comment icon 23 more comments Tonight we had these chicken bowls for dinner, and Bjork smothered his still-warm, juicy, golden chicken strips with that spicy tangy Calabrian chile sauce and declared it the best chicken he’s ever had. And as soon as I open my eyes in the morning, one of my first waking thoughts is: “YES I get to eat that bowl again for lunch today.” This bowl is like a little symphony – the crunch of the tomato cucumber salad, the thin slips of bitey red onion, the golden crisped air fryer chicken cut into tender little strips, a big pile of perfectly chewy Banza, and a heavy pour of tangy Calabrian chile sauce on top. I am drooling. If you need to scale it back and make it easier with fewer elements, just go for the chicken with the sauce and the salad. Or the chicken with the sauce and the Banza. Or, really, just the chicken with the sauce. That Calabrian chile sauce is at the heart of it all. January is long, but this bowl, for me, has been one of those super happy meals where I’m excited to eat it AND I feel good about the actual nutrition in it. Like, one of those meals that I look forward to and it becomes the highlight of my day. Belly full, tastebuds so exceptionally happy. Hope you like it! 5 from 12 reviews
1 English cucumber, cut into chunks (about 1 1/2 cups) 1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut into halves (about 1 1/2 cups) a small chunk of red onion, thinly sliced on a mandoline a small bundle of parsley, chopped (about 1/4 cup) 1 tablespoon white vinegar 2 tablespoons olive oil salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Calabrian Chile Sauce
1/4 cup mayo 1/4 cup Greek yogurt 2–3 individual Calabrian chiles, stems discarded, smashed / minced (I use a jarred variety) 1 clove garlic, grated a splash of castelvetrano olive brine (optional, see notes) salt to taste
The Rest
For protein, I use a batch of this ridiculously good Air Fryer Chicken(For a vegetarian alternative, this Air Fryer Tofu works beautifully too!) For a carb, I love the Banza Rice Mix for this – it doesn’t really make sense but I enjoyed the tomato chipotle variety!
