Chicken Mediterranean Kale Salad with Herb Dressing

Who said salads had to be boring? One of my favorite salads is a classic Greek or Mediterranean salad. I love the fresh tomatoes, cucumber, and feta pairing. But what if I told you we could elevate it to an even better salad with just a few extra ingredients with no extra time? If you love salad, this is the recipe for you! This salad is PROTEIN PACKED which will leave you filled and is so healthy!

This salad is extremely easy to make and can be done in 10 minutes. First you want to chop your veggies. You have a lot of freedom as to what you want to use, but I always use Roma tomatoes, cucumber, red onion and bell peppers. I also will put in Kalamata olives as well, but today I did not have any. This salad is GREAT for anyone who loves salad but may get bored of their typical salad.

Dice up your veggies and set aside. I used about 1/4-1/2 each in the salad. I also used chopped pistachios for a crunchy nutty taste. Mixing nuts into your salad is not only a great way to get protein, but it adds another layer of flavor and texture.

Another way to make this salad healthy and hearty is adding whole grains. I use this brand of microwavable grains in a LOT of my meals and salads. This particular package uses quinoa, brown and red rice. In having a balanced meal, these whole grains are great sources of vitamins and nutrients and make the salad more filling. You will be less likely to snack if you have a whole FUFILLING salad.

I also added 1 can of garbanzo beans to the salad. These are my favorite bean, but they are also extremely dense in protein. This high protein and nutrient dense salad is the best way for you to start your week.

Dressing

Next, we need to make our dressing. For our herbs, I used mint, basil, and parsley. This is where the main elevation in the dressing is. The mixture of fresh herbs really adds a HUGE boost in flavor. In a small bowl, add lime juice, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt, and your fresh herbs. I used about 1/4 cup of each herb. When making your dressing, use 1/2 cup of the herb mixture in your dressing and 1/4 cup for sprinkling on the end.

You will be surprised how much flavor and how easy it is to make dressing with fresh herbs. I actually never buy store bought dressings anymore.

Once your veggies and dressing has been made, let’s assemble. In a large salad bowl, add your kale and chopped veggies. I had cooked a chicken breast in a pan with a little oil, but using rotisserie chicken or pre-made chicken grilled or shredded would work great! add your chicken then your crumbled feta.

I love the taste of feta. It is an easily digestible cheese that has the perfect salty taste. Sprinkle your remaining herbs on top with your chopped pistachios. Lastly drizzle with your dressing!