Consuming Passions - Worldwide Events Managers

Creole Chicken Salad

Serves:

Notes

A wonderful spiced chicken dish from the repertoire of my assistant, Anna Gare. Designed to be served with warm chicken pieces and a splendid tangy yoghurt sauce. Although Anna prefers to make up her own spice mix, a ready-made Cajun spice mix could be used.

Ingredients

Chicken and spice mix

• 4 large chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
• 1 tsp fennel powder
• 1 tsp fennel seed
• 1 tsp dried onion powder
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp paprika (preferably Hungarian)
• ½ tsp fenugreek powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• ¼ tsp dried thyme
• ¼ tsp dried oregano
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• ¼ tsp chilli powder
• ¼ tsp white pepper

Salad

• 800g sweet potato, peeled and sliced 1 cm thick
• 2 red capsicums, flesh cut into strips
• 2 Spanish (purple) onions cut into quarters
• A few handfuls of rocket (arugula) or other salad greens
• 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Dressing

• 1 cup natural yoghurt
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Pinch of sugar to taste
• 1 tsp fresh mint leaves, chopped
• 1 tsp fresh coriander leaves, chopped

To serve: optional thin cucumber slices and more coriander leaves.

Method

Put all spices in a bowl and mix together. Coat chicken pieces in the spice mix and allow to stand, for at least half an hour. May be left in the refrigerator overnight.

Pre-heat oven to 200ºC.

Put sweet potato, capsicum and onion pieces in large baking pan.

Drizzle over the olive oil and season. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes or so.

Sear chicken in a hot oiled pan, turning once, to brown chicken and slightly blacken spices.

Transfer to a baking tray and finish cooking in the oven (about 15 minutes).

Make dressing by mixing ingredients together. Check sweet/sour balance. If the lemon juice is too acidic, more sugar may be needed.

To assemble, place a few pieces of rocket on each of 4 large plates. Add still warm vegetable pieces, sliced chicken pieces, and drizzle with yoghurt dressing.

Garnish with shavings of cucumber and more coriander leaves, as required.