Early Summer Salad Roast Chicken, Quinoa, Summer Vegetables and Herbs Ingredients:
chicken breast
snap peas
snow peas
lettuces
cucumber
herbs: purple shiso, moroccan mint, lemon balm
quinoa
1/2 lemon (the other half is for the clam stew)
1) Prepare the ingredients:
Heat a small pot of salted water to the boil on high.
Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Wash and dry the fresh produce.
Prepare the snap and snow peas: Trim and discard the ends and any attached string. Thinly slice the peas.
Small dice the cucumber (leave the skin on).
Prepare the herbs: Remove and discard and tough stems. Tear leaves roughly.
Quarter and de-seed the lemon.
Season chicken with salt and pepper. Lay skin side down on paper-towel lined plate.
2) Cook the quinoa:
Add the quinoa to the pot of boiling water and simmer, uncovered, until tender and unraveled, 15 to 20 minutes. (Add more water as necessary to keep quinoa covered).
Add the sliced snap and snow peas to the cooked quinoa and cook another 30 seconds.
Strain cooked quinoa and peas of any excess water, and cool under cold running water.
Drain and transfer to large bowl. Season with salt, pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil. Set aside.
3) Roast the chicken:
While the quinoa cooks, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a saute pan (non-stick if you have one) on medium-high until hot.
Place chicken skin side down in hot pan. Cook for 2 minutes on stove, then transfer to oven and cook for 10 minutes.
Flip chicken so skin side is up and return to oven for just 1 minute. Transfer chicken to plate to rest for at least 5 minutes. (At this point, temperature of chicken should be at least 130 degrees. If not, return to oven for 2 more minutes, then measure temperature again.)
4) Assemble the salad:
While the chicken roasts, add diced cucumber, torn herbs, and lettuces to the bowl of cooked quinoa and peas.
Season with salt, pepper, olive oil, and juice of lemon wedges.
5) Finish the salad and enjoy your dish:
When cooked chicken has rested for at least 5 minutes, slice thinly and place on salad.
Divide salad and chicken between 2 plates. Enjoy!