Description
This hearty chicken caesar salad blends crisp romaine lettuce with juicy grilled chicken, parmesan cheese, and classic caesar dressing. Homemade croutons and a sprinkle of fresh herbs ensure you savor each delicious bite of this timeless favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1.25 lbs or 567 g)
- 4 white pita breads
- 2 hearts of romaine, cut into ½-inch ribbons
- 4 oz (113 g) cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) grated parmesan cheese
- 1 ½ cups (360 ml) plain greek yogurt
- 5 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 3 tbsps (45 ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) dijon mustard
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Dressing Preparation: Whisk Greek yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper into a silky emulsion. Bifurcate the mixture, reserving half for salad dressing and setting aside the remainder for chicken marinade.
- Chicken Marination: Slice chicken breasts into slender diagonal strips. Submerge strips in reserved marinade within a sealed zip-top bag, ensuring comprehensive coverage. Refrigerate for 3 hours to allow flavor infusion.
- Chicken Cooking: Extract chicken from refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking to equalize temperature. Ignite grill or skillet to medium-high heat, lightly lubricating cooking surface with oil. Grill chicken strips, rotating once, until exterior achieves golden-brown caramelization and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Allow meat a brief resting period before chopping into bite-sized segments.
- Salad Assembly: Cleanse and shred romaine lettuce into delicate ribbons. Coat lettuce with reserved yogurt dressing, ensuring uniform distribution. Warm pita breads by enveloping in damp paper towels and microwaving for 30-45 seconds. Carefully bisect each pita pocket to create an ingredient receptacle.
- Final Composition: Layer pita pockets with dressed lettuce, scatter quartered cherry tomatoes, and crown with grilled chicken pieces. Optional dressing drizzle enhances flavor profile. Serve immediately to capture the vibrant, fresh essence.
Notes
- Marinate Strategically: Let chicken soak in yogurt mixture for minimum 3 hours to guarantee maximum flavor infusion and tender meat texture.
- Temperature Matters: Remove chicken from refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking to ensure even heat distribution and prevent uneven cooking.
- Check Doneness Precisely: Use meat thermometer to confirm chicken reaches exact 165°F internal temperature, preventing foodborne illness and maintaining juicy consistency.
- Pita Warming Trick: Wrap pita breads in damp paper towels during microwaving to prevent drying out and create soft, pliable bread pockets for stuffing.
- Prep Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 90mg