Cucumber Chicken Clean Shaker (Print Version)

Protein-packed salad combining crisp cucumber, tender chicken, fresh herbs, and a zesty vinegar dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Protein

01 - 2 small boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 8.8 ounces total)
02 - ½ teaspoon sea salt
03 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Vegetables

04 - 1 large cucumber, diced
05 - ½ small red onion, finely chopped
06 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced
07 - 3.5 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved

→ Fresh Herbs

08 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
09 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped

→ Dressing

11 - 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar
12 - 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - ½ teaspoon honey (optional)
15 - ½ teaspoon salt
16 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

# How To:

01 - Bring a pot of water to a gentle simmer. Season chicken breasts with sea salt and black pepper, then poach for 12 to 15 minutes until fully cooked. Remove chicken from water and let cool before dicing or shredding.
02 - While the chicken cooks, dice the cucumber and red bell pepper, halve the cherry tomatoes, and finely chop the red onion. Combine all vegetables in a large mixing bowl.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey if using, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until well combined.
04 - Add the diced chicken and chopped fresh herbs to the vegetable mixture. Pour the dressing over everything and toss thoroughly to coat evenly.
05 - Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve immediately or chill the salad for 15 minutes to enhance crispness and chill.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like summer in a bowl, even when its not.
  • You get all the protein without any heaviness or oil slick on your plate.
  • The herbs make it smell like youve been cooking all day when you havent.
  • Its ready in half an hour and still feels special enough for company.
02 -
  • Dont let the chicken boil hard or itll turn rubbery, keep the water at a gentle simmer.
  • Chop the herbs just before tossing so they stay bright green and fragrant.
  • If you skip the honey, add a tiny pinch of sugar or the dressing might taste too sharp.
03 -
  • Always taste the dressing before adding it to the salad, you can balance it with more lemon or a drop of honey.
  • Shredding the chicken instead of dicing it helps the dressing cling to every piece.
  • If your cucumber is watery, scoop out the seeds with a spoon before dicing to keep the salad crisp.
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