Italian Dressing Chicken Marinade

Italian Dressing Chicken Marinade is an Italian Chicken Marinade that doubles as a salad dressing! This is one of my tricks for easy midweek meals and it's a highly effective method to make delicious meals with less effort. I've made a zucchini side salad here, but feel free to use the dressing for ANY salad you want!

Ingredients

• 4 1/2 tbsp white wine vinegar ((Note 1))
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp dijon mustard
• 1 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• Black pepper
• 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 1/2 tsp mixed Italian dried herbs ((either a packet mix or mix herbs like basil, parsley, oregano, rosemary and thyme))
• 1 tsp dried red chili flakes ((optional))
• 750 g / 1.5lb chicken thighs, boneless skinless, or breast ((cut in half horizontally))
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 zucchinis (, finely sliced into rounds using a mandolin)
• 2 tbsp baby mint leaves (, or 1 tbsp sliced larger mint leaves)

Instructions

1. 1

   Place the Dressing Marinade ingredients in a small jar and shake well to combine.

2. 2

   Put the Marinated Chicken ingredients in a bowl or ziplock bag and add 5 tablespoons of the Dressing Marinade. 

3. 3

   Massage / mix to coat the chicken. Set aside for marinade for at least 20 minutes, ideally 3 hours or up to 24 hours.

4. 4

   Grill/BBQ: You shouldn't need any oil, but if you are concerned, brush your grill with oil. Heat the grill on medium high and cook the chicken for around 3 to 4 minutes on each side. (Cook breast for less)

5. 5

   Stove: Preheat 1/2 tbsp oil in a large non stick fry pan over medium high heat. Add the chicken and cook each side for around 4 to 5 minutes, or until dark golden brown and cooked through. 

6. 6

   When the chicken is cooked, remove it from the grill/fry pan onto a plate, loosely cover with foil and set aside for 10 minutes.

7. 7

   Serve the chicken with the zucchini salad and toasted bread.

8. 8

   Add the 1 tablespoon of olive oil (from the Zucchini Side ingredients) into the jar with the remaining Dressing Marinade and shake well. Set aside.

9. 9

   Toss the zucchinis and mint with the Dressing Marinade.