- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total time
- 45 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 560 kcal
Quick summary
“This combination brings together chicken breasts marinated in herbs and grilled, served over a refreshing salad of white quinoa, vegetables, and olives. A complete, practical, and nutrient-rich meal.”
What you need to know
- Balanced marinade: lemon juice, garlic, and spices tenderize the chicken meat and ensure juiciness.
- Cooking in broth: cooking quinoa in vegetable broth over low heat adds depth of flavor to the grains.
- Controlled grilling: browning for 5 to 7 minutes per side over medium-high heat seals the juices without burning.
Ingredients
Main
- units (approx. 180g each) Chicken breasts (boneless and skinless)
- tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil (for marinade)
- tablespoons Sicilian lemon juice (for marinade)
- cloves Minced garlic
- teaspoon Dry oregano
- teaspoon Sweet paprika
- teaspoon Sea salt (for the marinade)
- quantity Freshly ground black pepper (for marinade)
- cup Quinoa branca
- cups Vegetable broth (or water)
- unidade (picado) Pepino japonês
- cup (halved) Tomate cereja
- unit (finely chopped) Red onion
- unidade (picado) Red bell pepper
- cup (sliced) Pitted black olives
- cup (chopped) Fresh parsley
- tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil (for the salad dressing)
- tablespoon Lemon juice (for salad dressing)
- quantity Salt (for the salad dressing)
- quantity Black pepper (for salad dressing)
Instructions
Principal
- Prepare the Chicken: In a container, mix the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken breasts and make sure they are well coated. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, ideally 2 hours.
- Cook the Quinoa: Rinse the quinoa well under running water to remove the saponin. In a pan, combine the quinoa and vegetable broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, or until all liquid is absorbed. Let it rest for 5 minutes and loosen with a fork.
- Prepare the Salad: While the quinoa cools, in a large bowl, combine the cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, bell pepper, olives, and parsley.
- Grill the Chicken: Heat a grill (or grill pan) over medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade (discard the excess) and grill for 5-7 minutes on each side, or until it is cooked through and has nice grill marks. The exact time may vary.
- Finish the Salad: Add the already cold quinoa to the bowl with the vegetables. In a small container, mix the olive oil and lemon juice for the dressing. Season with salt and pepper. Pour over the salad and mix gently.
- Serve: Slice the grilled chicken into strips or serve the breast whole alongside a generous portion of the vibrant quinoa salad. Decorate with a sprig of fresh parsley if desired.
Chef's tips
- Wash the quinoa in a fine-mesh sieve under running water to remove the saponin that leaves a bitter residual flavor.
- Let the chicken breast rest on a cutting board for 3 minutes before slicing so the juices settle into the meat.
- Let the quinoa cool completely before mixing with the raw vegetables to avoid softening the cucumber.
Variations
- Shredded chicken: cook the chicken in the quinoa broth and shred into medium strips to mix directly into the salad.
- Addition of cheese: add small cubes of goat cheese or cured Minas cheese for a salty texture.
- Toque picante: add a teaspoon of spicy paprika or red pepper flakes to the chicken marinade.
Substitutions
- White quinoa: replace with cooked brown rice, hydrated Moroccan couscous, or already cooked wheat berries.
- Sicilian lemon: use Tahiti lemon, reducing the amount by a third due to its more pronounced acidity.
- Chicken breast: can be replaced with boneless, skinless chicken thighs or thick, lean pork loin fillets.
How to store
Keep the chicken and the quinoa salad in separate containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Separating the preparations prevents the humidity and temperature of the chicken from softening the fresh vegetables.
Can it be frozen?
Freeze only the sliced chicken breast and cooked quinoa without vegetables for up to 2 months. Do not freeze the assembled salad, as cherry tomatoes and cucumber fall apart and release liquid after thawing.
What to serve with
Serve with slices of rustic sourdough bread, cubed avocado seasoned with olive oil, or extra baby arugula salad with drops of balsamic vinegar and fleur de sel.
Frequently asked questions
Can the quinoa salad be served warm?
It can be eaten warm, but cherry tomatoes and Japanese cucumber preserve their crunch much better when incorporated into the quinoa at room temperature.
How to recognize the correct point of cooked quinoa?
The quinoa is ready when the water dries completely, the grains become translucent, and the small white germinal spiral detaches around the grain.
How do I prevent chicken breast from drying out on the grill?
Keep the heat at medium-high, respect the maximum time of 7 minutes per side, and wait 3 minutes of resting before slicing to retain internal moisture.
How long can the chicken marinate in lemon?
Avoid exceeding 2 to 3 hours of marinating, as prolonged contact with the acidity of the lemon can alter the structure of the meat fibers.
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