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As the dog days of summer roll on, I find myself constantly craving bright, crispy, hydrating salads. So when I came across this ultra-colorful tandoori chicken salad via author, model, television host, and all-around icon Padma Lakshmi, I knew I needed to try it. Lakshmi utilizes the chicken’s yogurt marinade as a dressing for the salad, which is an intriguing technique that really sparked my interest — waste not, want not!
How to Make Padma Lakshmi’s Tandoori Chicken Salad
My Honest Review of Padma Lakshmi’s Tandoori Chicken Salad
Crunchy, fresh, and surprisingly hearty, I thoroughly enjoyed this salad. The juicy brightness of the chopped veggies was super satisfying, but it was the chicken that really stole the show. Lightly golden, perfectly seasoned, and incredibly tender, the chicken was the perfect texture to pair with crunchy raw vegetables. I also loved the generous serving of finely chopped cilantro and scallions, making for a much more flavorful bite. A good dose of fresh lemon juice perked up the flavor even more, and once incorporated into the salad, it mixed with the extra chicken marinade to form a light but flavorful dressing.
Did I miss croutons? Yes. Would croutons have defeated the purpose of this salad, as it’s intended to be Mediterranean diet-friendly? Also yes. I just always want croutons. I also think roasted chickpeas would be great if you too crave something crunchy in your salad.