You may want to prepare in the morning or a day ahead. You could use fresh cherry tomatoes or slice 2 large ripe tomatoes rather than semi-roasting.
Ingredients
4 | Chicken breasts, medium sized, skinless (Main) |
1 drizzle | Olive oil, for rubbing |
12 | Roma tomatoes, semi-roasted halves (instructions below) (Main) |
2 | Roasted capsicum, one red, one yellow (see instructions below), sliced (Main) |
200 g | Green beans, sliced and steamed (Main) |
2 | Finely chopped spring onion |
4 handfuls | Mesclun leaves, including a few basil leaves (Main) |
1 | Lemon juice |
4 Tbsp | Extra virgin olive oil |
1 Tbsp | Pitted black olives |
1 Tbsp | Capers |
Directions
- Place the chicken breasts on a chopping board. Using a large sharp knife, cut through each breast horizontally and open out (as if you were reading a book). Cover with baking paper and, using a meat mallet or the base of a heavy saucepan, pound the chicken until it's about 5mm thick. Rub chicken with olive oil and season.
- Heat a barbecue grill plate until hot and barbecue chicken for 2 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Remove and leave to cool a little before slicing.
- Layer chicken and salad ingredients in a shallow serving bowl. Place the lemon juice and olive oil in a small bowl and whisk together. Season. Drizzle over the chicken salad and sprinkle with the olives and capers.
Semi-roasted tomatoes
Heat oven to 130C and line a shallow baking tray with baking paper. Place 12 roma tomatoes, halved lengthwise, on the tray in a single layer. Drizzle with a little olive oil, season and top with 3-4 thyme sprigs. Place in the oven and roast for about 1 hour until they look semi-dried. Remove from oven and leave to cool. Extra tomatoes can be stored in the fridge. Cover them with a layer of olive oil.
Roasting capsicum
Heat oven to 220C and line a shallow baking tray with baking paper. Remove core and seeds from 1 red and 1 yellow capsicum. Place on the tray. Roast in the oven until the skin is blistered, turning once or twice. Remove from the oven and place in a bowl, cover with a clean tea towel and leave to cool. The skin will steam away from the flesh. Peel off the skin and discard. Slice flesh. Capsicum can also be roasted under a hot grill or on a barbecue.