Grilled Mediterranean Chicken and Quinoa Salad

About This Recipe

Chicken and quinoa salad made with cucumbers, feta, tomatoes and olives is perfect for summer!

Ingredients

• 16 oz skinless thin sliced chicken cutlets
• kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 clove garlic (minced)
• 1 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary or oregano
• juice of 1/2 lemon
• 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup red onion (diced)
• juice of 1 lemon
• 1/4 cup kalamata olives (pitted and sliced)
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cups cucumber (peeled and diced (from 1 English))
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes (quartered)
• 1/3 cup crumbled feta
• kosher salt and fresh pepper (to taste)

Instructions

1. Rinse quinoa for about 2 minutes, using your hands to make sure all the saponins are removed.
2. Fill a medium pot with water, add quinoa and salt to taste and bring to a boil.
3. When the water boils, reduce heat to low and cover; simmer covered 15 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and keep covered an additional 5 minutes without lifting the lid; then fluff with a fork and set aside in a large mixing bowl to cool.
5. Meanwhile, season chicken on both sides with salt and pepper, garlic and rosemary.
6. Drizzle both sides with the lemon juice and 1 teaspoon olive oil and pat into the meat with your fingertips.
7. Refrigerate 20 minutes while you prepare the grill.
8. Preheat the grill on high heat, clean the grates and oil them to prevent sticking (or use a grill pan indoors sprayed with oil).
9. Arrange the chicken on the grill and cook until cooked and firm, 1 to 2 minutes per side.
10. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board, then slice into 1-inch pieces.
11. While the quinoa cools, dice all the vegetables.
12. To the large work bowl with the cooled quinoa, add the red onion, olives, cucumber and tomatoes to the cooled quinoa, and squeeze the lemon over it.
13. Drizzle the remaining tablespoon olive oil over the quinoa, then add grilled chicken, feta, salt and pepper to taste and toss well.
14. Taste for salt and adjust as needed, add more lemon juice if needed.