Quinoa with Cumin Chicken

If you have never tried quinoa (pronounce keen-wa) you are missing out. This is grain comes from South America and is packed with protein. You can use it in place of rice. It has a nutty, earthy flavor. I like the red quinoa best. You can find it some grocery stores but for sure at Whole Foods or a gourmet store.

Here are some of the ingredients. You don't have to use fancy vinegar as I did, you can use any that you have on hand.

First, you make the dressing.

Then you cook the quinoa using pacakage directions. It looks really weird, kind of like worms, but you are gonna have to trust me on this one.

I like to slice through the chicken breasts. This is called butterflying. It makes me wonder how they get those chickens to grow so big. Hmmmmmmm.

Liberally season your chicken with this stuff. You can cut back on the cajun seasoning if your shy.

The pan should sizzle when you place the chicken in.

You know how I love that caramelization process. Get some color on that bird. Be sure your exhaust is on . You may want to open a window too. Cough.

Smell-vision.

Mix dressing ingredients into cooled quinoa.

Slice the browned chicken on the bias. Look at all that yummy juice.

Time for plating and eating.

And now for the cleanup-dang it.

Quinoa with Cumin Chicken

1 Cup quinoa, cooked to pkg. directions

1/2 tsp. salt

Dressing:

1/4 cup vinegar

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 cup sliced green onions

1/2 tsp. dry mustard

1/2 tsp. pepper

1/2 tsp. salt

1 Tbsp. honey

Chicken:

1 lbs. chicken boneless, skinless breasts, butterflied

Cumin

Cajun seasoning

Additions:

1 stalk celery, diced

3 Tbsp. craisins, chopped

3 Tbsp. sunflower seeds (or other nut you like-I don't discriminate)

Directions:

Cook quinoa according to pkg. adding 1/2 tsp salt.

Combine dressing ingredients and set aside. Heat pan to smoking hot. Season chicken. Add 1 Tbsp. olive oil to pan and cook til golden brown. Slice chicken on the bias.

Combine dressing, quinoa, additions, and chicken. Enjoy. 

Quinoa with Cumin Chicken