil vinaigrette or Italian salad dressing

1/8 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

Directions

Combine the chicken, artichoke hearts, asparagus, and bell pepper in a medium bowl and toss to mix well. Add the salad dressing and pepper and toss again.

Let the salad sit for 15 minutes before serving or cover and chill until ready to serve. If desired, serve on a bed of fresh salad greens garnished with a sprinkling of blue cheese crumbles and chopped walnuts, or serve in lettuce-lined pita pockets.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 148; Fat: 5.1 g; Sodium: 301 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Protein: 18 g; Carbohydrates: 5 g

Diabetic Exchanges:2 Very Lean Meat, 1 Vegetable, 1 Fat

HOT CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD

Recipe Yield: Servings: 6 (Serving = 1-1/3 Cup)

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

8 ounces fresh or steamed Chinese egg noodles

1/4 cup 1/3-less-salt chicken broth

2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce

2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

1 tablespoons rice wine or dry sherry

1 teaspoon sugar substitute

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 tablespoon vegetable oil, divided

1 clove garlic, minced

1-1/2 cups fresh pea pods, sliced diagonally

1 cup thinly sliced green or red bell pepper

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1 cup thinly sliced red or green cabbage

2 green onions, thinly sliced

Directions

Cook noodles in boiling water 4 to 5 minutes or until tender. Drain and set aside.

Combine chicken broth, soy sauce, vinegar, rice wine, sugar substitute and crushed red pepper in small bowl; set aside.

Heat 1 teaspoon oil in large nonstick skillet or wok over high heat. Add garlic, pea pods and bell pepper; cook 1 to 2 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Set aside.

Heat remaining 2 teaspoons oil in skillet. Add chicken and cook 3 to 4 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Add cabbage, cooked vegetables and noodles. Stir in sauce; toss to coat evenly. Cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through. Sprinkle with green onions before serving.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 164; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 353 mg; Cholesterol: 45 mg; Protein: 17 g; Carbohydrates: 9 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 Starch/Bread, 2 Lean Meat, 1 Vegetable

CHICKPEA SALAD

Recipe Yield: Yield: 2 servings

Source: Diabetes Cookbook for Dummies

Book Title: Diabetes Cookbook for Dummies

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chickpea-salad.

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1/4 cup celery, chopped

1/4 cup red pepper, chopped

1/4 cup red onion, chopped

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon white pepper

2 tablespoons lowfat mayonnaise

Pita bread or mixed greens

Directions

In a bowl, coarsely mash the chickpeas.

Add the celery, red pepper, onion, salt, pepper, and mayonnaise and toss well.

Serve over pita bread or mixed greens.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 206; Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 641 mg; Protein: 10 g; Carbohydrates: 35 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 Starch, 1-1/2 Very Lean Meat, 1/2 Fat

MAYO-FREE CHICKEN SALAD

Recipe Yield: Makes 4 servings.

New this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/mayo-free-chicken-salad

Ingredients

3/4 pound baked or grilled chicken breasts

2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp. dried oregano

Juice of 1/2 a lemon

1 2.2-ounce can (1/2 cup) black olives, pitted and roughly chopped

1 Tbsp. tiny capers, well-rinsed and drained

10 cherry tomatoes, halved

Salt and pepper to taste

1 cup thin green beans, cooked, drained, and cooled

Romaine lettuce leaves, for serving bed (whole wheat pita bread for sandwiches optional)

2 Tbsp. chopped parsley

Directions

Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Place in a bowl and combine with oil, oregano and lemon juice. Let stand for about 1 hour.

Toss the chicken mix with olives, capers, tomatoes and green beans. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Arrange the salad on the romaine leaves. Sprinkle with parsley and serve. This recipe would also work on whole-wheat pita bread.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 240; Fat: 12 g; Saturated Fat: 2 g; Fiber: 2 g; Sodium: 280 mg; Protein: 27 g; Carbohydrates: 6 g

LIGHT SPINACH SALAD

Recipe Yield: Yield: 2 servings

Source: Magic Menus for People with Diabetes

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/light-spinach-salad

Ingredients

4 cups torn fresh spinach

4 ounces cooked boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed

1 medium orange, peeled, seeded, and sectioned

1/2 cup sliced mushrooms

1 small onion, sliced

2 ounces Cheddar cheese, cubed or in strips

2 tablespoons reduced-fat salad dressing

Directions

Combine all ingredients except cheese and dressing in a large bowl; chill. Before serving, add cheese and toss with dressing.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 302; Fat: 15 g; Fiber: 5 g; Cholesterol: 422 mg; Protein: 28 g; Carbohydrates: 19 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 3 Medium-Fat Meat, 2 Vegetable, 1/2 Fruit