Description
Mediterranean chicken salad celebrates fresh ingredients with keto-friendly flair. Crisp greens and tender spiced chicken create a light, satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Cheese:
- 2.5 cups / 300g shredded cooked chicken
- ⅓ cup / 50g crumbled feta cheese
Vegetables and Herbs:
- ½ cup / 75g diced bell pepper (any colour)
- ⅓ cup / 50g sliced black olives
- ¼ cup / 40g diced red onion
- ¼ cup / 10g fresh basil leaves, cut into ribbons
Dressing Ingredients:
- ½ cup / 120g mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon / 15ml lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon / 15ml extra virgin olive oil
- ½ tablespoon / 7g Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional)
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken foundation by shredding cooked chicken into bite-sized, uniform pieces using two forks, ensuring no large chunks remain.
- Dice bell peppers and red onions into precise, small cubes approximately 1/4 inch (0.6 centimeters) to maintain consistent texture and even distribution throughout the salad.
- Crumble feta cheese into delicate, irregular fragments that will provide tangy bursts of flavor in each mouthful.
- Slice black olives into thin rounds, creating subtle mediterranean-inspired flavor elements that complement the protein and vegetables.
- Chop fresh basil leaves into delicate ribbons, releasing their aromatic essence and adding vibrant green color to the salad mixture.
- Create the creamy dressing by whisking mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, Dijon mustard, Italian seasoning, freshly ground black pepper, and sea salt in a small mixing bowl until smooth and well-integrated.
- Gently fold all prepared ingredients together in a large mixing bowl, ensuring each component is evenly distributed and thoroughly coated with the zesty dressing.
- Allow the salad to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving, enabling flavors to meld and develop a more complex taste profile.
Notes
- Refrigerate leftover salad in an airtight container for up to 2 days, keeping crunch and freshness intact.
- Customize protein choices by swapping chicken with tuna, turkey, or keeping it vegetarian with chickpeas.
- Boost nutrition by adding extra crunchy elements like toasted almonds or sunflower seeds for textural variety.
- Prep ingredients in advance by chopping vegetables and cooking chicken earlier to save time during assembly.
- Experiment with herb combinations like fresh dill, parsley, or chives to elevate the overall flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 422
- Sugar: 1.6g
- Sodium: . 600mg
- Fat: 33g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 1.4g
- Protein: 26.7g
- Cholesterol: 85mg