Description
Zesty chicken and avocado salad bowl delivers a refreshing Mexican-inspired culinary journey packed with bold flavors and nutritious ingredients. Crisp greens, tender grilled chicken, creamy avocado, and tangy cilantro dressing create a perfect balance you’ll crave after the first bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (400 grams)
- 50 grams feta cheese, crumbled
Vegetables and Fruits:
- 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cucumber, sliced
- 10 cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 avocado, sliced
Seasonings and Dressing Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds
Instructions
- Heat grill or grill pan to medium temperature, preparing surface for chicken cooking.
- Create a robust seasoning blend by mixing olive oil with garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika.
- Thoroughly massage the seasoning mixture onto chicken breasts, ensuring complete coverage.
- Grill chicken for approximately 5-7 minutes per side, checking that internal temperature reaches 75C (165F) for safe consumption.
- Remove chicken from heat and allow to rest for 5 minutes, enabling juices to redistribute throughout the meat.
- Craft a vibrant dressing by combining olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a sealed jar.
- Vigorously shake dressing ingredients until smooth and fully emulsified.
- Layer chopped romaine lettuce as the foundational base in a large salad bowl.
- Strategically arrange sliced red onion, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and creamy avocado across the lettuce.
- Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese and crunchy pumpkin seeds over the vegetable layer.
- Slice rested grilled chicken and position atop the salad components.
- Drizzle prepared dressing over the entire salad and gently toss to ensure even distribution of flavors.
- Serve immediately while ingredients remain fresh and chicken is warm.
Notes
- Marinate chicken beforehand in buttermilk or yogurt for extra tenderness and deeper flavor absorption.
- Swap out chicken with tofu or tempeh for a vegetarian version that maintains protein content and grilling techniques.
- Use a meat thermometer to guarantee precise chicken doneness, preventing dryness while ensuring food safety.
- Customize salad with seasonal vegetables or alternative greens like baby spinach or mixed spring mix for variety and nutrition boost.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 635 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 430 mg
- Fat: 48 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 36 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg