Balsamic Chicken Salad with Lemon Quinoa
Crisp and juicy pan fried chicken in balsamic, garlic and olive oil, mixed into an incredible loaded salad with Kalamata olives, Feta, Lemon flavoured Quinoa and sweet grape tomatoes.
Is it just me, or is this thing for real..
After a week of internet f-ups, telephone cut-outs and car issues…I needed something fast.
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This was it. Oh boy, was this it.
This was one of those: quick-raid-the-fridge-and-get-as-many-things-as-you-can-fit-into-your-arms-before-something-falls-and-smashes-and-breaks-your-toe-then-you-end-up-in-the-emergency-room type situations.
Grabbed what I could as fast as I could to make whatever I could come up with in under 10 minutes – so much pressure when the whole family is looking at you with giant expectations.
I love olives. Have I ever told you that? Especially Kalamata. There’s something so special in the saltiness that takes to to a Greek island somewhere that I’ve only ever been to in my sleep. Somewhere hot. Somewhere secluded with blue clear waters, and crystal blue skies.
And steaming, crispy, fresh outta the pan-fried chicken, drunk in Balsamic and garlic flavours. Dumping quinoa full of Lemon-y perfection on top of this with creamy Feta and those sweet, bursting-with-tomato-juices grape tomatoes….
And you know what? The husband said, ‘you don’t even get this type of food in a restaurant. This is full of flavour. It’s really good.’
Hold the phone. Say whaaaat? And the dressing took this to a whole other playing field of Balsamic tang and garlic olive oil craziness exploding on every taste bud because every flavour just.fits.
Try this people. It’s a warm salad. Its a flavourful salad. It’s a happy salad that will bring you a happy time.
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Weight Watchers: 9pp per serve
- 1/2 cup dry quinoa
- 1 cup vegetable or chicken stock (or water mixed with 1 teaspoon vegetable stock powder)
- Pinch of salt to season
- Juice of 1/2 a lemon
- 6 boneless chicken thigh or breast fillets , trimmed of fat
- 1 tablespoon garlic (or plain) olive oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- Juice of 1/2 a lemon
- 1 teaspoon vegetable stock powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder/granules or 1 clove garlic , crushed
- 6 cups (200g | 7oz) cos lettuce, washed and shredded
- 200 g | 7oz grape tomatoes , halved
- 1/2 medium red onion , thinly sliced
- 100 g | 3.5oz pitted kalamata olives
- 50 g | 1.7oz reduced fat Feta cheese
- 1/2 cup continental parsley
- 2 tablespoons garlic olive oil
- 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
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In a small saucepan, combine quinoa, stock and salt together. Bring to the boil; reduce heat to gentle simmer, cover with a lid and cook for 15 minutes or until broth has absorbed and quinoa is soft. Remove from heat and set aside while still covered and allow to steam. After about 2 minutes, fluff with a fork. Allow to cool slightly and add the lemon juice.
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Add the chicken fillets in a large skillet or nonstick pan with the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, stock powder and garlic powder/granules. Saute the chicken until nice, crispy and golden on both sides, and cooked through. Remove from heat; allow to cool slightly, and slice into 1-inch strips.
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Combine all dressing ingredients in a small bowl/jug, and whisk until mixed through.
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Combine the lettuce, tomatoes, onion, olives, Feta and parsley together in a large salad bowl. Top with chicken slices and quinoa, and drizzle with the dressing. Toss to combine. Serve with lemon wedges.
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Jordan says
About how many oz of chicken did you use for this recipe? Looks delish!
Parks says
A little bit too garlicy, but overall, I am satisfied. I will recommend this to my friends.
Alice says
Any suggestions in place of feta cheese?
Rhonda says
Only 2 grams of protein?r
Karina says
Hi Rhonda. 28 grams of protein 🙂
Christine says
Hi, I could not find vegetable stock powder at my local grocery store. Do you have any good substitutes you could recommend? Thank you! It looks amazing!
Karina says
Hi Christine! Do you have bouillon powder?
Dayna Szilagyi says
ALL OF THESE DISHES LOOK DELICIOUSLY AMAZING!! I can’t wait to try them! The problem is, which do I make FIRST?❤
Tawnia says
I made your salad for dinner tonight. It’s delicious and healthy. My Mr. even enjoyed the quinoa, I expected him to balk at eating it! ? We’ll enjoy it again in the future. Thank you for sharing.
Shelley says
What is ‘cos’ lettuce? Thank you.
Karina says
Cos is Romaine 🙂
Ella says
I just finished my “first” bowl. I think I have to get another bowl just to be sure that I made this correctly. Lol. I’ve been on a quinoa fix so this is right up my alley.
I had some baby spinach I needed to use up and threw some in with the Romaine lettuce. I like the idea of making dressing vs using bottled, tastes fresher.
This salad will definitely be going into my rotation.
Jolene says
Is your nutritional info per serving? Thank you, this looks amazing!
Karina says
Hi Jolene! It certainly is!
Amanda says
Wow, that was so tasty !
Rachel @ Bakerita says
This looks so amazing!! Such a perfect, filling salad. And I am so so in awe of your photography – I love how clear and well-lit your photos are. Do you use all natural lighting? Pinned!
Karina says
Hey Rachell. Thank you so much! Yes 99% natural lighting so far, with a few exceptions of artificial here and there. I love natural light. Between me and you: I use tissue paper on windows to act as diffusers when it gets too bright. Your Instagram feed is gorgeous btw. Thank you for your message Xxxx