Protein Cucumber Salad (Print)

A light and refreshing cucumber salad with grilled chicken and a savory sesame dressing.

# Components:

→ Protein

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 10.5 ounces total)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - ½ teaspoon sea salt
04 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Vegetables

05 - 2 large cucumbers, spiralized
06 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
07 - ¼ cup shredded carrots
08 - 2 tablespoons chopped scallions

→ Sesame Dressing

09 - 2 tablespoons tahini or toasted sesame paste
10 - 1 tablespoon low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
11 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
12 - 1 teaspoon honey (or maple syrup for vegan option)
13 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
14 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
15 - 2 tablespoons water, to thin as needed

→ Garnish

16 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
17 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (optional)

# Method:

01 - Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat until hot.
02 - Brush chicken breasts with olive oil and season evenly with sea salt and black pepper.
03 - Grill chicken breasts for 5 to 6 minutes on each side until internal juices run clear; remove from heat and rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
04 - While chicken cooks, spiralize cucumbers and place in a large mixing bowl. Add halved cherry tomatoes, shredded carrots, and chopped scallions.
05 - In a small bowl, whisk together tahini, soy sauce or tamari, rice vinegar, honey or maple syrup, toasted sesame oil, minced garlic, and water until smooth, adjusting water to desired consistency.
06 - Pour the sesame dressing over the vegetable mixture and toss gently to coat evenly.
07 - Plate the dressed cucumber salad and arrange sliced grilled chicken on top. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds and chopped fresh cilantro if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's genuinely filling but never leaves you in an afternoon slump.
  • The sesame dressing is so good you'll want to drizzle it on everything else for days.
  • Ready in under 30 minutes but tastes like you spent real time on it.
02 -
  • Don't skip the resting time on the chicken—those 5 minutes make it noticeably juicier when you slice it.
  • Make the dressing first if you want to taste it and adjust; there's no penalty for tweaking it to your preference.
  • Spiralized cucumber releases water as it sits, so dress it just before serving or it gets watery.
03 -
  • If your chicken breasts are thick, butterfly them or pound them slightly so they cook evenly and don't dry out.
  • Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2 minutes if you have time—they taste exponentially better than store-bought.
  • Prep everything before you start cooking; the actual assembly happens fast and you'll want to serve it right away.
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