The light chicken salad with cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and green sauce is a cold and light summer chicken salad.
A simple and tasty idea perfect even for the hottest days.
A sort of Greek salad with chicken: fresh and tasty.
You can prepare it with freshly cooked chicken or use leftover cooked chicken, turning it into a leftover and recovery recipe.
Light and perfect for summer.
Ideal for family lunches, picnics or work.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 2People
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Purchase the yellow chicken by asking the butcher to remove the skin: chicken skin is very fatty, so it is advisable to remove it before cooking.
- 10 oz chicken (breast, chop, or thigh)
- 1 tbsp green sauce (or pesto)
- 12 pieces cherry tomatoes
- 1 cucumber
- 12 green olives in brine (pitted)
- to taste capers in salt
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch mixed peppercorns (with grinder)
- 1 drizzle extra virgin olive oil (raw)
- to taste lemon juice
Suggested Tools
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- Salad Bowl with lid
Preparation
1. Store the raw chicken in a sealed container in the coldest part of the fridge at a temperature of 41°F max and avoid letting its liquids drip onto other foods.
2. Do not wash raw chicken: you might spread germs through water splashes.
3. After touching the chicken, thoroughly wash utensils, surfaces, and hands with warm water and soap to avoid cross-contamination.
4. Cook the chicken well.
How do I know if the chicken is well cooked?
Cut the slice at the thickest part: the meat should not have any pink traces, and the juices should be completely clear.For the chicken salad, you can use breast, chop, or thigh of:
– grilled or grilled chicken;
– oven or air fryer chicken;
– roasted chicken;
– boiled chicken.Cook the chicken and wait for it to cool, or use leftover cooked chicken.
Cut the chicken into pieces or shred it.
Use a green sauce or pesto to your liking.
I added a tablespoon of arugula and sun-dried tomato pesto.
For the detailed step-by-step procedure, you can read the full recipe by clicking on the following link: Light Arugula and Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto | Light and Tasty Condiment Recipe.Other types of green sauce:
– Light Basil Pesto without Garlic and Cheese | Digestible, Tasty and Light Condiment;
– Light Arugula Pesto without Garlic and Cheese | Light Condiment Recipe;
– Light Parsley Pesto | Anti-waste Condiment and Flavor Enhancer Recipe;
– Light Celery Pesto | Anti-waste Condiment and Flavor Enhancer Recipe.Cherry Tomatoes
Thoroughly wash the tomatoes.
Cut and remove the stem part if you deem it necessary.
Cut each piece vertically in half.Cucumber
Remove the skin with a potato peeler and the ends.
Thoroughly wash the cucumber.
Cut the cucumber into rounds or chunks.Olives
Drain and rinse the olives.Capers
Rinse and squeeze a handful of capers and finely chop them with a knife.In a large bowl or salad bowl, pour:
– the chicken;
– the green sauce;
and mix;
– the tomatoes;
– the cucumbers;
– the olives;
– the capers.Season with a pinch of salt and a pinch of pepper.
Drizzle with a bit of raw oil – considering the one already present in the green sauce – and lemon juice in about the same amount.Plate up.
Your light chicken salad with cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and green sauce is ready.
Enjoy your meal!
To make it even more delicious, you can complete it with a tablespoon of:
– Greek Yogurt Sauce or Dressing.
Storage, Tips, and Variations
Alternatively, you can use turkey breast instead of chicken.
For an even more Greek variant and a more intense flavor, add thinly sliced red onion.
The chicken salad can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Take it out of the fridge half an hour before consuming it so it will return to being soft and tasty.
It’s perfect for taking outside, in a thermal container or in a cooler bag.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
How do I know if the chicken is well cooked?
Cut the slice at the thickest part: the meat should not have any pink traces, and the juices should be completely clear.
Which part of the chicken is lighter?
The skinless breast: it has less fat.
