Chicken and Pomegranate Salad
If you’re tired of the usual Grilled Chicken Breast seasoned with salt and oil, try transforming it into the undisputed star of a tasty salad with Pomegranate and Arugula.
The Chicken and Pomegranate Salad is a healthy and tasty proposal that is quick to prepare and economical for a light but complete lunch, also suitable for the Christmas holiday period, so as not to overdo it between one feast and another and still bring a colorful and inviting dish to the table.
Preparing the Grilled Chicken Breast and Pomegranate Salad is super easy: just grill the chicken, cut it into pieces, and mix it with other ingredients: salad and Pomegranate seeds, then season it with a vinaigrette or sauces with or without mayonnaise, and in less than 30 minutes, you’ll bring to the table a delicious and colorful dish that can be modified in many variations depending on what you have available at home.
Like every recipe, there are different versions; today’s is the classic Chicken Salad that my mom always prepared when she was short on time but still wanted to pamper us a little.
You can use pre-cut chicken bites, a whole chicken breast to be shredded, or slices; the important thing is, depending on the thickness, to pay attention to the cooking time, which will be more or less extended. Then, depending on your taste, you can choose whether to grill the chicken for a roasted and smoky base or boil it for a softer and tender bite.
You can also use leftover Roast or Baked Chicken, recycling it in a tasty way, because nothing goes to waste in the kitchen!
From this Chicken Salad recipe, you can create many tasty variations: with sliced boiled eggs, tuna and capers; or grilled vegetables; with pickles; with boiled potatoes, in short, whatever you prefer and have available.
The Chicken and Pomegranate Salad is also an alternative way to consume Pomegranate seeds, a fruit rich in beneficial properties and good luck.
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Rest time: 15 Minutes
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 4
- Cooking methods: Grill
- Cuisine: Italian
- Energy 220.96 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 4.45 (g) of which sugars 2.30 (g)
- Proteins 24.33 (g)
- Fat 12.74 (g) of which saturated 1.99 (g)of which unsaturated 0.53 (g)
- Fibers 1.58 (g)
- Sodium 532.15 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 150 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 4 slices chicken breast
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (+ for chicken marination)
- 1/2 lemon (the juice)
- to taste salt
- 1 pinch black pepper (ground)
- pomegranate (seeds of 1 fruit)
- 200 g salad
Tools
- Grill
- Bowl
METHOD
First, prepare an emulsion of oil, lemon, and pepper and massage the chicken breasts. Let them marinate for a few minutes: you can also flavor the chicken with spices like paprika or curry, but remember to salt the meat only at the end of the cooking process, or it will become tough.
Place a grill on the fire, and only when it’s hot, arrange the chicken breast slices. Let them cook for 3-4 minutes per side without poking the meat with a fork but turning it with kitchen tongs. Ensure the chicken is well-cooked inside before finishing cooking. Once ready, remove it from the grill, place it on a cutting board, let it rest for 5 minutes, then slice it into strips and set aside.
Meanwhile, wash the salad under running water, then dry it with a clean cloth. Cut the Pomegranate into two parts and extract the seeds from one half (How to easily seed a Pomegranate) while from the other half extract the juice with a juicer. Pour the juice into a bowl, add 2 tablespoons of oil and a pinch of salt, and mix well to emulsify the sauce.
In a salad bowl, place the chicken breast strips and the freshly prepared dressing, mix and let rest for at least 15 minutes to allow it to absorb the flavors.
After the time has passed, add the salad to the bowl with the chicken, a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, mix, and plate. Finish the dish by decorating with some Pomegranate seeds.
NOTES
To prepare chicken salad, it’s ideal to cook it on a grill or griddle, or at most in a non-stick pan. To ensure it cooks well inside, choose fairly thin slices. If you’re not able, like me, to slice a whole chicken breast without butchering the slices, do as I do and ask the butcher to do it.
VARIANTS
The beauty of Chicken Salad is that everyone can compose it as they wish. You can add nuts for a crunchy note, or if you love strong flavors, a good aged cheese that will give character to your salad. Here are some ideas to serve Chicken Salad:
1 – Classic Chicken Salad: Chicken, cherry tomatoes, and croutons.
2 – Rich Chicken Salad: Chicken, boiled egg, crispy bacon, and boiled egg
3 – Unique Dish Chicken Salad: Chicken, grains, or legumes
4 – Light Chicken Salad: Chicken, raw carrots, and zucchini
5 – American Chicken Salad (Caesar Salad): Chicken, lettuce, croutons, parmesan, and Worcestershire sauce
6 – Chicken Salad with fruit: chicken, avocado, strawberries, and balsamic vinegar
7 – Crispy Chicken Salad: The chicken is not grilled but breaded and fried
8 – Autumn Chicken Salad: Chicken, sautéed mushrooms, and toma cheese
9 – Asian Chicken Salad: Chicken, bean sprouts, and bell peppers
STORAGE
The Grilled Chicken and Pomegranate Salad should be eaten immediately once dressed. You can store it in the refrigerator, closed in an airtight container, for a maximum of one day.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Why is the Pomegranate fruit given as a gift?
The pomegranate fruit has been considered a good omen since ancient times as a symbol of abundance, fertility, and luck because it contains many seeds (about 600).
What are the properties and benefits of Pomegranate fruit?
Properties and benefits of Pomegranate
Is it called Pomegranate or Pomegranate fruit?
All the curiosities about the Pomegranate fruit
