The ultimate makeover: Chicken Caesar salad
By Angela Nilsen
Cooking time
Prep: 25 mins Cook: 25 minsSkill level
EasyServings
Serves 4Angela Nilsen has been on a mission to make the not-so-innocent Caesar salad more honest. The result? A healthier and tastier version. So tuck in
Nutrition and extra info
Additional info
- Easily halved
- Healthy
Nutrition per serving
- kcalories
- 430
- protein
- 43g
- carbs
- 15g
- fat
- 23g
- saturates
- 4g
- fibre
- 3g
- sugar
- 4g
- salt
- 1.37g
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 1½ tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves, plus a few sprigs
- 1 garlic clove, bashed to bruise
- 4 organic/free-range skinless boneless chicken breast fillets, about 140g/5oz each
For the croutons
- 100g rustic granary bread
- 2 tbsp olive oil
For the dressing and salad
- 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp lemon juice, plus extra for squeezing
- good pinch chilli flakes
- 4 anchovies fillets, finely chopped
- 3 tbsp good-quality mayonnaise (we used Hellman's)
- 4 tbsp fat-free yogurt
- 1 head romaine or Cos lettuce, leaves separated, washed and dried
- 100g bag rocket or watercress
- 25g piece parmesan, shaved with a potato peeler
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Method
- Marinate the chicken. Mix the lemon juice, oil, thyme and garlic in a shallow dish. Add the chicken and turn it over in the marinade to coat well. Season with freshly ground pepper and leave for up to 2 hrs.
- Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Slice, then cut the bread into big, rough cubes for the croutons. Spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet, then brush all over with the 2 tbsp oil. Bake for about 10 mins until golden and crisp.
- Meanwhile, put the garlic into a mini blender with the mustard, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, chilli and anchovies. Blend until smooth, add the mayonnaise and yogurt, then blend again – it should be the consistency of double cream. Adjust the taste with lemon juice and pepper. If necessary, thin with a couple of tsps of cold water to get the consistency right so it will coat the leaves.
- Heat a griddle pan until very hot. Lay the chicken on the griddle, on the side that had the skin on. Cook for 15-16 mins, turning once or twice, until cooked through. Remove, then let the meat sit for 5 mins before slicing.
- Keep any small inner lettuce leaves whole, tear the larger outer leaves into 2-3 pieces, then put them all into a large bowl with the rocket or watercress. Pour just under half the dressing over the leaves and carefully toss to coat – it’s gentler to use your hands. Either assemble in the bowl, or pile the leaves onto individual plates, tucking in the croutons, chicken and Parmesan. Drizzle the rest of the dressing over and around, then finish with an extra squeeze of lemon.
Recipe from Good Food magazine, June 2008
Comments, questions and tips
Comments
I make this recipe on a regular basis for my other half, who loves it. It's simple to make, and tastes so good that I wouldn't want to go back to full-fat caesar salads! I don't have a griddle pan so I grill the chicken instead (just as good) and when I'm feeling lazy I add ready-made croutons. I also add whole anchovies since we love them.
I only used two anchovies in the dressing as not everyone likes them but put some extra ones on the table for those who do to help themselves. I added half a cupful of grated parmesan to the dressing, which gave it a delicious flavour, and added leaves from two heads of chicory to the salad. I still added some shavings of parmesan before serving, and the dish received rave reviews from friends and family.
Fabulous recipe, really delicious, and so, so easy to make. I left out the anchovies because I don't like them, and used 2 chicken breasts since I was cooking for only me and my partner. However, I didn't reduce the dressing ingredients at all and thank goodness I didn't because it was so delicious and there was not a drop left. Will definitely be making this again regularly.