Poached Chicken Salad

by Edith Cody-Rice 

Bon Appetit calls this salad “healthyish” because it is made with poached chicken, lots of greens and a tahini-lime dressing. Light and delicious!

Serves 2-4.

Avoiding Additives and Preservatives

Use freshly squeezed lime juice, tahini that contains only sesame seeds and tamari instead of soy sauce. Make sure the sesame seeds and pepper flakes do not contain any preservatives. For more recipes using all-natural ingredients, visit Eye For a Recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (1–1½ lb./454-680 g total)
• 3 Tbsp. (45 ml) kosher salt, plus more
• 3 scallions, thinly sliced on a deep diagonal
• 3 Persian cucumbers
• ½ cup (125 ml) toasted sesame seeds, divided
• 2 Tbsp. (30 ml) fresh lime juice
• 2 Tbsp. (30 ml) tahini
• 1 Tbsp. (15 ml) soy sauce
• 1 tsp. (5 ml) honey
• ¼ tsp. (1.25 ml) crushed red pepper flakes
• ¼ head of romaine or green or red leaf lettuce or 1 head of Little Gem lettuce
• Big handful of cilantro leaves with tender stems
• ½ lime (for serving)

Preparation:

1. Bring chicken, 3 Tbsp. (45 ml) kosher salt, and 5 cups (1.2 L) water to a bare simmer in a medium pot over medium heat (chicken should be submerged). Once liquid begins to simmer, reduce heat to low and cook (water should not be simmering at all now) until juices run clear when thickest part of chicken is pierced, 8–10 minutes. Transfer chicken to a medium bowl; discard poaching liquid. Let chicken cool slightly, then shred meat into big pieces; set aside.
2. Meanwhile, place scallions in a small bowl and pour in very cold water to cover; let soak 10 minutes. Drain scallions in a mesh sieve or colander, then rinse under cold running water, swishing vigorously to encourage them to curl up. Shake off as much water as possible and place in a large bowl; set aside.
3. Working one at a time, slice cucumbers in half crosswise, then slice each piece in half lengthwise. Place quarters cut side down and slice in half lengthwise again to create 8 pieces total per cucumber. Add to bowl with reserved chicken.
4. Set 1 Tbsp. (15 ml) sesame seeds aside in a small bowl for serving. Crush remaining sesame seeds in a mortar and pestle until some of the seeds have turned to powder, but with plenty of whole seeds left. (Alternatively, pulse seeds a few times in a food processor or spice mill, then transfer to a medium bowl before proceeding). Add lime juice, tahini, soy sauce, honey and red pepper flakes and mash to create a paste. Add ¼ cup (60 ml) water and whisk to combine (if you don’t have a small enough whisk, work in with the pestle). Taste and season with salt.
5. Add lettuce and cilantro to bowl with reserved scallions. Pour half of dressing over greens and toss to coat. Arrange on a platter. Pour remaining dressing over chicken and cucumbers, toss to coat, and arrange over greens. Top salad with reserved 1 Tbsp. (15 ml) sesame seeds and squeeze juice from lime half over.

From Bon Appetit