Jalapeño White Balsamic Grilled Chicken with Fresh Corn Salad

Grilled Chicken with Jalapeño White Balsamic Corn Salad

Description

Juicy grilled chicken meets a fresh corn salad with sweet corn, red onion, cilantro, Jalapeño White Balsamic, and Jalapeño Infused Olive Oil. The combination delivers bright balsamic acidity and fresh jalapeño character without relying on pronounced heat.

Ingredients

Grilled Chicken:
1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
1 tablespoon Jalapeño Infused Olive Oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Jalapeño White Balsamic Corn Salad:
2 cups fresh corn kernels or kernels cut from about 3 ears corn
¼ cup finely diced red onion
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
3 tablespoons Jalapeño White Balsamic
1 tablespoon Jalapeño Infused Olive Oil
¼ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

• Preheat an outdoor grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Clean and lightly oil the grill grates if needed.

• If using chicken breasts, pound or slice them as needed so they are relatively even in thickness. Pat the chicken dry, then coat with 1 tablespoon Jalapeño Infused Olive Oil and season evenly with kosher salt and black pepper.

• Grill the chicken until browned and lightly charred, turning as needed. Begin checking thinner chicken breasts after about 4–5 minutes per side; thighs or thicker pieces may take longer. Cook until the thickest portion reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.

• Transfer the chicken to a clean plate and let it rest for about 5 minutes before slicing.

• While the chicken rests, combine the corn, red onion, and cilantro in a bowl. Add 3 tablespoons Jalapeño White Balsamic, 1 tablespoon Jalapeño Infused Olive Oil, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, and black pepper. Toss thoroughly.

• Taste the corn salad and adjust the salt or add a small additional splash of Jalapeño White Balsamic if you want more brightness.

• Slice the rested chicken and serve the corn salad alongside or spooned over the chicken.

Chef’s Tip

Use a thermometer rather than the clock to determine when the chicken is done. Breasts and thighs—and even individual pieces within the same package—can vary considerably in thickness. The Jalapeño White Balsamic and Jalapeño Infused Olive Oil are used here for fresh jalapeño character; if you want noticeable heat, add finely minced fresh jalapeño or serrano to the corn salad.

Flavor Variations

• Herbes de Provence Olive Oil can replace the Jalapeño Infused Olive Oil for an aromatic herb-forward version.
• Garlic Infused Olive Oil creates a savory garlic variation while keeping the bright Jalapeño White Balsamic in the corn salad.
• Add diced avocado just before serving for a creamy contrast to the corn and balsamic.
• For actual chile heat, add finely minced fresh jalapeño or serrano to taste.

Pairings

Serve with cilantro-lime rice, black beans, grilled zucchini or peppers, avocado, warm tortillas, or a simple green salad. The chicken and corn salad also work well together in a grain bowl.

Recipe Notes

Jalapeño White Balsamic is used for bright acidity and jalapeño flavor rather than as a source of significant chile heat. Jalapeño Infused Olive Oil reinforces the fresh, savory flavor of jalapeño without adding chile heat.

The original recipe used all 2 tablespoons of Jalapeño Infused Olive Oil on the chicken and dressed the corn with ¼ cup balsamic alone. Dividing the olive oil between the chicken and salad creates a more balanced corn dressing, while reducing the balsamic slightly keeps its brightness from overwhelming the sweetness of the corn.

Chicken breasts and thighs should not be assigned one fixed grilling time because thickness and cut affect cooking speed. Use the suggested times only as a guide and cook every piece until the thickest portion reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.

Fresh corn can be used raw when it is sweet and in season. For deeper flavor, grill whole ears until lightly charred before cutting the kernels from the cob and assembling the salad.

Bring This Recipe to Life

Jalapeño White Balsamic

Jalapeño Infused Olive Oil

Herbes de Provence Olive Oil

Garlic Infused Olive Oil