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BLT Caesar Salad with Crispy Chicken

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Prep Time 8 mins
Cook Time 18 mins
Course Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Grain Free, Paleo, Whole30
Servings 2

Ingredients
  

Baked Almond "Croutons"

  • 1/2 cup blanched almonds
  • 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp thyme
  • pinch chilli powder

Salad

  • 4 strips bacon
  • 4 skin on bone in chicken thighs (ideally they are already deboned)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp chilli powder
  • 6 cup romaine lettuce
  • 1/2 avocado

Caesar Dressing

  • 1/3 cup tahini
  • 1 tbsp dijon mustard
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 tbsp balsamic vinegar (or red wine vinegar)
  • 2 tsp capers
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 - 1/3 cup water

Instructions
 

Baked Almond "Croutons"

  • Preheat the oven to 175C (350F). Place the almonds in an oven proof dish and toss with the oil, salt, thyme and chilli powder. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes or so to ensure they don't burn. 

Crispy Chicken & Bacon

  • Cook the bacon in a frying pan. Once the bacon is crisp, remove from the pan and set aside leaving the grease in the pan. 
  • To prep the chicken, lay the thighs on a cutting board, skin side down. Run a knife down both sides of the bone in the middle and then using kitchen scissors pull the bone up with your fingers and cut the meat away from the bone until it is completely detached. Repeat with the remaining thighs. 
  • Season the skin of the chicken with salt and chilli powder and place the thighs skin side down in the frying pan. Lay a piece of tin foil over top of the chicken and then place something heavy such as a cast iron skillet or heavy bowl on top of the tin foil. This will put pressure on the chicken which will help the fat render and make the skin much crispier. Cook the chicken on medium high heat for 8 minutes until the skin is crispy and golden in colour. Flip the chicken over and cook on the other side for 3-4 minutes. Set aside 

Caesar Dressing

  • In a high speed blender or nutribullet combine all of the dressing ingredients and blend. Start with adding 1/4 cup water and then depending on the consistency, add more. 

Salad

  • Slice the chicken and chop the bacon into small pieces. In a bowl combine the lettuce, bacon, almonds, avocado and chicken. Toss in the dressing and sprinkle with fresh black pepper and serve.