Summer is here (well almost), but today I kick off salad season.
Yes the dreaded, tasteless salad... Salads don't have to be boring and chicken doesn't have to always be grilled or crumbed.
Herbs and spices are a great way to enhance flavour without adding salt and they different combinations can completely transform a meal. Not to mention many herbs and spices contain antioxidants and help protect cells from damage and keep us healthy! (Click to checkout out my post on herbs and spices)
Polenta is also made from corn... that's right, its naturally gluten free. So any one with a gluten intolerance or who is coeliac can enjoy this crumbed polenta/chicken schnitzel inspired alternative.
SERVES: 4
PREP TIME: 20 mins | COOKING TIME: 20-25 mins
Ingredients
4 Chicken thighs or 2 Chicken breast
2 eggs
1 cup polenta
2 tablespoons sumac
1 table spoon cumin seeds
Salad vegetables of your choice (Recipe includes lettuce, tomato, beetroot and cucumber)
Olive oil spray
Pepper to taste
Dressing
2 tablespoon of low fat natural yoghurt or coconut yoghurt
1 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup of mint and coriander, chopped (or purchase pre-dried ingredients)
1 Spring onion (shallot stalk)
Method
Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees and line a baking tray with foil or baking paper.
Set up 2 mixing bowels. In one bowl combine the polenta, sumac and cumin seeds. In the other bowl beat the eggs.
Cut chicken into strips (if desired) and not its time to coat the chicken. First, coat the chicken piece in the egg, then transfer to the polenta and herb bowl and coat, then place on the baking tray. Repeat this process until all chicken strips are finished.
Lightly spray the chicken pieces with oil (so they don't dry out or stick to the foil!) and bake for 20-25 minutes.
While the chicken is cooking you can now prepare your salad and dressing. Combine your choice of salad ingredients and divide among 4 plates. Combine yoghurt, oil, spring onion, coriander and mint and stir until combined (or lightly blend if your prefer more of a dipping sauce)
Once chicken strips are cooked, serve and don't forget a dollop of yoghurt dressing and season with pepper (if desired)
Eat and enjoy!
The beauty about cooking is that you can absolutely make it your own work or art to suit you, your family and their tastebuds!
Here is a list of other things that may be just as tasty:
For all by vegetarian friends, try using firm tofu instead.
Experiment with herbs and spice combinations. You could try lemon zest, chives and parsley or moroccan seasoning, pepper and chilli flakes.
Use bread crumbs or cornflakes instead of polenta.
Who said you can't make friends with salad!
Enjoy xx
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