Pesto Grilled Chicken Avocado Salad

  • 4
  • 15 mins
  • 35 mins

Ingredients

  • Dressing:
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons basil pesto, (homemade or store bought)
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice, (adjust to your tastes)
  • 1-2 tablespoons water, (optional -- for a thinner consistency)
  • 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • cracked pepper, to taste
  • 4 (1 pound or 500g) skinless, boneless chicken thigh fillets (or chicken breasts)
  • Salad:
  • 4 cups Romaine, or Cos lettuce leaves, washed and dried
  • 1 large cucumber, diced
  • 1 cup grape (or cherry) tomatoes, diced
  • 1/2 red onion, sliced
  • 1 avocado, sliced
  • 1/2 cup crumbled feta
  • Lemon wedges, to serve
  • 2 tablespoons extra pesto, to serve
  • 2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil or parsley, to garnish

Preparation

Step 1

Whisk together all of the dressing ingredients in a large jug. Pour out half of the dressing into a large, shallow dish. Refrigerate the remaining UNTOUCHED marinade to use as a dressing later.
Add the chicken to the marinade in the bowl; marinade chicken for 15-30 minutes (or up to two hours in the refrigerator if time allows). While waiting for the chicken, prepare all of the salad ingredients and mix in a large salad bowl.
Once chicken is ready, heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a grill pan or a grill plate over medium-high heat. Grill chicken on both sides until browned and completely cooked through. (abt 10 min/side)

Allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes; slice and arrange over salad. Drizzle salad with the remaining UNTOUCHED dressing. Serve with lemon wedges, extra basil pesto AND chopped basil or parsley, to garnish.