Guilt-Free Chicken and Potato Salad!

Guilt-Free Chicken and Potato Salad

The Monologues are BACK!

I recently got back behind the kitchen and cooked up one of my most favorite meals which, if you know me, my meals are all about versatility, healthy and delicious!  Why do I love this recipe? It contains protein, carbs and veggies all in one!  Even though Olive Oil is high in fat, it is a much healthier fat option.  Olive Oil is a monounsaturated fat so it won't clog your arteries.

This dish is a four part process.  Even if you can't multi-task, you'll find that each process it's extremely easy to do.  The four main parts of this salad are: 1) The Dressing, 2) Potatoes, 3) Chicken, and 4) Green Beans.  Easy, right?

The Potatoes
This is the first step to this dish.  Why? It's the longest of the ingredients to cook! You'll need:
 
     - 1 to 2 regular potatoes (Use sweet potatoes, if you wish)
     - Olive oil
     - Black pepper
     - Garlic & herb seasoning

Preheat the oven to about 450 degrees.  Then cut up the potatoes in cubes.  Place on a baking sheet and drizzle the potatoes with olive oil.  Sprinkle black pepper and herb seasonings.  Place in the oven for about 20 minutes to cook.  After 20 minutes, flip the potatoes around in the baking sheet and cook for another 10 minutes.  Take out and toss them around the baking sheet. Place back in the oven for the last 15-20 minutes.  Once they're done, take them out of the oven and let cool.

Sidenote: If the potato peels stick to the baking sheet, EVEN BETTER!  Scrape them off the baking sheet and add to the salad.  This will give your meal a nice crunch!

The Dressing
You'll need:
   
     - Half a cup of olive oil
     - Parsley
     - Italian and herb seasonings
     - Chopped garlic

Right after you throw the potatoes into the oven for the first time, take about half a cup of olive oil and toss the seasonings and chopped garlic.  Whisk around and set the dressing to the side.  The goal here is to have the garlic and herbs flavors infuse with the olive oil.

The Chicken
Trust me, it keeps getting easier from here:

     - 1 to 2 chicken breasts
     - Half an onion
     - Salt

Bring a pot of water up to a boil.  Cut up the chicken breast into slices (This makes the cooking process much faster!).  Throw the chicken slices into the water along with the half onion.  Season the water with salt.  Cook the chicken in the boiling water for about 10-15 minutes.  The salt and garlic flavors will infuse in to the chicken.  Once the chicken is cooked, drain and dice up in cubes and set to the side.  You won't use the onion so throw it away!

The Green Beans
Last, but not least, the vegetables.  I prefer green beans but you can use any vegetable you'd like: asparagus, broccoli, etc.  You can use canned green beans or boil/steam your own.  Either way, this is an easy step and should only take you about 5 to 10 minutes to cook.

Bring it all together!
Once all of the ingredients are complete, toss the chicken, potatoes and green beans into a bowl and drizzle with the olive oil dressing.  Toss around and serve!

Eat it off a bowl for lunch or make dinner by serving with some mixed greens and a glass of red wine.  The olive oil serves as a dressing for your salad so NO ADDITIONAL coating is required.   The whole process should only take you about 45 minutes (The duration it takes to cook the potatoes). Give it a try.  It's actually easier to make than what it sounds like!

Bon Appétit...and good to be back!