Romaine Charred Broccoli Salad with Grilled Chicken and Farro
Prep Time4 hourshrs15 minutesmins
Cook Time1 hourhr
Total Time5 hourshrs15 minutesmins
Servings: 4
Ingredients
3large boneless skinless chicken breasts
½cupextra virgin olive oil, divided
¼cupwhite wine vinegar, divided
1 ½teaspoonsDijon mustard, divided
¼cupchopped parsley
3sprigs of fresh thyme
7clovesgarlic, lightly smashed, and peels removed
Liberal pinch of kosher salt & freshly ground pepper
1large head romaine lettuce
1 ½cupsuncooked farro perlato (pearled)
1bay leaf
2heads broccoli, cut into ~¾ inch florets
4ozcrumbled goat cheese
2tablespoonsfresh dill
Instructions
Place the chicken breasts in a large ziplock freezer bag or glass/pyrex dish. Add ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, ¼ cup parsley, 3 sprigs thyme, 3 cloves smashed garlic, and a liberal pinch of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Seal the bag & shake well to distribute, or if using a dish, use your hands to mix everything together and turn the chicken breasts to coat well. Wash your hands well with soap and hot water afterwards! Seal the bag or cover the dish & place in the refrigerator to marinate overnight or at least 4 hours.
When you’re ready to start cooking dinner, place a grill pan or a large heavy bottomed skillet on the stove. Warm over high heat & add the chicken, shaking off any extra marinade before placing on the pan. Grill/cook for ~6-8 minutes per side, until nicely charred & the internal temp reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. If you have an actual grill, you can also grill the chicken! Remove from the pan/grill and set aside while you prep the rest of the salad.
Next, fill a medium saucepan with water, add a generous pinch of salt, and bring to a rolling boil. Add the farro, 3 cloves crushed garlic, and 1 bay leaf. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until tender. Drain, remove the bay leaf and garlic cloves, and set aside.
As the farro cooks, preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread the broccoli florets on a large rimmed baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil & season well with salt and pepper. Toss to coat & spread the florets out evenly on the baking sheet. Bake for roughly 20 minutes, until the florets are nicely charred. Remove the broccoli from the baking sheet and place on a plate to cool.
In a mini food processor, add 2 tablespoons fresh dill, 1 clove peeled garlic, 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard, ½ cup extra virgin olive oil, and few cracks of salt and pepper. Blend until combined, and pour into a small bowl.
Chop the romaine, wash well, & spin dry with a salad spinner. Slice the chicken breasts into thin slices, get out serving plates or bowls & get ready to assemble the salads.
Start with a bed of lettuce on each plate, top with a few generous scoops of farro, slices from ¾ of a chicken breast, ¼th of the charred broccoli, and ¼th of the goat cheese. Drizzle generously with the dill dressing and enjoy!