Crispy bacon. Flavor filled chicken tenders. Cubes of cheddar cheese. Summer cherry tomatoes. Creamy avocados. And fresh herbs. I mean. Yeah. And it's pretty quick and simple to make. The perfect end of summer meal for your summer cherry tomatoes. So many incredible flavors and textures! This salad leaves you feeling full and satisfied. Definitely worth the short time it takes to make it!
Somehow it became September. Not sure what happened. I’m pretty sure it was just July. Wasn't it? But I my calendar says it’s September, so it must be. Even weirder, it’s already more than halfway through the month. How did that happen? At least I can still enjoy the flavors of summer for now.
I think this is one of those recipes that just feels like summer. The cooking is minimal, and the recipe consists of so many fresh ingredients. It's not a heavy meal, but leaves you feeling full and completely satisfied. It also has so many incredible textures and flavors in it. It’s amazing! Crispy bacon. Flavor filled chicken tenders. Cubes of cheddar cheese. Summer cherry tomatoes. Creamy avocados. And fresh herbs. I mean. Yeah. It’s really good.
This is one of those recipes that looks like it might be alright, but maybe isn't worth your time. But it totally is! I think this will become a regular in our summer dinner rotations because it is just so good! The combination of flavors and textures is just so good! And it's quick and easy to make. Definitely worth the few minutes of your time to make it.
Marinade and Dressing
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
juice of 1 lemon
1-2 tablespoons dried basil or 1/4 cup fresh basil
1 small shallot, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon dried rosemary, chopped
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt, or more to taste
1/8 teaspoon black pepper,
pinch of red pepper flakes
Salad
3/4 pound boneless skinless chicken tenders
1 bell pepper, quartered
1/2 pound dry orzo pasta
1 cup cubed cheddar cheese
3 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese
1 head red leaf lettuce, shredded
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
6 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
1 avocado, sliced
Combine all of the ingredients for the marinade/dressing and whisk until smooth. Pour 1/3 of the dressing over the chicken and let marinade for about 10 minutes. Heat grill pan or skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken to the pan and cook through, flipping halfway. This will probably take about 10-15 minutes depending on your stove.
If your are using a grill pan for the chicken, grill the pepper for a couple minutes as well. You can also just leave it fresh. Either way, dice the pepper.
Cook the orzo according to the package directions. Drain.
In a large bowl combine orzo, cheddar cheese, chicken, peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, bacon, and sliced avocado and half off the remaining dressing. Toss to combine. Sprinkle with feta.
Serve with remaining dressing. This salad can be served either hot or cold. It's pretty yummy either way!
Commentaires