Sometimes the best thing you can do in a kitchen is get out and go for the grill. Heres how to create a simple bed of grilled goodness to anchor a warm salad. All with an easy twist to create a double duty marinade/dressing and jazz it all up.
Directions for: Grilled Chicken & Pepper Salad
Ingredients
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
4 peppers, assorted colors, halved, stemmed and seeded
4 Tbsp (60 ml) of olive oil
2 Tbsp (30 ml) of balsamic vinegar
A heaping spoonful (1 tablespoon/15 ml) or so of Dijon mustard
1 tsp (5 ml) or so of chili powder
A big bunch of fresh basil
3 or 4 green onions, chopped
A sprinkle or two of salt and lots of freshly ground pepper
Directions
1. Prepare and preheat your grill to its highest setting.
2. Halve the peppers and remove the seeds. Toss them in a bowl with a big splash of olive oil and set aside. Whisk together the vinegar, oil, mustard and chili powder to make your double duty marinade/dressing. Reserve a half cup or so of the sauce to act as a salad dressing and put it in a second bowl. Always use separate bowls so as not to contaminate the dressing half with the raw chicken!
3. Toss the chicken breasts in the marinade to coat. Now bring it and the peppers to the grill and cook both sides to perfection.
4. Layer the peppers in a festive salad bowl, thinly slice the chicken breasts and place on top. Add your fresh basil and green onions and pour on your dressing. Pretty and pretty fantastic! All that grilled goodness is ready for the plate. Serve and share!
5. Freestyle Twist: Its easy to twist this meal up again and again by varying the vinegar, mustard or oil. Rice, red wine, white wine, or apple cider vinegars are all good options. Dijon, grainy, or any favorite mustard you have in the fridge will bring zest and your oil options are endless. Twist it up with some sunflower, safflower, vegetable or that extra special olive oil youve been hoarding. Experiment and add a twist to your next grilling party! (Use your neighbors as guinea pigs!)
See more: Summer, BBQ, Grill, Kid-Friendly, Chicken