CUMIN CHICKEN THIGHS WITH SPICY PISTACHIO QUINOA

serves 2 only – I thought to cube chicken (cook breasts in oven – see Easy Orange Chicken recipe)
and precook and maybe double the quinoa recipe or use couscous for a Breakup contribution

Ingredients

  • 300g chicken thighs
  • ¼ Tab cumin, ground
  • ¼ Tab coriander, ground
  • 1 tsp chilli powder
  • ¼ cup Greek yoghurt
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh coriander
  • 1 tsp sea salt

Pistachio quinoa

  • 1 cup cooked quinoa
  • 2 Tab pistachio
  • 2 Tab pomegranate seeds*
  • 1 Tab currants
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 2 Tab lemon juice
  • 2 Tab extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp sea salt

    Step 1.
    In a large mixing bowl add all of the chicken ingredients and combine until chicken is well coated. Leave to marinate for 15 minutes.

    Step 2.
    In another mixing bowl combine all of the quinoa ingredients and leave to marinate.

    Step 3.
    Heat a large griddle or fry pan to a medium/high heat and cook the chicken thighs for 3-4 minutes on each side or until cooked through.

    Step 4.
    Serve the chicken on a bed of spicy quinoa, topped with a spoonful of yoghurt and a sprinkle of coriander and pomegranate seeds.

    NOTE:  *  If you cannot find fresh pomegranates, use dried seeds or cranberries for the same Christmas feel.

GRILLED EGGPLANT SALAD WITH QUINOA, ZUCCHINI AND TAHINI YOGHURT DRESSING

A delicious, filling, nutritious salad with smokey grilled eggplant and a creamy tahini dressing  –  it’s a good one! This salad is pretty easy to make, and if it’s a hot day it’s the perfect vegetarian thing to cook on the barbecue. Even if you’re not vegetarian and are having a barbecue throw the eggplant on while you’re resting your meat and you have an impressive vegetable laden salad to share as a side. I love grating zucchini into grain salads, it’s a great way to get some extra vegetables in and also adds moisture, so your grains won’t end up dry.  Serves 6 as a side

Ingredients
1 eggplant
1 tsp salt
Olive oil for brushing eggplant
2 cups cooked quinoa
1 zucchini, finely grated
3 cups baby spinach
1/2 cup spring onion or red onion
3 Tbs mixed seeds (sesame, sunflower, pumpkin, flaxseed – whatever you have)
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
2 Tab Tahini
1/2 cup yoghurt
1 tsp honey
1 tsp chilli flakes
rosemary for oil brush

Slice eggplant into 5mm thick rounds. Salt and set aside. Squeeze the grated zucchini to remove the excess moisture – you can use muslin, a new chux cloth or just your hands.

Combine quinoa, spinach, zucchini, onion and seeds and toss.

Make dressing: Add tahini and yoghurt to a small bowl and stir well to combine. Add honey, lemon juice and zest and chilli flakes. Stir well and set aside.

Heat a grill plate or bbq, brush the eggplant slices lightly with olive oil on one side. Place oiled side down on the hot grill and cook for a few minutes or until grill marks have appeared. Brush the non grilled side with olive oil and flip. Continue cooking until eggplant is soft and tender.

Remove. You can serve it hot or cold.

To serve:  Mix eggplant with prepared salad. drizzle over dressing. Serve extra dressing on side.

Tip: I use rosemary as my oil brush!