We love this grilled hen watermelon salad! Blackened grilled hen, arugula, watermelon, cucumbers, feta and pistachios drizzled in a watermelon French dressing. Tremendous scrumptious for summer time!
You understand how a lot I really like a great summer time salad.
This blackened hen salad has so a lot of favourite issues, plus a lot of texture, tons of taste and the whole lot to make a implausible weeknight meal.
You probably have a replica of On a regular basis Dinners, then that there’s a grilled hen watermelon salad within the e book. OH MY WORD. This salad guys… the second I began making grilled hen and watermelon salads? My summer time was made.
I photographed that recipe in 2019 and examined it in 2018… which means I’ve a lot of hen and watermelon salads beneath my belt. The mixture is so fabulous. It’s the very best summer time salad due to the smoky, charred hen paired with the juicy, refreshing watermelon. There are such a lot of issues about it that I really like.
So this isn’t that actual salad. I do know. Which can come as a disappointment since I simply raved about it. However you possibly can seize the e book!
See, the factor is, that final fall, Eddie grabbed some bagged salads on the grocery retailer for his work lunches. This was in September, so watermelon season was on its means out. However one of many salads that he grabbed had a watermelon French dressing. Like a pre-made, bagged watermelon French dressing.
I nearly died. WHAT! Why hadn’t I been making watermelon French dressing all my life?
In order that was that, and ever since I’ve been making watermelon French dressing.
Needed to wait till it was in season to share it with you, but it surely was definitely worth the wait. I promise.
P.S. in case you’re questioning in regards to the dressing in the e book model of this recipe – it’s my chili lime French dressing which is equally excellent. A bit warmth and lime on this salad can be good.
However again to TODAY’s watermelon hen salad.
I love to do a blackened hen on the grill as a result of it’s very flavorful and a technique I like consuming hen. I’ll generally double this hen and grill it, chop it, then retailer within the fridge for salads, quesadillas and even a fast clean-out-the-fridge pasta.
Here’s what makes this salad distinctive!
- Arugula. Crispy, peppery arugula as the bottom. It could be my favourite inexperienced? I really like the chew a lot. After all – use no matter lettuce you want right here. Kale can be good, you simply have to therapeutic massage it first. Butter lettuce, romaine, something!
- The blackened hen – ideally heat. It doesn’t need to be however have you ever had heat grilled hen on a chilly, crisp salad? It’s so darn good.
- Watermelon! After all.
- Cucumbers too! I just like the savory, icy, refreshing coolness of the cucumbers on this salad. Additionally offers a tiny crunch right here.
- Feta cheese. I prefer it crumbled. You might additionally do goat cheese and even cheddar right here. Nonetheless, the feta + watermelon combo is a basic.
- Pistachios! Reside for an excellent crunch right here. Any nut works however the pistachio is so buttery, nutty and it doesn’t harm with a fairly pop of inexperienced.
- Lastly, the watermelon French dressing. Um, it’s freaking superb.
This French dressing is easy. I extremely counsel getting a nutribullet and utilizing it for dressings. It’s what I exploit it for 95% of the time.
I throw some watermelon cubes in the nutribullet. Any blender will work. No further liquid wanted as a result of the melon is so water packed. I mix it up, then I pressure it by a wonderful mesh strainer (a tiny one like this) to take away the pulp.
As soon as I’ve the watermelon juice, I measure out about ¼ cup. You’ll be able to drink the remaining! It’s scrumptious. Additionally use it in cocktails, omg.
Then a basic French dressing occurs right here! Some purple wine vinegar, a drop of honey, a bit garlic, some olive oil. The dressing might have this loopy orange tint to it as soon as it’s emulsified. Should you’re simply whisking the dressing, it could by no means flip this shade utterly – however in case you use a blender to convey the French dressing collectively, it should. Nonetheless tastes the identical and is virtually drinkable.
So there you will have it! A brand new summer time salad. One to make for dinner tonight. To take pleasure in all season lengthy!
Grilled Hen Watermelon Salad
Blackened Hen Watermelon Salad
We love this grilled hen watermelon salad! Blackened grilled hen, arugula, watermelon, cucumbers, feta and pistachios drizzled in a watermelon French dressing. Tremendous scrumptious for summer time!
salad
- 1 pound boneless, skinless hen breasts
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- kosher salt and pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed purple pepper
- 8 ounces child arugula greens
- 2 cups cubed watermelon
- 2 mini cucumbers, thinly sliced
- ⅓ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ⅓ cup chopped roasted, salted pistachios
watermelon French dressing
- ½ to 1 cup cubed watermelon
- 1 tablespoon purple wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 teaspoon honey
- kosher salt and pepper
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ½ cup further virgin olive oil
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Preheat the grill to the very best setting.
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I wish to pound the hen breasts with a meat tenderizer so they’re all even in thickness. That is required, however helps! In a bowl, whisk collectively the smoked paprika, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, an enormous pinch of salt and pepper and the crushed purple pepper. Sprinkle it all around the hen on either side.
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As soon as the grill is sizzling, place the hen straight on the grates and grill for about 5 minutes per facet, or till the interior temperature reaches 165 levels F. Take away the hen and let it relaxation for 10 minutes when you assemble the salad.
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Place the arugula in a bowl and toss with a pinch of salt and pepper. High with the watermelon, cucumber, feta and pistachios. Slice or chop the grilled hen and place it on the salad. Drizzle with the watermelon French dressing and serve!
watermelon French dressing
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Place the watermelon in a blender and mix till pureed. As soon as pureed, pour the combination by a wonderful mesh strainer to take away the pulp and accumulate the juice. Measure out ¼ cup of the watermelon juice. That’s all you want for the dressing – you possibly can drink the remaining! The quantity of cubes you want will differ relying on the water content material of your melon.
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I like to make use of a blender for the dressing however you too can use a whisk. Add the ¼ cup watermelon juice, vinegar, lime juice, honey, an enormous pinch of salt and pepper, garlic and olive oil to a blender. Mix till emulsified. This stays nice within the fridge for just a few days and simply wants shaken or whisked earlier than utilizing.
Excellent chew!!
