This Chicken Tzatziki Salad is stuffed with fresh veggies, Greek marinated chicken breast and homemade tzatziki sauce. It’s delicious and healthy!
We have a new restaurant in town. I can’t remember if I mentioned it already or not. It opened maybe 6 or 8 weeks ago? It’s a Mediterranean place, serving things like falafel, hummus, stuffed grape leaves and kabobs. This is kind of amazing because I’ve been saying forever that we really need a Greek/Lebanese/Mediterranean place. It’s definitely my favorite type of cultural food. I could eat it forever and ever. And all we have here is Mexican food and chain restaurants. So this is so exciting.
The problem with this is that joints like this one don’t last in this town. I don’t quite get it but the locals seem to prefer fast food and crappy Applebee’s over delicious, from-scratch authentic food. The last few restaurants that were in the same building didn’t last long. They’re also not currently serving alcohol, so… as busy as they are for lunch, it’s not exactly a hopping Saturday night spot.
So… I’ve taken it upon myself to personally keep them in business. I’ve been eating lots and lots of falafel. Lots. And it’s awesome, because it’s my favorite.
I really haven’t gotten sick of it. If anything, my appetite for Mediterranean food has been fueled and I’ve been eating even more of it at home! The restaurant has awesome hummus and baba ganoush, but they don’t serve tzatziki. I’ve been obsessed with the dill in our garden lately, and I was craving it, so I decided to make some tzatziki at home.
I’ve had tzatziki made with dill before and also made with mint. Since I have both growing in my garden, I wanted to use both. I ended up using this recipe from Bon Appetit. After stuffing my face with tzatziki and pita bread for a couple days, I was thinking of ways I could use some of the tzatziki a little more creatively.
With all the delicious flavors going on, I decided to use it as a salad dressing! I marinated some chicken in Greek salad dressing for a few hours and then cooked it– you could bake or grill it. You can even used precooked chicken breast slices or shredded rotisserie chicken. I put the chicken on top of a bed of lettuce with fresh tomatoes and feta. Then topped the whole thing with tzatziki!
- 1-2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 small tomato, sliced
- 2 tbsp crumbled feta cheese
- 1 cooked chicken breast, sliced
- ¼ cup tzatziki sauce
- Pita bread, for serving
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
- Toss to distribute tzatziki.
- Serve with pita bread!
This salad was so yummy and such a great detox from all the sweets I’ve been eating lately. You could also stuff it all into a pita for a yummy sandwich!
Caren Gittleman says
I am absolutely INSANE about Middle Eastern food! You need to move to the Detroit area…….there is a HUGE Middle Eastern population here and Greek and Lebanese restaurants are plentiful!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is my favorite cuisine!
jessfuel says
Ooooh that sounds like heaven!! I have never even visited there, but it’s definitely on the list!
Danielle says
I love finding new little local places, they’re so much better than fast food! This salad looks so delicious and fresh!
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
This looks so good Jess! I love salads in the summer time, and I am crazy about these flavors! Nicely done.
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
This salad looks amazing! I am such a fan of tzatziki sauce! This would be perfect for me!
Emily aka The Three Bite Rule says
LOVE that you’re keeping them in business! Good luck!!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
I have a pact with myself that I will NOT eat at any restaurant chains. Why would I pick that when I could get delicious, authentic food from a locally established restaurant. We have a Mediterranean restaurant in town and I love it! They have great stuffed pitas. This salad sounds delicious! Especially love that homemade tzatziki. Yum!
jessfuel says
I know! I don’t understand people who love chains! Supporting local businesses is the best 🙂
cindy says
I wish you had included a your recipe for Tzatziki!
jessfuel says
Hi Cindy! I used the recipe from Bon Appetit that’s linked right above the salad recipe. Here’s another link to it: http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/cucumber-dill-tzatziki
Enojy!