Ingredients:

  • 1.5 cups full-fat Greek yogurt
  • 1 large English cucumber, grated and squeezed dry
  • 3 cloves garlic, microplaned
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 0.5 tsp sea salt
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 4 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded
  • 0.5 cup red onion, finely diced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 0.5 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
  • 0.5 cup feta cheese, crumbled
  • 0.25 cup almonds, chopped

Instructions:

  1. Grate the cucumber. Use the large holes of a box grater for the English cucumber. Note: Using an English cucumber is key because the seeds are much smaller and less watery.
  2. The salt rest. Toss the shreds with a pinch of salt in a cheesecloth and wait 5 minutes. Wait until the water begins to pool at the bottom.
  3. The big squeeze. Firmly wring out the cucumber over the sink. Keep squeezing until no more drops fall.
  4. Build the base. Whisk the Greek yogurt, microplaned garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and herbs. Whisk until the oil is fully incorporated and the mixture looks glossy.
  5. Fold the greens. Stir the dried cucumber shreds into the dressing base. Note: Adding them now ensures they are fully coated before the chicken goes in.
  6. Add the protein. Toss in your 4 cups of shredded chicken. Mix until the chicken changes from dry to looking silky and coated.
  7. Incorporate the aromatics. Add the red onion, halved cherry tomatoes, and sliced Kalamata olives.
  8. The final touch. Gently fold in the feta cheese and chopped almonds. Stop as soon as they are distributed to avoid breaking the feta. The aroma at step 4 is incredible — the lemon juice reacts with the garlic and dill to create a scent that is undeniably Mediterranean. It’s a sharp, clean smell that signals exactly how fresh this meal is going to be. If you find yourself loving the acidic brightness here, you might also enjoy the lemon caper balance in my [Chicken Piccata recipe](https://thegoldrecipes.com/recipes/easy-chicken-piccata-recipe/), which uses similar bright notes in a warm setting.