Pulled Chicken Salad with Basil Pesto

Pulled Chicken Salad with Basil Pesto

Ready in 35 minutes Serves 2-3
This dish most recently appeared in My Classic (4 Nights For 2) on Sunday, October 2, 2016.

It’s the start of asparagus season!


Ingredients

PULLED CHICKEN SALAD

  • 400g potatoes, scrubbed and sliced 0.5cm
  • 300g chicken thighs
  • 1 tablespoon chicken spice mix
  • 1 bunch asparagus
  • 1 capsicum
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • ½ bag baby spinach leaves
  • Juice of ¼ lemon

TO SERVE

  • 20g pumpkin seeds
  • 50g basil pesto

Steps

  1. oven to 220°C. Line an oven tray with baking paper. Preheat BBQ grill to high (if using).
  2. Toss potatoes with a drizzle of oil on prepared tray and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 25–30 minutes, until golden and cooked through. Turn once during cooking. Heat a dry fry-pan on medium heat and toast pumpkin seeds for 3–4 minutes, until golden and crunchy. Set aside and reserve pan.
  3. Pat chicken dry with paper towels, toss with chicken spice mix and season with salt and pepper. Return pan to medium-high heat with a drizzle of oil. Cook chicken for 4–5 minutes each side (depending on thickness), or until cooked through. Set aside, covered in foil, to rest. Reserve pan.
  4. While chicken cooks, prepare the rest of the meal. Trim woody ends off asparagus, about 2cm and discard. Cut asparagus stems in half; remove core and seeds from capsicum and slice 1cm; roughly chop garlic. Return pan to a medium heat with a drizzle of oil, if needed.
  5. Cook asparagus, capsicum and garlic for about 2 minutes, stirring regularly. Add water and cook for a further 2 minutes, until asparagus is bright green and capsicum is tender. Season with salt and pepper.
  6. Shred chicken, using two forks then toss with any resting juices. Season to taste with salt and pepper then toss in a large bowl with asparagus, capsicum, baby spinach leaves and lemon juice
  7. Divide potatoes between plates and top with pulled chicken salad. Top with a dollop of basil pesto and toasted pumpkin seeds.

Nutritional Information

Energy 2271 kj
543 kcal
Protein 31.8g
Carbohydrate 31.8g
Fat 31.1g