Copycat Culver's Chicken Cashew Salad is a quick and filling salad recipe that's as simple to toss together as it is delicious!
Every time I hit the trail I look forward to seeing a few familiar faces that help distract and get me through a tough (torturous, even? In this heat anyway) run.
First is the older couple I can usually expect about 3/4 miles in. Always walking one ahead of the other, the woman will give me a grin while her partner waves from behind her in one slow arc from his elbow, like a rainbow signaling relief. Nearly 1 mile done!
I can always count on the older gentleman riding his bike at breakneck speeds 1/4 mile later wearing, wait for it — a wrestling singlet with, cough, nothing underneath — for a chuckle to distract me from the sweat that’s generally pouring down my chin at that point.
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Pin ItJazzy power walker lady in her cute visor and walkman gives me an encouraging, I know you’re dying, sweetie, but just keep going! smile near the end of my journey, while the runner’s wave I exchange with a guy I’ve seen lose 100+ pounds over the past couple of years totally inspires me to push through the last 1/4 mile, which is uphill in both directions.
With 15 feet of snow on the ground even in the summertime…
Similarly, there’s nothing that helps get me through a long day quite like knowing dinner isn’t going to be complicated or take a long time to prepare, and that it will be utterly delicious and satisfying to boot.
I almost always have the ingredients on hand to make Copycat Culver’s Chicken Cashew Salad which takes approximitely two minutes to toss together once you cook a chicken breast to perch on top.
Chicken Cashew Salad is my favorite salad from Culver’s, a Midwestern fast-food chain, which I get anytime I’m on the road. Or craving cheese. They have the best cheese.
I make it home a lot for lunch, and it couldn’t be easier to toss together. Just saute or grill a chicken breast then place it on a bed of lettuce studded with sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, cashew halves, and freshly grated cheddar cheese in any amount you like.
No measurements needed in this non-recipe, recipe!
The absolute best part is the freshly grated cheddar cheese that gets sprinkled on top. Freshly grated cheddar is silky, creamy, and smooth, and pairs beautifully with the salty cashews, and sweet cherry tomatoes. Definitely skip the pre-shredded stuff!
I like to dress this salad with a hit of fruity Raspberry Vinaigrette for a nice flavor contrast. However you serve it — enjoy!
Equipment
Ingredients
- Chicken breasts, 1 per person
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Chopped romaine lettuce, 4 cups per person
- Cucumber slices
- Cherry tomatoes
- Cashew halves
- Sharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- Raspberry Vinaigrette, or your dressing of choice
Directions
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Brush chicken breasts on both sides with extra virgin olive oil then season with salt and pepper. Saute for 4-5 minutes a side or until no longer pink in the center. Remove to a plate then let rest for 5 minutes and slice.
- In the meantime, divide lettuce between plates. Top with cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, cashew halves, cheddar cheese, and the cooked chicken.
Notes
- Feel free to cook the chicken ahead of time then add on top of the salad chilled.
I LOVE this salad at Culver’s. And now I’m wondering why it never occurred to me to try and make it at home! Yay! Thanks!
Haha! I love your comments about the fellow-sweaty people that you get to know on your runs. I don’t get to be out on trails, but run the same streets in town, so I often see the same people in their yards or on the road with me. Whenever I come across a new worker-outer (yup, its a word), I imagine their story in my head. Are they back into a routine after an injury? Training for a race? Or the master gardner whose yard is pristine. It keeps me very distracted! Especially in this heat….. I am sure we will be complaining about the windchill soon enough.
You are so right about the Culver’s salad — the cheddar is the best part. As a Friday treat, I like to get a Butter burger (no cheese or mayo) and a side salad, which still has that glorious cheddar. Better than French fries, I think.
There is definitely a group of us “regulars” on the High Trestle Trail on weeknights. The boombox guy is probably the most well-known — he rides with a boombox in his bike basket, blasting Bob Segar or Neil Diamond. He rides back and forth on the trail all the time.
That chicken looks amazing! Makes me hungry!
Ooh, that salad looks delicious! I’m a west-coaster, so I’ve never heard of Culvers, but if this is the type of food they’re serving, I’ll have to check them out the next time I’m in the midwest!
I don’t always name people I see on the trail or gym but I certainly recognize them a lot! After awhile, I try to initiate a knowing nod that isn’t usually reciprocated…I have named one guy at the gym, though, “hat guy.” Original, I know. He always wears a beanie when working out which sort of baffles me, so of course I spend my time on the treadmill creating theories as to why he wears it. He has long hair so maybe he wears a beanie to keep it from flying everywhere but he’s too self-conscious to rock a pony? Maybe he has no hair so he wears a beanie with fake hair attached to the bottom? I may never know…
I kind of name people at the gym…but more like give them apt descriptions.
Such as: “rather attractive bald man”
“lady who could benchpress me”
“cute old man who’s always walking on the treadmill”
“Girl who’s biceps I really, really want”
The list is getting pretty extensive nowadays. :-)
i hugely miss culvers after my two year stint in nebraska while in the air force. that custard…oh, my lord, that custard.
Um, HI HELLO. This looks easy and I look happy. College apartment kitchen holla at meeeeee
Oh my goodness I love Culver’s and I’ve ordered that salad many times – and with raspberry vinaigrette too! Great minds think alike. :)
Sorry I spelled your name wrong earlier when I emailed you. I hate it when people spell mine with a “Ch” – you’d think I’d pay more attention to other people’s spellings! (Must’ve been reading too much gossip about the Twilight couple.)
I work out at a Farrel’s location in Minnesota and with common names we just add descriptions like “5am Amy”, “Amy guns”, “little Amy” and the like. If I don’t know someone’s name I’ll give the class time and then the general area on the mat that they work out at.. “He’s a 7am-er, front corner…” It’s almost always the same week after week!
You know why Culver’s has the best cheese, right? Because it started right here in good ol’ Wisco! The chicken cashew salad is my favorite on-the-go “healthy” option but I normally go to Culver’s when I’m craving something bad for me. ;)
I don’t have a consistent schedule which means I don’t walk or jog at the same time daily, thus not seeing the same people every day, but I do know the names of ALL the dogs in the neighborhood. The owners/my neighbors? Not a clue…
Haha! So true! I know the dog’s names too… & not the owners… oops!
There is a lady on my 3.7 mile hike that pushes her 1 1/2 year old in a stroller and carries her 3 year old on her back in a pack…I call her super mom. She’s there every time but never smiles at me even though I have a goofy “you’re the woman” smile on my face. Go figure.