We have news.....the Dragon and I are engaged!!!!!! We are both thrilled to bits and so excited to be planning a wedding in August(ish) - date not yet finalised. I will probably post more updates about that as we begin the planning process. So excited!!! Unfortunately, we have both suffered the contentment spread in our relationship and packed on quite a few kilos, so we both plan to aim for buff wedding status. So you may see more healthy meals posted up here for a while. I want to feel good about how I look in my wedding photos. So I have a whopping 15 kg to lose - eep! Wish me luck!
This delicious meal is a step in my desired direction - healthy yet delicious. I am so not interested in deprivation dieting. Stepping up exercising, less alcohol and upping the health content of meals is needed and maintainable, but diets only slow your metabolism and cause more problems long term. I want to learn to cook meals we love that are in line with our goals. I just know that you will love this one as much as we do! It is so worth a try.
Ingredients
Marinated Chicken
- 2 chicken breasts, diced
- Rind and juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tbs honey
- 1 tbs soy
- 2 tbs olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp parsley
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Salad
- 60g shelled edamame
- Salad greens of choice - to taste
- 1 can chickpeas, drained
- 1 punnet perino/grape/cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 red capsicum, diced
- 1 garlic clove, chopped or minced
- 1 avocado, diced
Dressing
- 2 tsp wholegrain mustard
- 1 tbs olive oil
- Juice of 1/2 small lemon
- 1 tbs chopped parsley
Potential Spins
Swap the edamame for cooked broad beans or peas. Swap out any cold salad ingredients for whatever you like. Add cooked asparagus spears chopped into 1 inch chunks. Change the salad dressing or leave it off entirely because the marinade and tomatoes can act as flavours in themselves if you like. I enjoyed the mustard in the dressing, though. If you cannot live without carbs then buy some nice crusty bread, grill it with olive oil and minced garlic and chop it into chunks to toss through this. Alternatively you could add quinoa, couscous, rice or pasta - but to be honest I don't think it needs it. Up to you and your taste. Every recipe I add here is intended to be a base recipe spun your way.
Method
- Marinate chicken for anywhere from 1 hour to overnight depending on how organised you feel.
- Make the Dressing.
- Cook chicken and marinade in a fry pan on medium heat until cooked through.
- Meanwhile, add garlic, tomatoes, chillies and edamame to another small frying pan on medium heat until cooked through. The tomatoes will soften and you will tell it is cooked when the edamame taste al dente and not too crunchy.
Blurry but delicious - Assemble the cold ingredients - greens. capsicum, chickpeas and avocado.
- Add the tomato and edamame mix and the chicken. Then top with dressing and - hey presto - you 've got a delicious and filling meal!
Yum yum yum.....Can I have yours too?
Our Take Aways
(Penned by the Dragon) There are a lot of flavour layers to this meal and they just work. From the salad to the dressing to the chicken and marinade every mouthful is an adventure and you are never sure what you are going to be tasting next. We personally love it and would happily serve this for a Summer time lunch, and for ourselves as a delicious dinner. Paired with a nice champagne or dry white this meal serves as a fantastic lunch segway into a romantic afternoon or just simply dozing on the balcony or couch :) It is also so simple you can make it mid week with limited fuss.
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| Romantic Dinner with wine on our balcony. The new watering can is there because we have started a vertical garden on our little balcony wall...so excited! |
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