A salad with blue cheese, dried cherries or cranberries, pecans or walnuts, maybe some chicken, and raspberry vinaigrette. What is this type of salad called in your neck of the woods? Here in Michigan, it’s widely referred to as “Traverse City salad,” after the city in the northern lower peninsula that is world famous for it’s cherries and annual cherry festival. In other parts of the country, I think it’s mostly called a “Sonoma salad,” although I’m not sure of the origin of that name. Is this salad popular in Sonoma wine country?

To be honest, it doesn’t really matter what you call it, just as long as you make it and enjoy it. Here, instead of traditional mixed greens as the base of this salad, I went with pasta. But to call it a “pasta salad” is kind of a misnomer, because it’s like 20% pasta, 80% good stuff like chicken, earthy and creamy Stella^® Gorgonzola cheese, crunchy nuts and celery, and sweet dried fruit. These Sonoma Chicken Pasta Salad Jars are portable, adorable and delicious, which is kind of the trifecta in my book.

Looking to win some green this Spring? Enter the Stella Cheeses “Bring on the Green(s)” giveaway! One lucky salad lover will win a $250 prize! Enter at StellaCheese.com or on the Stella Cheeses Facebook page. To enter, simply provide your e-mail address and Pinterest user name, and follow Stella Cheeses on Pinterest. Promotion period runs March 1 – 31, 2015. Also, be sure to follow Stella Cheese on Instagram and check out their #RecipeExchange #SpringSalads Pinterest board for more great salad ideas!

Yield: 4 servings

Sonoma Chicken Pasta Salad Jars

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Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Ingredients

For the Salad Jars:

• 6 ounces rotini or penne pasta
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries or cherries
• 4 stalks celery, thinly sliced
• 1 cup diced cooked chicken (about 1 small breast)
• 1/4 cup pecans
• 1/3 cup Stella Freshly Crumbled Gorgonzola Cheese

For the Raspberry-Poppyseed Vinaigrette:

• 1/2 cup fresh raspberries
• 2-1/2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon poppyseeds

Instructions

1.  Cook pasta according to package direction. Drain and rinse with cold water.
2.  Meanwhile, make the Raspberry-Poppyseed Vinaigrette: In food processor or blender, process raspberries, vinegar, honey, sugar, salt and pepper until smooth. Add oil; process until all oil is incorporated. Stir in poppyseeds.
3.  Divide Raspberry-Poppyseed Vinaigrette equally among 4 pint-sized mason jars. Divide pasta over dressing; layer remaining salad ingredients. Top with lids and refrigerate up to 4 days. To serve, pour onto plate or bowl, stir and enjoy.

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Want more salad jar ideas? Check out these other portable, fun lunch recipes!

Chopped Salad Jars with White Balsamic-Dijon Vinaigrette

Chicken & Spinach Salad Jars

 Asian Noodle Salad Jars

Marinated White Bean Salad Jars

 
Disclosure: This post is part of a relationship I have with Saputo Specialty Cheese for recipe development. Posts like this help me pay for the costs associated with this blog (groceries…lots of groceries), and help support me as I pursue a career in recipe development and food photography. All opinions are 100% my own.