Vegan Cherry Cashew Chicken Salad

It’s Monday which means Meatless Monday! I know you are probably thinking what Chicken Salad on a Meatless Monday, that’s vegan? Yes I used Beyond Meat Chicken Free Grilled Strips, so yes plant protein. I normally wouldn’t post this kind of recipe on a Monday but I had to last minute move some recipes around and I thought it really is another way for those who are meat eaters to eat more plant based meatless meals. I just started eating these again as I had previously eliminated them because of the soy but trying to find a balance and increasing my, and the girls, protein intake a little. I hope you stick around and join my co-host Deborah and me for another delicious Meatless Monday. Link up and share your favorite meatless recipe below or check out what others are making, never know how you might be inspired.

Schools out, summers here, and it’s soccer season! As I have mentioned in the past things get a little crazy around here in the summer. S, my oldest, plays soccer on a traveling league which takes up time a few nights a week and most, if not all like this month, weekends. Top that off with the girls both playing rec summer soccer we are always running around to practice, a game, or again this year back to back or over lapping games which means dinners are quick and sometimes on the go. Of course we could eat dinner earlier but that doesn’t work well as we aren’t all here, my husband isn’t home until right before, A is at gymnastics camp, ect. While they need something to eat they don’t like to eat a lot just before playing and they are also hungry after soccer so we tend to go with smaller meals before, after, and sometimes in between. With all the running around and getting their stuff or if they eat in the car I will even bring something to the field. I’m not a big chicken salad (or vegan chicken) or even pasta salad fan as it often has so much mayo which I don’t like. Wanting something different I decided to whip up a chicken salad, using one of my favorite mustards and a little yogurt, or if making smaller batches I use Just Mayo for my husbands. This salad is great to have on hand for sandwiches, wraps, with crackers, or salads. This way it was there and we could grab it and make it how we want. I’m usually a salad person where the hubby prefers a sandwich and the girls are either wraps, or with crackers. No matter how we like it we all get a healthy protein packed dinner! To add fun I add fresh cherries and cashews. I like to have the cherries cut and ready to go but I don’t like to add them until just before we eat, same with the cashews as I like mine crunchy but you can add those in if you want they just get a little soft like any “deli” salad. If I’m taking it to go I just add in the cashews and put the cherries on top, stirring just before eating. Sometimes I like mixing it in and having fun pink chicken salad, it still tastes the same. Haha!

Vegan Cherry Cashew Chicken Salad
Makes 4 servings
2- 9oz bags Beyond Meat Grilled Chicken Free Strips
1/4c spicy brown mustard (Sir Kensington’s Spicy Brown Mustard)
1/4- 1/3c plain yogurt, or vegan mayo (So Delicious Unsweetened Plain Coconut Milk Yogurt)
1c cherries, halved and pitted
1/3-1/2c chopped raw cashews
season with sea salt and pepper as desired, optional

Serving suggestions:
spinach or greens of choice, soft tortillas (used gf brown rice tortillas) or bread

Chop your chicken free strips and place in a medium bowl. Stir in yogurt or mayo and mustard. Add in cashews or if you like them crunchy like me either stir in cherries and cashews just before serving or top salad, sandwich , or wrap with them after spooning chicken salad on. If taking on the go I stir in the cashews and just put the cherries on top. Enjoy!

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Spreading the Meatless Monday love I’m also linking up with The Fit Foodie Mama and Running on Happy for their Meatless Monday link up!