Chopped Salad with Ham and Goat Cheese

Serve this tasty entrée salad with breadsticks and tall glasses of refreshing iced tea.

Recipe Ingredients:

8 ounces ham, thinly sliced, cut into bite-size strips
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon Chinese five-spice, or curry powder
1/2 cup pecans, halved
1/4 cup oil and vinegar dressing, or Italian salad dressing
2 tablespoons dry sherry
1 (10-ounce) package Mediterranean-style mixed salad greens, or Italian-style, torn
1/2 small cucumber, halved lengthwise and sliced
1 cup pea pods, fresh, halved crosswise
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
2 ounces goat cheese, semi-soft or feta cheese, crumbled

Cooking Directions:

1. Melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Stir in five-spice powder. Add pecans; cook and stir until nuts are toasted. Set aside. Combine salad dressing and sherry in a screw-top jar. Set aside.
2. Combine salad greens, ham, cucumber, pea pods, tomatoes and toasted pecans in a large salad bowl. Shake salad dressing mixture to combine; pour over greens mixture. Toss until coated. Sprinkle with crumbled cheese.

Makes 6 servings.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/6 of recipe): Calories: 216 calories; Protein: 12 grams; Fat: 16 grams; Sodium: 784 milligrams; Cholesterol: 30 milligrams; Saturated Fat: 4 grams; Carbohydrates: 6 grams; Fiber: 3 grams.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of National Pork Board.