Tender Frozen Chicken Breast Salad: A Healthy and Delicious Meal
From Thawing to Cooking! An Easy Frozen Chicken Breast Salad Recipe
Whip up a fantastic chicken breast salad using frozen chicken breast, a staple for your diet! With simple ingredients and easy steps, you can enjoy a nutritious and healthy salad.
Main Ingredients- 300g frozen chicken breast
- A generous handful of fresh salad greens (choose your favorites)
- 2 steamed sweet potatoes (medium size)
- 1 fresh seasonal fruit (e.g., plum, peach, etc.)
Tangy Dressing Ingredients- 3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 pinch of salt (a tiny bit)
- A little black pepper (freshly ground pepper adds great flavor!)
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 3 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 pinch of salt (a tiny bit)
- A little black pepper (freshly ground pepper adds great flavor!)
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Before cooking, transfer the frozen chicken breast to the refrigerator and let it thaw naturally overnight. Rapid thawing can cause the juices to escape, resulting in dry chicken. After thawing, rinse it lightly under cold running water to remove any impurities. Sprinkle a pinch of coarse salt for a light seasoning. This pre-seasoning enhances the chicken’s natural flavor, making it more delicious.
Step 2
In a pot, add enough water to cover the chicken breast and bring it to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add the seasoned chicken breast. For a better flavor, add a splash of cooking wine (or soju) and a few whole peppercorns to help remove any gaminess. To ensure it cooks through evenly, you can score the chicken breast with a knife or pierce it with a fork to check for clear juices.
Step 3
The chicken breast is now cooking beautifully. Simmer for about 15-20 minutes in the boiling water until it’s tender and moist throughout. You can check for doneness by piercing it with a fork; if clear juices run out, it’s ready. Once cooked, you can either let it cool slightly and shred it with your hands, or proceed directly to the next step.
Step 4
While the chicken breast is cooking, let’s prepare a fresh and delicious dressing! In a bowl, combine the balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, and olive oil. Whisk vigorously with a whisk or fork until the olive oil is emulsified and doesn’t separate. You can add a little honey or sugar to adjust the sweetness according to your preference. I omitted it to highlight the natural flavors, but feel free to adjust it to your taste.
Step 5
Immediately after the chicken breast is cooked, submerge it in ice-cold water. This crucial step helps retain the chicken’s juices, ensuring a moist and springy texture. Once it has cooled down enough to handle, shred the chicken breast along the grain into bite-sized pieces. If you scored it earlier, minimal trimming will be needed.
Step 6
Arrange the fresh salad greens attractively on a large plate. Add the steamed sweet potatoes and the fresh seasonal fruit (we used plums in this recipe, but any fruit you like works perfectly!). Generously top with the cooled, shredded chicken breast to complete your impressive chicken breast salad. Using sweet potatoes that were steamed alongside your rice makes preparation even easier. Finally, just before serving, drizzle the prepared dressing evenly over the salad and toss well. Enjoy your healthy and delicious meal!
