I used to think that no cold buffet would be complete without the traditional plate of assorted cold cuts and charcuterie. I guess it probably had a lot to do with the fact that, one, I was a mega carnivore, and two, I thought cold cuts were just so unbelievably good. I know so much better now.
Oh, don’t get me wrong, I still think that cold cuts taste awfully good, but from a nutrition standpoint, trust me, these things don’t fly very high… Plus, I find it very hard to completely erase from my mind all the nasty stuff that goes in the making of these types of cold cuts, and I’m not only talking fat, salt and additives here, I’m talking about all the “uninviting” parts of the animals that are being used….
I’m sure that, if I ever saw a batch of cold cuts being made, I would never, ever put another piece in my mouth, ever again.
Still… if, like me, you find that sometimes you must supply your guests with a plate of some kind of cold meat that they can easily eat with their fingers, I find that these beautiful cold chicken strips are the perfect replacement. They look pretty, they taste great, they are a very good source of protein, and best of all, you can tell exactly what went into making them, and you can name all the ingredients that were used (you probably can name them by heart to, there aren’t that many…)
I only did one flavor here, but you could really play with that endlessly. You could make a different marinade for each chicken breast if you wanted to, this way you get a platter of assorted chicken strips. You could try flavors such as honey mustard, lemon thyme garlic, orange rosemary, raspberry and balsamic vinegar… let your imagination guide you. Also, I find that these are plenty tasty as is, but you could also create all sorts of dipping sauces to go with them.
Also, just like cold cuts, these cold chicken strips are super convenient to keep in your fridge, or in your freezer. .. Then you can easily reach for a few slices and quickly turn them into healthy afternoon snack, by pairing them with a few veggies, or whole grain crackers, low fat cottage cheese or hummus.
You could also add a few strips to your favorite salads for some added lean protein. Stuff them into a whole wheat pita bread or tortilla, add a few veggies, say avocado, alfalfa sprouts and olives, maybe?, a dollop of plain yogurt a few herbs and spices and you’ve got yourself an instant healthy wrap.
See what I mean? Just as convenient as cold cuts, only much better for you!
INGREDIENTS
- 4 large chicken breasts
- 75g fresh ginger, grated (no need to peel)
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 3 tbsp rice vinegar
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 1 tbsp mirin
- 1 tbsp honey
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
- Mix all the ingredients of the marinade in a small mixing bowl. Set aside.
- Pound the chicken breasts until they are about 1cm thick.
- Pour half the marinade in a shallow non metal baking dish. Add chicken breast and pour the rest of the marinade over the chicken.
- Cover with a plastic film and place in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 8 hours.
- Preheat your grill to medium-high heat
- Remove the chicken breasts from the marinade place them on the grill. Close the lid and let the breasts cook for about 5-6 minutes then flip them over.
- Continue cooking for about 5 minutes, or until cooked through.
- Allow the chicken breasts to cool completely in the fridge before cutting them into strips.
Mmm, I love the flavors in there. I haven’t had cold cuts in so long. I don’t eat much meat in general and when I imagine all the nasty things that go into cold cuts(not to mention all the salt and preservatives etc too) I just can’t bring myself to buy them. My mom still buys them all the time though. It drives me a little crazy. Haha. This chicken looks great though. Perfect when it’s hot out and the last thing you want is a hot dish when you need some protein.
Same here, Heidi! I love cold cuts, but can’t bring myself to buy them, not even for my kids anymore… Sure, they taste good, but I know just how much crap goes into them. I’d rather stick to stuff that tastes good but that’s also good for me.
Cat de bine arata !!! Minunat!
Oh my goodness, that looks delicious! And such beautiful photos! You really have a knack for styling.
Thanks Frankie!
That’s super nice of you to say. BTW, I really wish the link to your tumblr worked. I try and check it out every chance I get, but always get a “page not found” error message. Is your tumblr not active anymore?
What a great replacement for cold cuts. I don’t indulge in cold cuts very often, but occasionally I give in to my kids who really love pastrami and corned beef. Will have to try this replacement.
Beautiful photo. I saw this on FG and came over. I didn’t so many things go into cold cuts so now you have me intrigued. I’ll have to look into this. BTW, I love how you wove the radishes and lemon slices into the platter. So pretty!
Thank you Sarah!
Not sure what kind of information you can find as to what REALLY goes into the making of cold cuts… but I can tell you it’s not always pretty! 
This looks like a lovely alternative to cold cuts for those that don’t like “icky” bits. I guess we can’t all be nose to tail eaters.
i found your blog from someone’s pin on pinterest and so happy! this is a great idea. i’ve started doing this for our beach meals – makes grabbing and going so much simpler but i love the idea of serving this to a crowd.
This is just what I was looking for for a meeting on Thursday. Now if only I can plate it as beautifully as you have done.
If the “icky bits” in charcuterie distress you then I’d advise that you refrain from examining the source and processing of anything else on your table. Unless you’re producing your own food you’re apt to end up very hungry.
Thanks Rick, I appreciate your comment about my beautiful plating!
And I totally hear you about food processing, although I believe not everything is on the “same level of bad”. For instance, I think there’s a world of difference between say, baby spinach leaves and smoked wieners… I tend to steer from anything that’s too “processed”…
What a great idea. I was searching for a healthier alternative for a cold cut plate for a party. This is perfect. My reaction was ” now why didn’t I think of that?” I think this will be even better than the regular cold cuts.
Even better indeed! Tastier and healthier for sure. And I bet they would disappear much faster, too!