A vibrant, satisfying, and utterly delicious classic, our is packed with flavor and texture. Featuring succulent crispy chicken, savory beef bacon, creamy avocado, and a tangy blue cheese dressing, it’s a perfect meal that’s both hearty and refreshing. This easy-to-make salad brings gourmet dining right to your table, suitable for any occasion.
📜 Ingredients
For the Crispy Chicken
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (halal-certified), cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 large egg, whisked
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Vegetable oil for frying
For the Salad
1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 ripe avocado, diced
2 hard-boiled eggs, quartered
4 strips halal beef bacon or turkey bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese (ensure vegetarian rennet if preferred)
For the Creamy Blue Cheese Dressing
1/2 cup mayonnaise (halal-certified)
1/4 cup sour cream or plain yogurt (halal-certified)
2 tablespoons milk (halal-certified)
2 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese
1 tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
📝 Instructions
- Prepare the Crispy Chicken: Season the flour with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Set up a breading station with three shallow dishes: one with seasoned flour, one with the whisked egg, and one with panko breadcrumbs. Dredge each chicken piece first in the seasoned flour, then dip in the egg, and finally coat thoroughly in the panko breadcrumbs.
- Heat about 1 inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet or deep pan over medium-high heat. Fry the breaded chicken pieces in batches until they are golden brown and cooked through, approximately 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer the fried chicken to a wire rack lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Cook the Halal Bacon: Cook the halal beef bacon or turkey bacon according to package instructions until it is deliciously crispy. Drain any excess fat and crumble into small pieces.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream (or yogurt), milk, 2 tablespoons of crumbled blue cheese, white vinegar (or lemon juice), garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Whisk until the dressing is smooth and creamy, then taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
- Assemble the Salad: Arrange the chopped romaine lettuce evenly as the base in a large serving bowl or on individual plates.
- Artfully arrange separate rows or sections of the crispy chicken pieces, halved cherry tomatoes, diced avocado, quartered hard-boiled eggs, crumbled halal bacon, and the remaining blue cheese over the bed of lettuce.
- Just before serving, drizzle generously with the homemade creamy blue cheese dressing. You can toss gently if serving family-style, or let your guests dress their own plates. Enjoy!
💡 Chef's Tips
- For an even more irresistible crunch, try double-frying your chicken pieces: fry once until lightly golden, remove and let cool slightly, then fry again for 1-2 minutes until deeply golden and extra crispy.
- Get a head start on your meal prep by hard-boiling your eggs in advance! Place eggs in a pot, cover with cold water, bring to a rolling boil, then remove from heat, cover, and let sit for 10-12 minutes. Transfer to an ice bath for easy peeling.
