Spiced Grilled Chicken Salad (Print Version)

Middle Eastern-inspired salad with aromatic spiced chicken, crisp vegetables, and creamy yogurt dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Chicken

01 - 1.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 2 tsp ground cumin
04 - 2 tsp ground coriander
05 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
06 - 1 tsp ground turmeric
07 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
08 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
09 - 1 tsp salt
10 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
11 - Juice of 1 lemon

→ For the Salad

12 - 1 large cucumber, diced
13 - 2 medium tomatoes, diced
14 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
15 - 3.5 oz mixed salad greens
16 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

→ For the Yogurt Dressing

17 - 7 oz plain Greek yogurt
18 - 1 tbsp olive oil
19 - Juice of 1/2 lemon
20 - 1 garlic clove, minced
21 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
22 - Salt and pepper to taste

# Directions:

01 - In a bowl, combine olive oil, cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper, salt, minced garlic, and lemon juice. Mix thoroughly until well combined.
02 - Add the chicken to the marinade and toss to coat evenly. Marinate for at least 15 minutes, or up to 2 hours for enhanced flavor.
03 - Preheat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the marinated chicken for 5-7 minutes per side until cooked through and lightly charred. Remove from heat and allow to rest for 5 minutes before slicing thinly.
04 - In a large bowl, combine the diced cucumber, diced tomatoes, sliced red onion, mixed salad greens, and chopped parsley.
05 - In a separate bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, ground cumin, salt, and pepper until smooth and well blended.
06 - Divide the salad mixture among serving plates, top each portion with sliced chicken, and drizzle with the yogurt dressing. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It transforms basic ingredients into something that feels like you spent hours planning when really you just raided the crisper drawer
  • The spice blend does all the heavy lifting so even plain chicken becomes deeply flavorful and golden
  • Everything can be prepped ahead and assembled in minutes when hunger strikes hard
  • It tastes just as good at room temperature which makes it perfect for lunch the next day
02 -
  • Letting the chicken rest after cooking is not optional, if you slice it immediately all the juices run out and you end up with dry meat
  • Do not crowd the pan when cooking the chicken or it will steam instead of getting those beautiful charred bits that add so much flavor
  • Taste the yogurt dressing before you serve it because every batch of yogurt has a different tanginess and you might need more lemon or salt to balance it
03 -
  • If your chicken thighs have uneven thickness, pound them gently with a meat mallet so they cook evenly and you do not end up with dry edges and raw centers
  • Reserve a little bit of the raw spice blend before adding lemon juice and sprinkle it over the finished chicken for an extra hit of flavor and aroma
  • Use a very sharp knife to slice the rested chicken thinly against the grain, it makes each bite more tender and helps the dressing cling better
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