Wild Rice, Cranberry, Corn, and Chicken Salad

Make the Wild Rice, Cranberry, and Corn Salad:

1. Add the rice to a medium size sauce pan along with 1 & 1/2 cups water and 1/2 tsp salt. Cover and set over medium high heat. When the water begins to boil, turn the heat down to low and let simmer gently without stirring until the rice is tender, about 15 -30 minutes. (The time will depend on the variety of wild rice.)
2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. While the rice is cooking, toss the corn, butter, olive oil, and Tajin seasoning together in a bowl. Spread the corn onto a rimmed baking sheet into one even layer. Sprinkle with approximately 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp ground black pepper. Roast for 20 minutes.
3. Cut the bacon into 1-inch pieces and add it to a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the bacon is crispy, approximately 10 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon pieces to a paper towel lined plate. Pour all but 2 tbsp of the bacon grease from the pan and discard.
4. Put the pan with the reserved 2 tbsp bacon grease back over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and cook, stirring constantly, just until beginning to brown, approximately 2-3 minutes.
5. Add the scallions, cumin, oregano, thyme, and cayenne, plus 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp ground black pepper to the skillet and cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute longer.
6. Add the lime juice, honey, and cranberries to the skillet and stir to combine. Cook, stirring constantly, until the cranberries are soft and breaking apart, approximately 3-4 minutes. Scrape the mixture from the skillet into a large bowl.
7. Add the cooked rice, roasted corn, bacon, and chopped cilantro to the bowl with the cranberry mixture and stir gently to combine. Cover and set aside while you prepare the fried chicken.

Make the Fried Chicken Medallions:

1. Cut the chicken into pieces that are approximately 2-inches wide. Add the flour to a shallow dish or pie plate and stir in 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper. Crack the eggs into a separate shallow dish or pie plate, sprinkle in 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp pepper, and whisk to combine and break up the eggs. Add the panko bread crumbs to another shallow dish or pie plate.
2. Set a clean plate nearby. Dip each piece of chicken into the flour, rolling it around to coat. Gently shake off excess flour, then dip the chicken into the eggs, coating it completely. Lift the chicken from the eggs and press the chicken into the panko bread crumbs, coating it on all sides. As you coat the chicken with bread crumbs, press it firmly with the palm of your hand to flatten it out and coat with a thick layer of bread crumbs. Lay the chicken medallion onto the clean plate and repeat with the remaining pieces of chicken.
3. Lay several paper towels on a plate and set it close to the stovetop. Pour the corn oil into a large, deep saucepan set over high heat. Heat the oil comes to 375 degrees on a candy or deep fry thermometer.
4. Using tongs, add several pieces of chicken to the hot oil; do not overcrowd the pan. As the chicken fries, monitor the oil, adjusting the heat as necessary, so that the oil stays between 325 – 340 degrees. Let the chicken cook on one side until it’s a deep golden brown, then turn to the other side. When it is a deep golden brown on all sides, remove one piece of chicken from the hot oil and lay it on the paper towel lined plate. Quickly cut into the piece of chicken to check for doneness. If there is no pink inside the chicken, immediately remove the other pieces from the hot oil to the paper towel lined plate. Total cooking time for the chicken medallions is 3-5 minutes. Repeat with all the chicken medallions until they are all cooked.

To serve:

1. Pile 1 – 1 & 1/2 cups of the rice, cranberry and corn salad onto the center of each plate. Top with a couple pieces of chicken and sprinkle with a few roasted and chopped almonds.