Barbecued chicken with Thai salad

Serves: 6
Course: Main Course
Cooking Time: 0 hr 30 mins
Ingredients
  • Juice of 2 limes 
  • 2tbsp fish sauce
  • 2tbsp olive oil
  • 2tbsp water
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1tsp brown sugar
  • 25g or 1 large handful mint leaves
  • 25g or 1 large handful basil leaves
  • 25g or 1 large handful coriander leaves 
  • 4-6 chicken breasts
  • 300g salad leaves
  • 1 ripe mango, peeled and cubed
  • 1 small red onion, finely sliced
  • 1tsp nigella seeds (or black onions seeds)
  •  

1 Place the lime juice, fish sauce, oil, sugar, garlic and water along with half of the mint, basil and coriander into a blender or food processor. Blitz till it forms a smooth paste.

2 Butterfly each chicken breast open, then flatten with the palm of your hand so they are all the same thickness and will cook evenly. Place the chicken in a container with a lid or a Ziploc bag. Set three tablespoons of the marinade aside and add the remainder to the chicken, ensuring each piece is coated evenly. Leave to marinade for at least half an hour. Light your barbecue to preheat it, if you are using one.

3 Next assemble the salad. Tear the salad leaves into bite size pieces and roughly chop the remainder of the herbs. Place in a large bowl or platter. Dress the leaves and herbs with the reserved marinade and scatter over the cubed mango and finely sliced red onion.

4 Cook the chicken on the barbecue or under a grill till cooked through, turning halfway. Serve immediately with the salad.

Lilly Higgins

Lilly Higgins

Lilly Higgins, a contributor to The Irish Times, is a food writer