Simple Chicken Breast Salad with Zesty Mandarin Jam Dressing
Diet Essential for Spring! How to Make Delicious Chicken Breast Salad (with Mandarin Jam Dressing)
Hello everyone! As spring approaches, I’m excited to share a light and refreshing chicken breast salad recipe that’s perfect for enjoying. If you’ve been spending too much time indoors and are concerned about a little extra belly fat, this salad is a fantastic way to start your healthy journey! No more worrying about revealing your figure in thinner clothes. We’ll enhance the flavor of this chicken breast salad with a sweet and tangy mandarin jam dressing for a delicious and healthy meal.
Salad Ingredients- 1 pack Fresh Chicken Breast (approx. 200-250g)
- 6-8 Sweet Cherry Tomatoes
- 1 Boiled Egg
- 4-5 Olives
- 1 handful of Fresh Chicory Greens
- 3-4 florets of Crisp Cauliflower (or Broccoli)
- 1/2 Sweet Potato
Zesty Mandarin Jam Dressing- 1 Tbsp Mandarin Jam (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 Tbsp Vinegar (e.g., Apple Cider Vinegar, White Wine Vinegar)
- 1/2 tsp Salt (adjust to taste)
- 3 Tbsp Olive Oil (or Canola Oil)
- 1 Tbsp Mandarin Jam (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 Tbsp Vinegar (e.g., Apple Cider Vinegar, White Wine Vinegar)
- 1/2 tsp Salt (adjust to taste)
- 3 Tbsp Olive Oil (or Canola Oil)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
You can purchase fresh chicken breast at your local grocery store. Alternatively, look for good deals online and freeze it immediately after purchase. To use, thaw it slowly in the refrigerator, or speed up the process by rinsing it under running water.
Step 2
Here’s a handy tip for easily peeling cherry tomatoes! First, make a shallow cross-shaped incision at the top of each tomato. Place the tomatoes in a bowl, pour boiling water over them, and let them sit for about 30 seconds to 1 minute until the skins start to loosen. Then, quickly rinse them under cold water, and the skins will peel off effortlessly.
Step 3
Watching a video demonstration of this tomato peeling method will make it much clearer! It’s far more convenient than blanching tomatoes in boiling water, and it helps preserve their fresh, crisp texture. Plus, you can peel them whenever you need them, making it a very practical technique I use often.
Step 4
Wash the sweet potato thoroughly, keeping the skin on. Place it in a pot with ample water, add a pinch of salt, and boil for about 15 minutes until fork-tender. You’ll know it’s cooked when a chopstick or fork slides in easily. For a single serving, you can also peel and microwave it, covered with plastic wrap, for about 5 minutes. I often add sweet potato to salads; it adds satisfying fullness and a natural sweetness that elevates the overall flavor.
Step 5
Boil the egg until hard-cooked. Fill a pot with water, add 1 tablespoon of salt, and boil over medium-high heat for 14 minutes. Immediately rinse the egg under cold water afterward; this will make the shell much easier to remove. Hard-boiled eggs add a creamy texture to the salad.
Step 6
Prepare the cauliflower (also known as ‘flower cabbage’) by separating it into bite-sized florets. Bring a pot of water to a boil, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and briefly blanch the cauliflower for 1-2 minutes. Be careful not to overcook, as it can become mushy. After blanching, immediately rinse under cold water, drain well, and let it sit in a colander to remove excess moisture.
Step 7
Now, let’s make the delicious mandarin jam dressing! If you don’t have mandarin jam, you can use the juice from 2-3 fresh mandarins. In a bowl, whisk together 1 tablespoon of mandarin jam (or mandarin juice), 1 tablespoon of vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Whisk until the ingredients are well combined and emulsified. A smooth, homogenous dressing is ready!
Step 8
Arrange the prepared chicken breast, peeled cherry tomatoes, hard-boiled egg, olives, blanched cauliflower, and fresh chicory greens attractively in a serving bowl. Drizzle the homemade mandarin jam dressing evenly over the top. Your delicious and healthy chicken breast salad is now complete!
Step 9
If you’re short on time to make a dressing from scratch, I recommend using a store-bought oil-based dressing like Italian or balsamic vinaigrette. While mayonnaise-based dressings are tasty, they can be high in calories and might counteract the health benefits of your salad if you’re aiming for a lighter meal. Choose wisely for your dietary goals!
