Welcome to a recipe that perfectly embodies healthy, flavorful, and satisfying eating! This Chicken Breast with Quinoa and Chickpeas is more than just a meal; it's a powerhouse of nutrition designed to fuel your body and delight your taste buds. By combining tender, marinated chicken with the ancient grain quinoa and protein-rich chickpeas, we create a dish that is beautifully balanced. It's incredibly versatile too — perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner, a light lunch, or even as a meal-prep staple for the week ahead. Let's dive into creating this simple yet elegant dish that proves healthy food can be incredibly delicious.
Chicken Breast with Quinoa and Chickpeas
Ingredients for Chicken Breast with Quinoa and Chickpeas
- 400 g chicken breast fillet
- 100 g dry chickpeas
- 50 g quinoa
- 15 g olive oil
- 40 g scallions (green onions)
- 1/2 chili pepper
- 1/2 lemon or lime
- sea salt, spices
How to Cook Chicken Breast with Quinoa and Chickpeas
Rubbing the seasonings into the meat.
Soaking dry chickpeas in cold water. Leave for 8-12 hours.
Cooking the quinoa.
Sprinkle the chicken breast fillet with coarse sea salt, ground black pepper, and your favorite spices; this recipe uses a curry blend for chicken. Rub the seasonings into the meat. Place the breast in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 8-12 hours. If your refrigerator temperature is 3-4°C (37-39°F), you can leave the meat for up to 24 hours without it spoiling.
Soak the dry chickpeas in cold water for 8-12 hours. Drain the water and rinse the chickpeas in a colander under running water. Cover the chickpeas with fresh cold water and cook over low heat for 2 hours. Add salt about 10 minutes before they are done. You can check for doneness by squeezing a chickpea between your fingers; if it mashes easily, it’s cooked. Cooked chickpeas can be stored in their broth in the refrigerator for several days.
Cook the quinoa. Rinse the grains with cold water and drain them in a fine-mesh sieve. Place the rinsed quinoa in a saucepan. Add 120 ml of cold water and salt. Bring to a boil. Cook for 7 minutes over medium heat without a lid. Then, cook for another 7-10 minutes over low heat with the lid on. Finally, let it sit for 10 more minutes in the saucepan, wrapped in a towel, to steam. This method ensures the quinoa is fluffy and doesn’t stick together.
Slicing the marinated chicken breast into pieces slightly less than a centimeter thick.
Brushing the chicken pieces with a thin layer of oil.
Placing the chicken pieces on the hot skillet, spaced apart.
Slice the marinated chicken breast into pieces slightly less than a centimeter thick.
Dip a silicone brush in vegetable oil. Lightly coat the chicken pieces with a thin layer of oil.
Heat a non-stick skillet. There is no need to oil the skillet itself. Place the chicken pieces on the hot skillet, leaving some space between them.
Frying the breast for 3 minutes on each side until golden brown.
Fry the chicken for 3 minutes on each side until golden brown. Small pieces of marinated chicken cook very quickly.
Adding the cooked chickpeas to the skillet.
Adding the cooked quinoa.
Sprinkling the dish with green onion and chili.
Add the cooked chickpeas to the skillet.
Add the cooked quinoa. There’s no need to salt the dish further, as each component was salted separately during cooking.
Slice the green onion stalks diagonally. Cut the chili pepper into rings. Sprinkle the dish with green onion and chili.
Serve the dish warm or cold. Enjoy your meal!
Squeeze the juice from half a lemon or lime. Drizzle the chicken breast with quinoa and chickpeas with the lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil. Season with freshly ground black pepper. Serve the dish warm or cold.
And there you have it — a vibrant and nourishing dish of Chicken Breast with Quinoa and Chickpeas that's ready to be enjoyed! We hope you love the combination of savory, spiced chicken with the earthy textures of quinoa and chickpeas, all brightened up with a zesty squeeze of lemon. This dish is a testament to how simple ingredients can come together to create something truly special. Feel free to customize it by adding your favorite roasted vegetables like bell peppers or zucchini. Serve it as is, or on a bed of fresh greens for an even heartier salad. Enjoy your delicious and healthy creation!
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