Monday, September 13, 2010

New Chicken Salad


Hope you’ve all had a wonderful weekend. Sorry for my unintended break from my blog. Daily life seems to have caught up with me and the Blogging Your Way course I’m currently participating in has stolen a bit of my already limited blogging time too.

Over the weekend, especially after watching Junior Masterchef last night, I’ve had a real desire to try out some new recipes. However, I’ve had one slight problem – since I had a virus a few weeks ago, my sense of taste seems to have disappeared! Despite feeling perfectly healthy, everything I eat tastes pretty much the same and for someone like me who enjoys cooking, this is really disheartening.

I took myself off to the doctor on the weekend and she gave me a course of antibiotics to try and get me back on track but in the meantime, I can barely tell the difference between a piece of chocolate and a salad sandwich. Even my beloved cups of tea are unsatisfying so I’m crossing everything that my taste returns soon.

Anyway, before my dilemma, I tried out a new Bill Granger recipe which was delicious so I thought I’d share it with you all. It was from his book 'Feed Me Now' and was a great way to use up some leftover cooked chicken.



Salad of Seared Chicken and Rice
(Serves 4)

300g basmati rice
2 x 180g boneless chicken breasts, skinned
1 tbs curry powder
5 tbs extra virgin olive oil
200g green beans, topped, tailed and halved
4 spring onions, finely sliced
1 celery stick, cut into batons
60g sultanas
4 tbspn lime juice
handful coriander leaves, chopped
1 green chilli, deseeded and very finely diced (optional)
1 tsp sea salt
2 tbs fried sliced Asian shallots (optional)


Cook the rice in boiling slated water until cooked. Rinse under cold water, drain well and the tip into a large bowl.

Slice the chicken into strips, place in bowl with curry powder and 2 tbs olive oil. Toss well to combine. Heat a frying pan over high heat and add chicken and cook, stirring, for about 5 mins or until cooked through. Let cool slightly.

Meanwhile blanch the beans in a pan of lightly salted boiling water for a minute or so until slightly crisp. Rinse under cold water and drain.

Add the beans to the rice with the spring onions, celery, sultanas, remaining olive oil, lime juice, coriander, chilli and salt. Stir to combine, then add the chicken and toss slightly.

Spoon the salad onto a warm platter or individual serving bowls and top with shallots, if using.


I followed Bill Granger’s note to adapt this recipe and used some shredded cooked chicken instead and simply mixed 3 tbsp olive oil, the curry powder and the juice (I used lemon) to pour over as a dressing.



Images sources: #1 #2

18 comments:

  1. That sounds delish! I haven't tried this recipe yet, so I'll definitely have to give it a go.

    I know what you mean regarding your taste buds - we just had that hideous bug and it took 3 weeks plus another 2 after I developed a sinus infection - so good on you getting on those antibiotics, they'll hopefully have you all better in no time.

    Have a great week, I'll see you over at BYW!

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  2. oh yum! i will defintely be trying this one!
    hope your feeling better soon xx

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  3. Sounds delicious! This is a great recipe to use leftovers. I would like to try this!
    ps. like your blog very much :-)

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  4. That sounds yum, and particularly up Glen's alley, I'll have to give it a try. I hope the antibiotics kick in and you can get 100% better. It really sucks doesn't it. I remember friends saying that they'd never been as sick as when they had young kids but I'm starting to think this is rediculous... lets hope we're both back to 100% health asap!
    I love the white and yellow in those pics, have a lovely evening my friend.
    Jxx

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  5. Hope you feel better soon :(
    Sounds deeelish and that table setting image is beautiful :)

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  6. Sounds divine and healthy too! good on you for doing the course. Junior Masterchef caused me to feel a little 'basic' just when I was starting to think I was a half decent cook! Hope your taste buds are back on track soon.
    Rebecca x

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  7. oh no, nothing worse than no taste!! i hate it when that happens, i just want to keep eating until i find something that tastes. hope yours comes back very quickly!

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  8. Oh sweetie I hope you start to feel better and your sense of taste comes back soon after going to the doctors. Thank you for sharing the lovely recipe. xo

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  9. Curry is such a wonderful addition... will add this to my recipe list. Glad you are back!

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  10. What a disaster not enjoying a cuppa or chocolate!! For me that's the worst thing about having a cold - I never feel like a cuppa. I hope it comes right soon!!
    xx

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  11. mmm, delicious. How's your taste progressing? I almost fell over in shock when you said your cups of tea don't even taste. I don't know what I'd do if I stopped enjoying tea. It's one of the loves of my life! jenx

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  12. What a lovely recipe and your table looks perfect for Spring.

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  13. Thanks for all your comments - no progress at all with my taste today - it's driving me crazy!!

    Jen - I'm sitting here sipping a cuppa now and it just tastes terrible - I'm missing my tea SO much!!

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  14. Hi Amanda, how wonderful to link up on blogger and to discover your blog! That recipe sounds delicious, by the way!

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  15. Wow - you are always doing inspiring things! Love the sound of the course.

    Thank you for your lovely comments honey x o

    Tracey x o

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