Simple Recipes – Chicken with Quinoa

4 Adult Servings, 8 Toddler Servings

The inspiration for this recipe came from the March 2009 issue of Family Fun magazine. TwinToddlersMom altered it a little to suit our taste and match with the available ingredients

Ingredients

1. 1 cup organic quinoa, rinsed well (we used Arrowhead Mills brand from Wholefoods Store)
2. 6  boneless, skinless chicken thighs (~ 2 lb)
3. 1 medium onion, finely chopped
4. 3 cups organic chicken broth
5. 1/2 cup sweet peas, cooked
6. 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
7. 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
8. 1/2 tsp oregano
9. 1 tsp dry parsley
10. 1 tbsp white wine vinegar
11. 2 tbsp tomato paste
12. Grated mozzarella or parmesan cheese, about 1/2 cup
13. salt and pepper to taste

Method

Wash chicken thoroughly and marinade with salt, black pepper, oregano, garlic, parsley and 1 tbsp of olive oil for about 30 minutes. Saute onion in 2 tbsp of olive oil on medium heat until soft, about 5 minutes. Add vinegar and tomato paste, mix well and saute for another 2 minutes. Add marinated chicken to the mix and cook covered for 25 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink inside. Turn the chicken pieces occasionally to coat them with the sauce. Add chicken broth and stir in quinoa and stir, reduce the heat and cook uncovered for 15 minutes. Before serving, garnish with peas and cheese. Let it sit a while for excess liquid to be absorbed.

About Quinoa

Quinoa, which the Incans called the “mother of all grains”, is a rich source of carbohydrate with dietary fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. Quinoa also seems to have a low glycmeic index. I have seen numbers ranging from 30 to 50. This makes it a low GI carbohydrate. Eating low GI carbs allows a slower release of insulin. In general, this is good for reducing the risk of diabetes and hear disease. Another interesting information – at one point, NASA was considering Quinoa for use in long-term human space flights because of its excellent nutritional value.

Quinoa photo source: Wikimedia Commons
©2009 Littlestomaks.com

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Tagged as: Chicken, Grains, Quinoa, Recipes, Toddler Nutrition