01/03/2019
Chicken Caesar salad! Recipe courtesy of BBC good food. Serves 4. 35 mins to make, but lasts 2 days after making.
Ingredients:
1½ tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp fresh thyme leaves, plus a few sprigs
1 garlic clove, bashed to bruise
4 organic/free-range skinless boneless chicken breast fillets, about 140g/5oz each
Croutons
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 tsp Dijon mustard
½ tsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp lemon juice, plus extra for squeezing
good pinch chilli flakes
4 anchovies fillets, finely chopped
3 tbsp good-quality mayonnaise (we used Hellman's)
4 tbsp fat-free yogurt
1 head romaine or Cos lettuce, leaves separated, washed and dried
100g bag rocket or watercress
25g piece parmesan, shaved with a potato peeler
Method:
Marinate the chicken. Mix the lemon juice, oil, thyme and garlic in a shallow dish. Add the chicken and turn it over in the marinade to coat well. Season with freshly ground pepper and leave for up to 2 hrs.
Heat the oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Slice, then cut the bread into big, rough cubes for the croutons. Spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet, then brush all over with the 2 tbsp oil. Bake for about 10 mins until golden and crisp.
Meanwhile, put the garlic into a mini blender with the mustard, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, chilli and anchovies. Blend until smooth, add the mayonnaise and yogurt, then blend again – it should be the consistency of double cream. Adjust the taste with lemon juice and pepper. If necessary, thin with a couple of tsps of cold water to get the consistency right so it will coat the leaves.
Heat a griddle pan until very hot. Lay the chicken on the griddle, on the side that had the skin on. Cook for 15-16 mins, turning once or twice, until cooked through. Remove, then let the meat sit for 5 mins before slicing.
Keep any small inner lettuce leaves whole, tear the larger outer leaves into 2-3 pieces, then put them all into a large bowl with the rocket or watercress. Pour just under half the dressing over the leaves and carefully toss to coat – it’s gentler to use your hands. Either assemble in the bowl, or pile the leaves onto individual plates, tucking in the croutons, chicken and Parmesan.
