I’ve never been what you’d consider one of the “cool” kids.
I still wore my stretchy stirrup pants a solid 6 months after my friends moved onto flare legged jeans. Spiral permed my hair when pin straight was in. Held on to my Mary-Kate & Ashley obsession a little too long, and preferred books over boys, creek walks over mall shops and Goosebumps over gossip growing up.
Yep, I’ve always been a bit late to the party.
Including when it comes to cooking with a certain golden-hued fruit.
Lemon.
Say it with me – let it rolllll off your tongue – llllllemon.
How I considered a splash in my state fair lemonade or a slice in my Long Island Ice Tea for all those years using lemon, I’ll never know.
Why I waited this long – until this very summer, in fact – to start regularly incorporating it’s bright, vibrant, juicy flavor into my cooking can’t be explained. But like I always told myself, it’s better to arrive late to the party then never at all, and so the lemon obsession of summer 2011 continues with Grilled Lemon Chicken with Sweet Corn & Tomatoes!
I promise you, this meal will sell even the most die-hard lemon hater on its fantastical culinary qualities, which all started with this – the most delicious, multi-purposeful thing I have made, well, maybe ever: Homemade Lemon Dressing.
Homemade Lemon Dressing
Combine the juice of 2 lemons, 6 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 2 garlic cloves (minced or micro-planed), and salt & pepper in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Place the lid on the jar and shake until combined.
Use on salads, as a marinade for fish or chicken, or straight to the face. Tart from the lemon, but sweet from the EVOO – this stuff is liquid GOLD, people!
I started my dish by heating up some of the dressing to warm and soften some spectacularly fresh sweet corn and red onion in.
Next I added in a serving of cooked brown basmati rice and another drizzle of lemon dressing.
Finally I stirred in some gorgey ruby-red cherry tomato quarters.
I think more of these made it into my mouth than the bowl as I was cutting them up. Plump, snappy and bursting with summery flavor!
I plated the sweet corn & tomato mixture then topped it with a chicken breast that had been pounded thin, marinated in lemon dressing then quickly cooked on a blazing hot grill. Another drizzle of dressing on top sealed the deal.
PERFECTION! This meal was per-fec-tion!
The chicken was so tender from the quick grill sesh, and I cannot even tell you how mouthwateringly delicious that lemon dressing was with the sweet, sweet corn, red onion and tomatoes.
The lemon flavor, while very present, was totally mellowed out by all the other yummy flavors in the dish. Sooooo so delish!!!
Grilled Lemon Chicken with Sweet Corn & Tomatoes
Serves 1
Ingredients:
1 chicken breast, pounded thin
6 Tablespoons Homemade Lemon Dressing, divided
1/4 cup brown basmati rice, dry
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup fresh sweet corn, cut off the cob
1/4 cup red onion, minced
salt & pepper
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
Directions:
- Marinate chicken breast in 3 Tablespoons lemon dressing for 15-20 minutes. Grill on high heat then set aside when done.
- Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan. Stir in rice, place a tight fitting lid on top, turn the heat down to low and cook for 12-15 minutes, or until the rice is tender and all the water has been absorbed.
- Heat 1 Tablespoon lemon dressing in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté corn and red onion for 3-4 minutes, or until onion is soft. Add in cooked rice and 1 more Tablespoon lemon dressing. Season to taste with salt & pepper.
- Stir cherry tomatoes into corn and rice mixture, plate, then top with grilled chicken. Drizzle with remaining Tablespoon of lemon dressing.
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMake this!
For dessert, I devoured a juicy, ripe peach. 
I picked up a bunch at the grocery store last weekend, and they’ve been ripening on my counter ever since.
Every time I walk by I get sucked in by their sweet scent.
What says summer better than a super ripe peach?! 8)
Ahhhh, yum. 
In other news, I am sooooo glad I’m not the only one with crazy critter drama! I hate that you all had to go through such terrible things, but it makes me feel less icky and like my house has something wrong with it, or something, to read your yucky tales. Plus, you know what they say, misery loves company. 
Click here for an update on our winged friend foe (I can’t bear to write about it right below my beautiful peach!!)
And with that, I am out for a super long walk with my Man. Have a sweet summer night!
~~~~~
“So far this has been the summer of ________.”
This has been the summer of walks, bike rides, fruit, beer and NO PLANS. I love that after an insane Spring, we have had nothing booked on our calendar, pretty much all summer long!
LOVE the use of lemon in summer dishes. It adds so much flavor to grilled food especially.
I lahhhhve cooking with lemon, especially when I’m making brussels or tilapia!
I love lemon in dishes, I’ll definitely have to give this a try! It’s the perfect addition to summmery dinners
This summer has been the summer of not working and biking!
wow! that supper is bright, colorful, beautiful! i love food that looks as good as it tastes! this is my summer of searching for a job. i WILL find a good one. i just know it!
Love cooking with lemon in the summer!
This has been the summer of changes in my little family. I will be teaching at a new school next year and my husband quit his insane travel job and is actively searching for something new and enrolled in school to finish his degree. So many changes, but all good in their own way!
Summer of good and bad, for all the good things that have happened a few scary ones have countered. But a new love and a new job are pretty fantastic and the vet was able to save Clifford so a lot of the bad is turning into good!
I’m usually not a lemon fan, but you have me questioning my sanity!
The garden!! This was my first time having a garden in the ground (I usually have a small one in a few pots on the porch)… and this is the first year for my man and me to be members of a CSA! So we have been cooking a lot and enjoying every minute of it
What a great summer meal! The lemon dressing sounds like a great marinade!
I’ve made a similar vinegarette/marinade before – it’s also AWE. SOME. with limes and/or oranges!
I’m not a cool kid either, we can hang out together.
I love lemon + olive oil dressing. Try adding a pinch or 2 of either Herbs de Provence or Greek seasoning. It just gives it a little extra. I use it on pasta salad all the time!
Beautiful pictures and I can’t wait to try the corn/tomatoes! I love lemon anything. You just can’t go wrong.
This has been the summer of baseball games so far. My older two children played at least two games a week each for 6 weeks straight. We have our last few games this weekend and then we’re done. I LOVE baseball so it’s been so fun. It’s also been the summer of our new horse! We’re the proud owners of a 17 year old mare named Buddy. He’s sweet and the kids just love him. We just keep adding more animals to our little “farm”. Next up? A goat!
Mmm…that recipe looks so good. And I was never the “cool kid” either. If stirrup pants ever come back in style (in the Midwest- I know trendy people in CA and NY are already wearing them), I will be first in line to buy them
.
I’m late to the lemon cooking party, too!! You make it sound very appealing. YUM!
This has been the summer of beets for me! I’ve loved experimenting with them and add them to all my salads!
Wow! This sounds and looks delicious! Will definitely make this for the Hubs this weekend!
So far this has been the summer of homework, baby-prepping, weddings, and puffy feet (thank you pregnancy + heat + humidity). But overall, it’s been enjoyable!
Love your lemon dressing recipe and will definitely be whipping that up soon.
That looks soooo good. I”m trying this for sure.
Glad all is well with the Bat in the Basement!
Lemon Gold looks awesome!!!
My dad puts lemon in almost everything he cooks, even mashed potatoes. He says it’s because he’s Greek and that’s what Greek people do, but I think it’s because he’s slightly crazy.
If you REALLY want to experience the life of the lemon party, you should try adding lemon zest to your recipes! I make a paste of lemon zest, olive oil, rosemary and garlic and rub that on my chicken before grilling it. Loves!
I hate to say it, but so far this summer has been CRAZY!! I’ve had some really fun times, but it’s also been pretty hectic and stressful. I’m excited to see my summer classes comes to an end though (3 more weeks) woop woop!!
Lemon really is amazing and the color just makes you so happy!! Love it!
…Summer of good and bad. But mostly good!
I love lemon! Mmm, might have to have this for dinner
you may be late for the party but you come looking good, love this recipe. I’m a lemon lover. I love Ina Garten’s lemon chicken recipe, lemon zest in smoothies and lemon dressing…but I don’t use garlic, I will now. Great blog.
This weekend I’m making lemon cake with fresh blueberries in it. Then, taking cream cheese frosting, adding juice of a lemon and lemon zest, nuking for 15 seconds, then drizzling on the warm cake. Looking forward to it!
You are too cute! I, too, held onto leggings for a bit too long (but it looks like what’s old is new again, eh? I was just ahead of my time!) and still think nothing beats a good creek walk!
This summer has been a summer of running around like a crazy person – I so rarely have time to myself and I need a BREAK!
So far, this has been a summer of … making up for years when I couldn’t take vacation time.
A few months ago, I changed jobs and went from not having any vacation time to having tons — and being encouraged to take it. It’s allowed me to go watch my favorite baseball team and a few of my favorite musicians with some great friends. I still have plenty of vacation time (and planned trips) ahead too, and I’m loving it.
My mom wore knickers and knee-socks into the early 90s. My sisters staged an intervention by stealing them all and taking them to Goodwill.
Lemon juice is a necessary ingredient in most soups and sauces. It is especially effective in chili, along with a bottle of dark beer.
Everything you said on the top of this post was also me, especially the part about books and Mary-Kate & Ashley. It was hard not to love them growing up.
So far this has been the summer of the unexpected.
A lot has happened, some good, some not so good. But as you know, life is full of twists and turns. I embrace them, or move on from the “not so good” parts.
i’m loving lemon too–definitely trying your chicken marinade!!
ps. happy belated birthday
This is the summer of friend’s weddings… and all the events that lead up to them! Fun but exhausting!
Kristin, you may like-http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/orzo-salad-with-chickpeas-dill-lemon-10000000338370/
It has been a favorite of mine from cookinglight.com for several years.
How long do you grill the chicken if it is pounded thin? I have a horrible time knowing how long and it usually ends up overdone and dry.
Plan to make this recipe this weekend!!
I usually cook them about 3-3:30 minutes a side!
Just tried this recipe, with a few variations–threw in some green pepper and some chickpeas (have to use up the veggies left in my fridge!)–turned out great. I love the lemon dressing; I’ll be making it again soon! Live on summer of the lemon!
I made this fab dish 2 nights ago. HOLY COW! I have to say this is one of my all time favs! Next time I’m going to use fresh chicken breast and maybe use TJ’s tomatoless salsa to add the sweetness with a little kick!
Wohoo! Glad you enjoyed!