Grilled Chicken Breast with Chickpea Salad – A Perfect Low-Calorie Meal

Grilled Chicken Breast with Chickpea Salad – A Perfect Low-Calorie Meal

Grilled chicken breast with chickpea salad is a delicious, health-conscious meal designed especially for those following a diet plan. It's known for being low in calories and fat, yet rich in energy, making it ideal for people looking to lose or maintain weight without sacrificing flavor.

Ingredients for 2 servings:

 

For the chicken:

• 1 kilogram (2.2 lbs) boneless chicken breast

For the marinade:

• ½ teaspoon lemon zest

• 1 tablespoon plain yogurt

• ½ teaspoon dried thyme

• ½ teaspoon salt

• A pinch of black pepper

• 1 teaspoon olive oil

• ½ clove of minced garlic

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

For the chickpea salad:

• 1 cup cooked chickpeas

• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• ½ onion, finely chopped

• 6 cherry tomatoes, halved

• A pinch of salt

For the harissa (optional spicy paste):

• 2 tablespoons cumin seeds

• 1 onion, chopped

• 10 cloves of garlic

• 10 hot red chili peppers

• 1 sweet red pepper

• ¼ cup olive oil

Preparation Steps:

Start by making the chicken marinade. Mix the lemon zest, yogurt, thyme, salt, black pepper, olive oil, minced garlic, and lemon juice in a bowl. Stir until well blended. Coat the chicken breasts in this marinade, cover, and let them rest for at least an hour in the fridge.

After marinating, grill the chicken breasts on a non-stick grill or grill pan for about 15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until fully cooked and nicely charred on both sides.

To prepare the harissa, toast the cumin seeds (and optionally coriander seeds) in a pan until fragrant. Let them cool, then grind them. Finely chop the onion, garlic, chili peppers, and sweet red pepper. Add them to a pan and cook gently with the olive oil, stirring regularly. After 15 minutes, stir in the ground spices. Let the mixture cool, then transfer to a jar.

To make the chickpea salad, combine the cooked chickpeas, chopped parsley, lemon juice, onion, and cherry tomatoes in a bowl. Add a spoonful of the prepared harissa and a pinch of salt, then toss everything together until well mixed.

Serving:
Place the grilled chicken on a serving plate, and in a separate bowl, serve the fresh, zesty chickpea salad alongside. It’s a light, satisfying, and nutritious meal that delivers both flavor and health in every bite.