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Recipe: Spicy Chicken Chili

13 Mar
Spicy Chicken Chili

Spicy Chicken Chili

Cold temps may be on the way out (fingers crossed), but there’s still time to make chili. Using chicken thighs, I made this Spicy Chicken Chili.

This is a very simple dish to make that’s full of healthy ingredients. I used dark meat, but if you want it even healthier, you can use white mean. But I actually prefer dark meat for the flavor in slow-cooked dishes.

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 lb. of boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 6), cut into strips
  • 2 TBSP olive oil
    • Spicy Chicken Chili and Jalapeno-Cheddar Cornbread

    Serve Spicy Chicken Chili with Jalape&ntidle;o-Cheddar Cornbread

  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 TBSP white pepper
  • 2 TBSP black pepper
  • 3 TBSP chili powder
  • 1 TBSP ground cumin
  • 2 TBSP kosher salt
  • 3 jalapeños (seed removed), chopped
  • 1 can crushed tomatoes with their juice
  • 1 can black beans, drained
  • 1 can pinto beans, drained
  • 1 can red kidney beans, drained
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro (optional)
  • Sour cream (optional)
  • Shredded cheese (optional)

Directions:

  1. In a large pot or saucepan, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook for 3 minutes, or until they soften.
  2. Increase the heat to medium and add the chicken. Cook about two minutes until the strips are no longer pink.
  3. Stir in the salt, white pepper, chili powder and cumin.
  4. Add the jalapeños and the tomatoes with their juice.
  5. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
  6. Uncover and stir in the beans and black pepper. Simmer until the chili has thickened (about 15 minutes longer).
  7. Spoon chili into bowls and garnish with cilantro, sour cream and shredded cheese (if desired)

If the chili seems to spicy for you, remove a tablespoon of chili powder and take out a jalapeño or two. Also, if your chili is a little too thick, cut it with some chicken broth (or water if you don’t have chicken broth).

I served my Spicy Chicken Chili with Jalapeño and Cheddar Cornbread (cornbread I don’t share the recipe for). You can also sub in different kind of beans as you see fit. Chili is a really versatile dish so use your culinary imagination.

 
1 Comment

Posted by on March 13, 2013 in Cookin', Entrees, One-Pot Wonders, Recipes

 

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Recipe: Butternut Squash, Chicken and Quinoa Stew

02 Nov

Butternut Squash, Chicken and Quinoa Stew

Butternut Squash, Chicken and Quinoa Stew


This recipe for Butternut Squash, Chicken and Quinoa Stew combines three of my favorite ingredients: Fall/Winter favorite butternut squash, chicken thighs and superfood quinoa.

This stew is full of flavor, nutrients and warmth. It’s a hearty stew perfect for cold weather and serving family style.

Butternut Squash, Chicken and Quinoa Stew

A healthy update on chicken stew


Ingredients:

  • 1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
  • 6 chicken thigh filets
  • 1 TBSP olive oil
  • 1 medium red onion, diced
  • 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tomatoes, diced
  • 1 cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, minced
  • 1/2 TBSP chili flakes
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

  1. In a large pot, steam the butternut squash until barely tender (about 10-12 minutes). Remove half of the squash pieces and set aside in a large bowl.
  2. Steam the remaining squash an additional 4-6 minutes. Mash this squash with a fork or potato masher then add to non-mashed squash in the bowl.
    3. Butternut Squash, Chicken and Quinoa Stew

    Parsley is pictured as the garnish, but I would suggest cilantro instead

  3. In a large Dutch oven (or saucepan), over medium-high heat, bring the chicken broth, some salt and pepper and chili flakes to a simmer.
  4. Add the chicken thighs, cover and cook until chicken is cooked through, about 12-15 minutes.
  5. Transfer the chicken thighs to a cutting board and let cool. Pour broth into a medium-sized bowl.
  6. Add the olive oil to the Dutch oven and return to the stove, reducing heat to medium.
  7. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is starting to turn brown, about 8-10 minutes.
  8. Add garlic and cook for an additional minutes, still stirring.
  9. To the Dutch oven, add the tomatoes and all the butternut squash. Stir to combine.
  10. Stir in reserved chicken broth and quinoa (make sure you’ve rinsed it). Bring to a simmer, cover and cook until the quinoa turns translucent, about 15 minutes.
  11. Meanwhile, shred the chicken with a knife and fork on the cutting board.
  12. Stir the chicken into the stew and simmer, uncovered, to heat, about 5 minutes.
  13. Adjust seasoning as necessary.
  14. Stir in cilantro and serve.

Some of you smartypants may notice parsley is pictured in the dish in the photos I have. You’re correct, but honestly, I didn’t like the parsley in this dish so I replaced mine with cilantro and it was much much better.

This Butternut Squash, Chicken and Quinoa stew is the perfect meal for all those cold nights quickly approaching. Enjoy it with a nice glass of wine and some freshly baked bread.

 
1 Comment

Posted by on November 2, 2012 in Cookin', One-Pot Wonders, Recipes, Soups/Stews

 

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Recipe: Honey-Lime Glazed Chicken Thighs

28 Mar
Honey-Lime Glazed Chicken Thighs

Honey-Lime Glazed Chicken Thighs

I’m not ashamed to admit that chicken thighs are my favorite cuts of chicken. They have the most flavor and don’t dry out the way breasts can.

This is a simple recipe that relies on three things: spices, a glaze and a broiler. I went for boneless, skinless chicken thighs to keep it on the healthy side, but I’m sure it’s just as good, if not better, with skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs.

Ingredients:

  • 6 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • Juice of one lime
  • 6 TBSP honey
  • 2 TBSP apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp white pepper
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3 tsp chili powder
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp Aleppo pepper (or ground red pepper)
  • 2 tsp red pepper flakes

Honey-Lime Glazed Chicken Thighs

Honey-Lime Glazed Chicken Thighs Broiling in the Oven


Directions:

  1. Set broiler to high.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, cider vinegar and honey. Set aside.
  3. In a medium bowl, mix together all spices. Add chicken thighs and toss to coat completely.
  4. Place thighs on a broiler pan (or foil-lined baking sheet) and broil for 5-6 minutes on each side.
  5. Remove from oven and brush one side with half of honey-lime glaze. Broil for 1 minute then glaze and broil the remaining side another minute.
  6. Serve with sides of your choice.

In my experience, chicken thighs are even better the second day so I would encourage you to make this and eat it the next day. Doing so will allow the spices to settle into the meat even more.

This is a very easy recipe with a nice kick that won’t blow your waistline.

 
7 Comments

Posted by on March 28, 2012 in Cookin', Entrees, Recipes

 

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Recipe: Chicken Thigh Banh Mi

28 Nov
Banh Mi Toppings

Banh Mi Toppings

With apologies to 99% of the delis in America, the best sandwiches out there are Vietnamese-style banh mis. They’re loaded with fresh veggies, herbs and meat plus a spicy blast of sriracha.

The traditional variety of banh mis have pate, but I didn’t have any so I made a more Americanized version. I also combined the Sriracha with the mayonnaise to make a single spread.

Ingredients

  • 2 baguettes
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cooked
  • 1 cucumber, seeded and cut into strips
  • 1 carrot, finely julienned
  • 1/4 of an onion, cut into thin slivers
  • 4 TBSP fresh cilantro, chopped
  • 1 jalapeño, finely julienned
  • 2 TBSP mayonnaise
  • 1/2 TBSP Sriracha
  • 1 TBSP olive oil
  • 2 TBSP sweet vinegar (such as cane vinegar or apple cider vinegar)
Chicken Thigh Banh Mi

Chicken Thigh Banh Mi

Directions:

  1. In a small bowl, combine mayo and sriracha, mixing well.
  2. In a small skillet, heat olive oil and vinegar over medium heat. Saute carrots and onions for until carrots are darkened, but not soggy and onions are translucent. Set aside.
  3. Slice open baguettes horizontally, but do not slice all the way through.
  4. Spread Sriracha mayo on top and bottom halves of baguettes.
  5. Place chicken equally on both baguettes then layer evenly with carrots, onions, jalapeños and cucumbers. Finally, top each sandwich with fresh cilantro. Close the sandwiches and serve.

These sandwiches aren’t 100% up to par with what you’ll find in most Vietnamese bakeries, but they will do in a pinch. Thankfully, they aren’t time-intensive at all.

Hopefully you’ll enjoy the freshness of the veggies and herbs as a change-up to the typical sandwiches you find out there. You can also substitute the meat of your choice in place of the chicken thigh meat.

 
2 Comments

Posted by on November 28, 2011 in Cookin', Entrees, Recipes

 

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