Harissa Chicken Salad with Olives and Mint

Ingredients

• 1 lb cooked chicken meat (Shredded or cut into bite-size pieces; meat from an average rotisserie chicken may be used)
• 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil (For blooming the spices and harissa)
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 0.25 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsp harissa paste (Use 1 to 2 tablespoons depending on the brand's heat level)
• 1 tsp fresh lemon zest
• 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (From about 1 lemon)
• 0.5 cup mayonnaise
• 0.5 cup pitted green olives (Chopped)
• 0.25 small red onion (Finely chopped)
• 0.25 cup fresh mint leaves (Chopped, plus more to garnish if desired)
• kosher salt (To taste; olives and harissa may already be salty)
• black pepper (To taste)

Steps

1. 1

   In a small skillet over medium-low heat, warm the olive oil. Add the cumin, cinnamon, and harissa and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant. This blooming step mellows the raw flavor of the harissa and infuses the oil with spice and color; do not let the spices scorch.

2. 2

   Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice. Set the infused mixture aside briefly to cool until warm rather than hot.

3. 3

   Place the shredded chicken in a large bowl. Add the warm harissa oil mixture and toss thoroughly so the chicken is evenly coated.

4. 4

   Add the mayonnaise, chopped olives, red onion, and mint. Fold gently until the salad is cohesive but the chicken remains in distinct pieces.

5. 5

   Season with kosher salt and black pepper, tasting carefully because the olives and harissa can be salty. Add more harissa or lemon juice if needed to balance the heat and brightness.

6. 6

   Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate until chilled. Spoon the salad into lavash or pita, or serve it over chopped romaine.

Notes

The accessible page excerpt does not include the original ingredient list or full method because the recipe is behind a membership prompt. The quantities above are a best-effort reconstruction from the dish description and should be verified against the author's full recipe. Harissa spiciness varies considerably by brand. An average rotisserie chicken generally provides enough meat for four servings.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• salad
• chicken
• Middle Eastern-inspired
• no-fuss
• make-ahead
• pita filling