Zesty Chicken and Black Bean Salad Bowl

Image courtesy of Starbucks

DAY 1: STARBUCKS

I imagine you think this is a strange place for me to begin. I mean, who thinks of salad when they think of Starbucks? Certainly not me.

But every Starbucks in my area has a small selection of grab-and-go salads in the refrigerator case. And with a coupon for 50% off the item of my choice set to expire this week, I was motivated to make my first blogged-about adventure in lettuce a Starbucks salad.

I chose the Zesty Chicken and Black Bean Salad Bowl, which includes chicken, black beans, corn, jicama, tomatoes, feta, greens and quinoa with a chili vinaigrette.

Like all Starbucks salads, this one is prepackaged, with an ample supply of dressing nestled inside the deep, square container. The lid comes off easily. The directions say to add the dressing, replace the lid and shake. Apparently this is the way to perfectly distribute the dressing. Naturally, I didn't look at the directions until I'd already stirred in my dressing, so you'll have to measure the effectiveness of this method yourself if you're curious.

I must admit that prepackaged salads can be a drag. If you don't like all the ingredients or the dressing, you'll have to pick out the offensive items or supply your own dressing. Luckily, everything in the Zesty Chicken and Black Bean Salad Bowl sounded and looked appetizing to me

My first impression was that this salad could not have been more than a few hours old. It was FRESH, with none of the wilting or mushiness that often invades prepackaged salads.

I think this is due in large part to the way the salad is assembled. The heavier ingredients (chicken, quinoa, grape tomatoes, black beans and corn) are layered under the lettuce, with nothing but thin strips of seasoned jicama atop the greens. The ingredient proportions are balanced and generous, with enough of everything to ensure there will never be a bite with only lettuce.

The dressing is thick, with a rich reddish-orange color courtesy of pureed tomatoes, red papers and chilis. It's definitely not spicy though, so don't get scared off by the presence of chilis if you're heat-averse. It has a unique mix of sweet, smoke and tang that complements the ingredients perfectly.

I really loved the way the flavors of the salad combine. The earthy black beans and sweet corn play off each other with the delicate chicken. The roasted tomatoes add a nice acidity, the feta a punch of creamy saltiness, and the jicama a refreshingly light crunch. The quinoa, which on its own isn't much to dream about, provides substance and knits together all of the ingredients. And of course there is lettuce, a nice spring mix that neither overpowers nor underwhelms.

The salad itself isn’t large, but the ingredients are dense, so I was satisfied and full until dinnertime—roughly six hours after finishing lunch.

Yes, my maiden adventure was a success.

ITEM 
Zesty Chicken and Black Bean Salad Bowl

EATERY
Starbucks at 139 South Clinton Street, Chicago, IL 60661

MENU DESCRIPTION
A blend of grilled chicken, black beans, roasted corn, jicama, tomatoes, feta, spring greens and quinoa with mild chili vinaigrette.

CALORIES
360

COST 
$3.83 after 50 percent off coupon and sales tax

RECOMMEND?
Definitely