Nutrient-Rich Quinoa Chicken Breast Salad
A Delicious Quinoa Chicken Salad Recipe That’s Good Enough to Sell
This salad recipe, recommended by a friend, is packed with various superfood ingredients and tastes incredibly delicious. It’s a healthy and satisfying meal option.
Main Ingredients- Quinoa: 30g (about half a ladleful for a rice bowl)
- Chicken Breast Tenderloins: 2 pieces
- Fresh Basil Leaves (optional)
- Mixed Salad Greens (to your preference)
- Cucumber: 1/2
- Chia Seeds: 1 Tbsp
- Sunflower Seeds: 1 Tbsp
- Sliced Almonds: 1 Tbsp
- Dried Cranberries: 1 Tbsp
- Hemp Seeds: 1 Tbsp
- Pine Nuts: 1 Tbsp
- Dried Figs: 2
- Dried Goji Berries: 1 tsp
- Parmesan Cheese (for garnish)
Refreshing Salad Dressing- Fresh Lemon Juice: 1 Tbsp
- Balsamic Vinegar: 1 Tbsp
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: 1 Tbsp
- Semi-Dried Tomatoes: 3 Tbsp (chopped)
- Oil from Semi-Dried Tomatoes (optional)
- Fresh Lemon Juice: 1 Tbsp
- Balsamic Vinegar: 1 Tbsp
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: 1 Tbsp
- Semi-Dried Tomatoes: 3 Tbsp (chopped)
- Oil from Semi-Dried Tomatoes (optional)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, rinse the quinoa thoroughly. In a pot of boiling water, add about half a ladleful (30g) of quinoa and cook for 5 minutes. Drain the cooked quinoa well in a sieve. Separately, boil the two chicken breast tenderloins, then shred them along the grain. Prepping the quinoa and chicken in advance will make assembling the salad much easier.
Step 2
Wash and slice half a cucumber into bite-sized pieces (half-moons or cubes). Wash your mixed salad greens and pat them dry. If you have fresh basil leaves, prepare them as well. Basil adds wonderful flavor, but the salad will still be delicious without it. Using a variety of greens will enhance the color and texture.
Step 3
Now, let’s make the delicious salad dressing! In a small bowl, combine 1 Tbsp of fresh lemon juice, 1 Tbsp of balsamic vinegar, and 1 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil. Add 3 Tbsp of finely chopped semi-dried tomatoes. If you have the oil from the semi-dried tomatoes, adding about 1/2 tsp will further enhance the flavor. Whisk these ingredients together with a fork or whisk until emulsified. You’ll have a refreshing and deeply flavored dressing.
Step 4
Prepare the nuts, seeds, and dried fruits that will add a nutty crunch and chewy texture to your salad. In a large mixing bowl, add 1 Tbsp each of chia seeds, sunflower seeds, sliced almonds, dried cranberries, hemp seeds, and pine nuts. Chop the two dried figs into appropriate sizes and add them along with 1 tsp of dried goji berries. Combining these diverse ingredients will create a wonderfully rich salad.
Step 5
Combine all the prepared ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add the shredded chicken breast, sliced cucumber, salad greens, and the mix of nuts, seeds, and dried fruits. Drizzle the prepared dressing evenly over the ingredients. Gently toss everything together using a spoon or spatula until all ingredients are well coated with the dressing. Be careful not to overmix, as it can make the greens mushy. Transfer the finished salad to a serving dish and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese for a beautiful Quinoa Chicken Breast Salad. Enjoy your healthy and delicious meal!
