Grilled Chicken & Greens Pasta Salad
Charred lemon and oregano chicken thighs off the barbecue, served with a bright pasta salad full of broccoli, peas and fresh herbs.
Serves: 4-6
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
INGREDIENTS
8 chicken thighs, cut into quarters
zest of 1 lemon
1 tbsp dried oregano leaves
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp flake sea salt
cracked pepper, to taste
For the pasta salad
risoni or any small shaped pasta
1 head broccoli, trimmed into florets
1 zucchini, sliced
1 cup frozen peas
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp sugar
handful roughly chopped mint and parsley
grated Parmesan, for topping
METHOD
In a large bowl, toss the chicken thighs with the lemon zest, oregano, olive oil, flake sea salt and cracked pepper. Set aside to marinate while you preheat the barbecue to high.
Grill the marinated chicken for about 7-10 minutes on each side, until charred and crisp outside and tender inside, about 20 minutes in total.
Meanwhile, bring a large saucepan of salted water to the boil. Cook the pasta for two minutes less than the recommended time. In the final minute, add the broccoli florets to blanch. Drain and tip into a large salad bowl.
To the pasta and broccoli, add the sliced zucchini, frozen peas, extra-virgin olive oil, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, sea salt, sugar and the chopped mint and parsley. Toss everything together.
Top with Parmesan and toss lightly.
Serve the pasta salad alongside the grilled lemon oregano chicken.
HINTS
Let the chicken really char on the barbecue - those crisp, blackened edges are where the flavour lives.
Cooking the pasta two minutes short and blanching the broccoli in the same water saves a pot and keeps the greens bright.
Dress the salad while the pasta is still warm so it drinks up the mustard vinaigrette.
NUTRITION (per recipe total, serves 4-6 - guide only):
Energy: 13400 kJ (3200 cal)
Protein: 220 g
Fat: 155 g
Saturated fat: 40 g
Carbohydrate: 210 g
Sugars: 20 g
Sodium: 4200 mg
This nutrition information is a guide only and may vary depending on brands, exact quantities, and ingredient substitutions used.