Life In Pleasantville

Food, Travel, Life

Firecracker Chicken Salad

by Candace Sampson

If you’re from Ontario, you know that whenever they release the LCBO magazine, Food & Drink, there’s a mad rush to get the current copy. It’s a hot commodity. Like most food magazines I get, I rarely throw one out. I keep all back issues because what doesn’t necessarily appeal to me on my first perusal might make my mouth water the next season, or as in this case, seven years later. Yup, that’s how long I had this magazine stored away.

You know how I know if a recipe is a keeper? If I want to make it again right away. That’s how I felt about this Firecracker Chicken Salad. It’s absolutely delicious and a fun meal for the summer months. It will be made again and again and again. Serve with my favourite sangria and it’s a party.

Firecracker Chicken Salad

1 tbsp (15 mL) chili powder
1 tsp (5 mL) ground cumin
1 tsp (5 mL) chopped garlic
2 tbsp (25 mL) lime juice
¼ cup (50 mL) olive oil
2 tbsp (25 mL) chopped coriander
1½ lbs (750 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 sweet onion, sliced in thick rounds
1 red pepper cut in quarters
2 zucchini cut in half
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Dressing
½ cup (125 mL) mayonnaise
¼ cup (50 mL) salsa
1 tbsp (15 mL) lime juice
2 tbsp (25 mL) chopped coriander
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Garnish
1 avocado, peeled and sliced
2 cups (500 mL) tortilla chips

1. Combine chili powder, cumin, garlic, lime juice, olive oil and coriander. Brush on to chicken breasts, onion rounds, red pepper and zucchini. Marinate for 1 hour.

2. To make dressing, combine mayonnaise, salsa, lime juice and coriander. Season with salt and pepper. Reserve.

3. Preheat grill to high. Season chicken and vegetables with salt and pepper. Place chicken breasts and vegetables on grill. Grill chicken for about 5 minutes per side or until juices run clear. Cool.

4. Grill vegetables about 4 minutes per side or until tender. Cool. Remove skin from peppers. Slice onions, peppers and zucchini into strips.

5. When chicken has cooled, slice it and mix with dressing. Add vegetables and toss to lightly coat with dressing, or serve dressing on the side. Surround platter with sliced avocado and tortilla chips.

Serves 6

Pleasantville Note: The recipe suggests serving with sliced avocado. Meh. That part was a little flat for me the first time. The second time I made it, I made my friend Tracey’s homemade guacamole and served it on the side instead. It was a fiesta my mouth.

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About Candace Sampson

Candace Sampson is the founder of Life in Pleasantville and the host of What She Said, Canada’s longest-running women’s talk show turned podcast. A trusted voice in Canadian lifestyle and travel media for over a decade, Candace blends storytelling with sharp insight to connect with women on everything from solo travel to social issues. She’s also the creator of Girl Trips, a women-focused retreat and travel brand. Find her on Instagram @candace_said @whatshesaidtalk and @girltrips.ca

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dee Brun

    OMG food porn…I am so trying this the next BBQ i have…
    LUV

  2. Candace

    It is super yummy! Try it with the guacamole recipe on my site, you can’t go wrong.

  3. Arnebya

    Candace — it’s been a LONG time since I’ve visited a blog I found on a whim (searched for books for tweens and read your post and wrote down nearly every one) and stayed this long. Literally, I haven’t been able to leave, clicking on recipes and posts and just all around having a good time on a newfound lovable site. I see your BlogHer batch up there; hopefully we’ll meet in August! Oh, and GOOD LAWD ,THIS SALAD HAS ME DROOLING!

  4. Candace

    Wow! Thank you so much. Your comment totally made my day. I showed it to my 9 yo daughter, my husband, my friend….the clerk at the store.;) So often we don’t take the time to leave kind words behind when reading, you’ve given me an important reminder. I’m tracking you down on Twitter and we will DEFINITELY meet at BlogHer. I have to hug the person who took a couple of minutes to make my day. 🙂 Can’t wait.

  6. Brandy @InsaneMamacita

    Oh my goodness. That looks delish! Can you make it and mail it to me? LOL!

  7. Candace

    It is super good. If Canada Post had better delivery options I might just do that 🙂

  8. Don (@foodieprints)

    Want to convert this into my next from-da-grill sandwich! Drippy messy delish chicken sandwich w/lots of grilled veg!

  9. Candace

    My husband made home made tortillas the other night to go with this. They were delicious 🙂

  10. La Cuisine Helene

    I always pick my copy the first day it’s out. Love just looking at the pictures and recipes in LCBO mag. I’ll have to try this recipe, thanks for sharing Candace.

  11. Candace Derickx

    I look forward to every issue! Thanks for stopping by Helene. 😉