Grilled Chicken Taco Salad; ahead of my time

As any of you who read my blog or use my recipes know I rarely use prepared ingredients.

I stopped using them when we moved to this side of the pond, primarily because they weren’t available.

The supermarket aisles weren’t lined with Hamburger Helper or Rice-a-Roni or red and white cans of ‘cream’ soups or salad dressings.

Okay, I never really used the first two but I was guilty of using the last two. Not having access taught me how to make my own salad dressing and cream of mushroom soup.

One of the few prepared foods that I buy is taco sauce. Old El Paso to be specific It’s the only one available…. All the supermarkets have a small Old El Paso section.

I know I could make it. I have made it…. But, hey, everyone’s allowed one dirty little secret, right?

Grilled Chicken Taco Salad

Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 2 tbs white Balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tbs olive oil
  • 1 tbs ketchup
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1/2 red pepper, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbs olive oil
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 3oz (90gr) cherry tomatoes, cut in half
  • 2oz (60gr) feta, cut into cubes
  • 1 – 2 jars taco sauce     hot or mild, or 1 of each
  • Lettuce – enough for 2 main meal salads

Grilled Chicken Taco Salad

Instructions:

  • Combine vinegar, 2 tbs olive oil and ketchup. Pour over chicken and marinate for 10 minutes.
  • Heat 1 tbs oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chili powder and sauté briefly (20 seconds).
  • Add onion, pepper and sauté for 5 minutes.
  • Add garlic and sauté for 5 minutes longer. Remove from heat and add 1 jar of taco sauce
  • Remove chicken from marinade and cook on barbecue for 14 – 18 minutes, turning once.
  • When done remove and slice.
  • Tear the lettuce and arrange on plates.
  • Divide vegetables and spoon onto lettuce.
  • Add  sliced chicken, tomatoes, feta and serve, remaining taco sauce on the side.

Print Recipe

Warning: Shameful bragging ahead.

I get emails from Cooking Light magazine promoting their recipes and articles.

I actually look at one or two things every few months.

The other day there was an article listing 8 or 10 or so things that ‘you thought were healthy but really aren’t’.

I’m always intrigued by these teasers….. I usually read them because I like to find out how right I am. It’s a great ego boast to be able to say ‘I told you so’ and ‘It’s about time you figured that out’ to Cooking Light.

Once again I was ahead of the game.

They are, finally, saying that non-fat dairy is not the best choice. One is better off eating regular yogurt than the Light or Non-Fat versions. The same is true of milk and cheese. There are more nutrients and less sugar in the regular stuff. We stopped using anything labeled ‘light’, ‘lo-‘, ‘non-‘ or ;reduced’ about 10 years ago.

There were some things I didn’t know – like pretzels aren’t all that much better than potato chips as a snack. But we only have either one in the house 2 or 3 times a year so it really doesn’t matter. I keep a basket of nuts in the shell on the counter for snacks. Having to crack them makes consuming them by the handful a bit more difficult. (The mouse had an almond with him in the toaster…)

There were also some pretty basic common sense suggestions – eat an apple rather than a granola bar. Might I just say Duh!

All in all it was an ‘okay’ list…. But I was really pleased to see them stop promoting non-fat and lo-fat dairy. I was a subscriber for years but really was fed-up with recipes calling for non-fat sour cream and lo-fat ketchup and reduced sugar peanut butter. I always thought that as a proponent of healthy eating they should have had recipes that used healthy, natural ingredients rather than highly-processed diet versions.

Oops. just fell off my soapbox…..

Last update on June 29, 2016

7 thoughts on “Grilled Chicken Taco Salad; ahead of my time”

  1. There are very few low or non fat options for anything here in Morocco. Diets, apart from fasting in Ramadan, are not part of the Moroccan culture and lifestyle despite diabetes being rampant.

    • @phoeinicaorchards … I use it for sailing … especially when chartering a boat … and only bringing limited luggage due to storage on board and TSA/CATSA not allowing liquids etc. (most important is what I need to maintain my health as a Type 1 diabetes) . It’s high in protein .. and just plain good (you mix with water). I’ve been tempted to try the chocolate PB version one day.

  2. I cook with full bodied olive oil or butter. I eat rich sour cream and whole yogurt. I don’t buy lo-non-diet anything except MY one dirty little secret and that’s Coke Zero. I have maybe one a day, usually half of one, and that’s it. I can’t afford the diet stuff and don’t like the taste of most of it.

  3. Tanna, I get 3? Hot Damn!

    kate, diabetes? Really? I wouldn’t have thought that. The regular diet seemed healthy. Well, except for all the sweets….

    brassfrog, that’s my preferred peanut butter, also… But I think the kid’s has other stuff in it.

    Phoenicia, I’d never heard of powdered peanut butter, but, Anna, now we both know why Thanks, If I ever see it I’ll buy it for the hubs,,,, he can keep it in his kit lol (he loves peanut butter)

    nightsmusic, to be honest I can’t tell the difference between Coca Light and Coca Zero,,, we have both here. I’ve never liked margarine so it’s butter and olive oil for us – sometimes both lol

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