Grilled Chicken & Caramelized Pineapple Salsa Rice Bowl

Delicious marinated chicken with a simple cilantro pineapple salsa. This pineapple chicken is easy to throw together and mega flavorful!
Ingredients
Grilled Chicken
1 and 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (or thighs)
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice + 1 teaspoon lime zest
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 teaspoons honey
2 and 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
Fine sea salt and freshly cracked pepper
Vegetable oil for greasing grill/grill pan
Pineapple Salsa
3 cups diced pineapple (~18 ounces/most of 1 pineapple; Note 1)
1 cup loosely packed cilantro, diced (measure loosely packed and then finely dice)
2 tablespoons finely diced jalapeno
1/2 cup diced red onion
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1 large avocado, finely sliced or diced (Note 2)
Optional: serve over rice or quinoa (we like to make coconut OR cilantro lime rice for this dish; check blogpost for directions)
Instructions
Trim the chicken breasts of fat and then slice large breasts evenly in half widthwise. Using a meat mallet or the bottom of your fry pan, pound breasts to even thickness (you don't want the meat super flat, just even in thickness). Place the prepared chicken in a large ziplock bag and set aside.
In a small bowl whisk together 1/4 cup olive oil, 1 teaspoon lime zest, 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice, minced garlic, honey, cumin, coriander, and salt + pepper (I use about 1/2 of each; add to preference). Once the mixture is well combined, remove 3 tablespoons of the mixture and reserve in the fridge for later.
Add the rest of the marinade in the bag with the chicken. Seal the bag and then knead with your hands to ensure all of the chicken is well coated. Place in the fridge and marinate for at least 30 minutes and preferably 2-3 hours. Don't marinate longer than 6 hours (acid from lime begins to "cook" the chicken).
Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat (about 400 degrees F.) Generously oil the grill (I drench a roll-up paper towel in vegetable oil and, holding it with tongs, rub it over the grill grates. Don't skip this step.) Start by grilling the pineapple (Note 1) so you can work on the salsa while the chicken cooks. Rub about 1-2 teaspoon(s) vegetable oil over all sides of the pineapple. Cook for about 2-3 minutes per side or until lightly charred (or grilled to your liking). Remove to a plate to allow to slightly cool before dicing.
Remove chicken from marinade and discard any remaining marinade. Grill the chicken turning once halfway through grilling, about 4-6 minutes per side (until the thickest part of the chicken registers 165 degrees F and juices run clear). Baste the chicken with the reserved marinade as you grill and after flipping. Transfer the chicken to a plate and cover with foil. Allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes so the juices can re-distribute. Slice thinly or chop into bite-sized pieces.
While the chicken cooks, prepare the salsa! Dice the grilled (or fresh) pineapple, dice the cilantro, dice the jalapeno, dice the red onion. Toss everything together in a large bowl with the freshly squeezed lime juice, cumin, and salt and pepper to taste. I add about 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper, but add to preference. Gently toss together, taste, and then adjust seasoning if needed. Serve spooned generously over the grilled chicken.
We like to cook up coconut rice or cilantro lime rice to serve the chicken and salsa over. If you'd like those recipes check for the links to those recipes right above this recipe card!
Note 1:
Remove chicken from marinade and discard any remaining marinade. Grill the chicken turning once halfway through grilling, about 4-6 minutes per side (until the thickest part of the chicken registers 165 degrees F and juices run clear). Baste the chicken with the reserved marinade as you grill and after flipping. Transfer the chicken to a plate and cover with foil. Allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes so the juices can re-distribute. Slice thinly or chop into bite-sized pieces.
While the chicken cooks, prepare the salsa! Dice the grilled (or fresh) pineapple, dice the cilantro, dice the jalapeno, dice the red onion. Toss everything together in a large bowl with the freshly squeezed lime juice, cumin, and salt and pepper to taste. I add about 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper, but add to preference. Gently toss together, taste, and then adjust seasoning if needed. Serve spooned generously over the grilled chicken.
We like to cook up coconut rice or cilantro lime rice to serve the chicken and salsa over. If you'd like those recipes check for the links to those recipes right above this recipe card!
Note 1:
you don't have to grill the pineapple but it does add an amazing sweetness (it caramelizes as it grills) to the dish. Check pictures in post for the size of pineapple to grill (I cut the cored & skinned pineapple in about 9-10 long strips.) Once grilled, I slice each pineapple strip in 3 long strips and then dice those long strips to small pieces for the salsa. Use a sharp knife here! You will likely have more pineapple salsa than "needed" to top chicken, but we like a lot OR finish the rest off with chips You can halve the pineapple salsa recipe, but I like it as written so I don't waste the rest of the veggies.
Note 2:
a good, ripe avocado adds a delicious creamy element to this dish. If you don't add avocado and want a creamy element, I'd recommend the jalapeno sauce from this recipe.
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