Love chicken and avocados? Nothing tastes better than this Grilled Chicken with Avocado Salsa for your next BBQ! Marinate, grill for 20 minutes and top with salsa. Believe me, this sensational & healthy Tex-Mex dinner will wow the entire family.
Fall is the perfect time to grill out. There is nothing better than cozying up to the warm fire and enjoying the last of the lingering cool evenings. But honestly, I have to admit, when we lived up north we even grilled out when there was snow on the ground. It is just so darn good and much healthier than some other ways to cook.
This particular dish is so easy, it is perfect for whipping up something after work without a lot of fuss. You can even set the chicken in the marinade in the morning before work and cut the time down even more.
This meal is not only super delicious but super healthy too. Chicken is a lean protein and very low in fat and cooking it on the grill adds no extra calories but plenty of taste. But I have to admit that this salsa is the star of the meal Just look at all the benefits avocado brings to the table.
Avocados are nutrient dense fruits with high levels of vitamins, minerals and monunsaturated fats as well as being low in calories. These nutrients help promote heart health and cut down on your body's inflammation. Combining the avocado with tomatoes, which have a high anti-oxidant concentration, increases the body's absorption of important phyto-chemicals by 2 to 15X, aiding in the fight against certain types of cancer and heart disease.
All I can say is wow! I serve mine with a side of black beans and rice but grilled corn would be just as delicious.
Enjoy!
CHICKEN WITH AVOCADO SALSA
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 ½ Tablespoons lime juice
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil (I use light extra virgin)
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breast halves
- Pam or other non-stick cooking spray
- 2 plum tomatoes, chopped
- 2 Tablespoons onion, chopped
- 2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 Tablespoon lime juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 avocado, cut into small cubes
Instructions
- Mix first 3 ingredients together and place into large ziploc bag with chicken.
- Allow chicken to marinate in refrigerator for 30 minutes, turning once after 15 minutes.
- Remove chicken from bag and discard marinade.
- Preheat grill. Spray with nonstick spray.
- Place chicken on grill. Cook for 8-10 minutes a side or until chicken is cooked through.
- While chicken is cooking prepare salsa. Mix chopped tomato, onion and cilantro with lime juice and season with salt and pepper.
- Cut avocado in half and remove seed. Cup the avocado half in your hand and, with a sharp knife, score the avocado lengthwise and across width without breaking through the skin of the avocado. Turn upside down over bowl and squeeze the cubes of avocado into the bowl.
- Stir mixture together carefully so as not to mash the avocado.
- To serve: Remove chicken from grill, place on top of some fresh greens and top with a little avocado salsa. Serve the remaining salsa on the side.
Nutrition
Wine Pairing: Avocados are one of the hardest fruits to pair with a wine due to its high fat content and sweetness. The best wines to pair with it are those that have the acidity to cut through the oils of the avocado such as a zesty Slingshot Sauvignon Blanc or a complex, but not overly sweet, Washington State Riesling. Sparkling wines will work as well such as a Prosecco or Pinot Grigio. All are the perfect accompaniment to the combination of avocado and grilled chicken.
If red wines are really what you prefer, they are a little harder to match up. Choose one that is lighter and fruitier to combat the high fat content of the avocado such as a Beaujolais or Pinot Noir and still manage to compliment the grilled chicken.
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