The Best of Both Worlds: Get Your Greens and Eat a Warm Meal

Warm Mediterranean Chicken Salad

There’s no question that we crave hot comfort food during these cold winter months.  We tend to save salads for the warmer months, when simply the thought of turning on an oven or slaving over the stove makes you sweat.  This Mediterranean chicken salad bridges the gap between the desire to eat a warming, satisfying meal during the winter and the need to eat your greens. It’s healthy, filling and delicious.

Use one chicken breast for a light meal and two chicken breasts for a larger meal.  This salad would also be fantastic with sautéed shrimp instead of chicken.

Warm Mediterranean Chicken Salad

Serves 2

Ingredients

1 or 2 boneless, skinless chicken breast (2 for a larger meal)

1.5 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil  (fans of The Olive Scene might want to use Tuscan Herb Olive Oil!)

1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

1/2 cup snow peas, trimmed

1 teaspoon dried oregano

¼ cup pitted Kalamata olives

¼ cup cherry tomatoes, halved

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

3 cups of your favorite salad green, such as spinach

1 tablespoon high-quality Balsamic vinegar, such as The Olive Scene’s 18-Year Traditional Balsamic Vinegar

½ tablespoon lemon juice

sea salt and fresh pepper

Preparation

Cut the chicken breast into 1 inch cubes.  Season with salt and pepper to taste. 

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat.  Add chicken and sauté until cooked through, about 8-10 minutes.  Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.

Add the remaining ½ tablespoon of oil to the pan and allow it to get hot.  Add the onions and sauté until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes.  Add the snow peas, oregano, olives, tomatoes and garlic and sauté until the garlic is fragrant, but before it starts to brown.  Remove the pan from the heat.

Add the lemon zest and reserved chicken (with any accumulated juices) to the pan.   Toss to combine.

Dress the lettuce with the balsamic and the lemon juice.  Crack fresh pepper over it.  Divide the lettuce between two plates.  Plate half of the chicken mixture on top of the greens on each dish.  Enjoy!

This recipe is brought to you by The Olive Scene in Rocky River.  We carry the freshest, healthiest and most delicious olive oil available from all over the world.  We also have a wide selection of flavored and traditional balsamic vinegars, as well as gourmet food products to help you create amazing meals at home. Stop in or visit the store www.theolivescene.com.

Alyssa Wiegand

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Volume 1, Issue 9, Posted 3:42 PM, 03.04.2014