Quinoa with chicken and lentils is a versatile and flavorful dish that can be enjoyed for any occasion. This combination of ancient grains and lean protein offers a satisfying meal loaded with essential nutrients. From vibrant salads to hearty soups and comforting stews, the possibilities for creating a delicious quinoa with chicken and lentils dish are endless. In this article, we will explore the world of culinary creativity as we delve into the best recipes for this wholesome trio.
Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!
SPICY CAJUN CHICKEN QUINOA
Protein-packed quinoa makes this midweek meal a superhealthy option
Provided by Good Food team
Categories Dinner, Main course
Time 35m
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Toss the chicken with the Cajun spice and arrange in a single layer in a roasting tin. Bake for 20 mins until the chicken is cooked. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, cook the quinoa in the chicken stock for 15 mins until tender, adding the apricots and lentils for the final 5 mins. Drain and place into a large bowl with the chicken, toss together.
- While the quinoa is cooking, heat the oil in a large frying pan and soften the onions for 10-15 mins. Toss the onions into the quinoa with the coriander and some seasoning, then mix well.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 386 calories, Fat 7 grams fat, SaturatedFat 1 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 35 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 15 grams sugar, Fiber 5 grams fiber, Protein 47 grams protein, Sodium 1 milligram of sodium
SPICED YELLOW LENTILS WITH QUINOA
This lentil dish is inspired by Mark Bittman's revelatory article and dal recipes that ran in The New York Times Magazine on Dec. 2, 2012. I didn't have a fresh green chile in the fridge so I used a little cayenne instead to spice it up. I wanted to introduce some color so I added half of a red bell pepper that was in my refrigerator to the mix. I am making the cilantro optional because I didn't have any even though normally I would have used it; the dish was fine without it.
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories dinner, weekday, main course
Time 1h30m
Yield 4 to 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Rinse the quinoa thoroughly and combine with the water and salt in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce the heat to low. Simmer 15 to 20 minutes, until the white quinoa displays a little white spiral. Turn off the heat, remove the lid and place a dish towel over the top of the pot. Return the lid and let sit for 15 minutes. The quinoa will now be fluffy. Keep warm.
- Meanwhile, combine the lentils, ginger, turmeric and onion half (don't chop it) with 1 quart water and salt to taste (about 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons) and bring to a gentle boil. Stir only once to make sure there are no lentils sticking to the bottom of the pot. Reduce the heat to medium - the lentils should simmer briskly - and cook uncovered until the lentils are tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Stir in the lime juice or tamarind concentrate and add another 1/2 cup water. Stir together and simmer for another minute. Turn off the heat and using an immersion blender, an Indian mathani (a wooden tool used for mashing dal) or a wooden Mexican hot chocolate mixer, partially pureé the dal. It should be thick but not like a pureed soup.
- Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a small saucepan or small frying pan (such as an 8-inch omelet pan). Add the cumin seeds and allow to sizzle, stirring, for 10 seconds. Add the garlic and cook until lightly colored, about 15 seconds. Add the red pepper and cook until slightly softened, about 1 minute. Remove from the heat and pour over the lentils. Add the cayenne pepper and 1 tablespoon of the cilantro and stir gently. Taste and adjust seasoning.
- Serve the quinoa with the dal spooned on top. Garnish with chopped fresh cilantro.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 270, UnsaturatedFat 6 grams, Carbohydrate 41 grams, Fat 7 grams, Fiber 6 grams, Protein 12 grams, SaturatedFat 1 gram, Sodium 324 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 0 grams
QUINOA CHICKEN
This is incredibly easy, delicious and spicy! Taste-test approved by a very picky 3-year-old.
Provided by StephR0131
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Chicken
Time 50m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Bring chicken broth and quinoa to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until quinoa is tender and water has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Saute onion and garlic in hot oil until onion is translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Add ground chicken and break into small pieces while cooking until completely browned, 7 to 10 minutes.
- Stir cooked quinoa and diced tomatoes into the chicken mixture; bring to a simmer and cook long enough for the flavors to meld, about 10 minutes more.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 275.4 calories, Carbohydrate 22.3 g, Cholesterol 69.2 mg, Fat 6.9 g, Fiber 2.9 g, Protein 30.1 g, SaturatedFat 1.4 g, Sodium 342.7 mg, Sugar 0.4 g
LENTIL QUINOA SALAD
Provided by Melissa d'Arabian : Food Network
Time 45m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Put the quinoa in a sieve and rinse in cold water. In a large microwave-proof bowl with a cover, add the rinsed quinoa and 1 1/4 cups water. Cover and microwave on high for 9 minutes. Let it sit for 2 minutes then stir. Quinoa should be tender enough to eat, but with a little "pop" upon biting.
- Put the lentils in a sieve and rinse in cold water. In a saucepan, simmer the lentils in 2 cups water until the lentils are tender, but not mushy, about 30 minutes. Drain and cool.
- In a small bowl, whisk the mustard and vinegar together, and drizzle in the oil to make an emulsion. Add the garlic powder, lime zest, and salt, and pepper, to taste.
- To assemble the salad: In a medium salad bowl, mix the quinoa, lentils, green onions, and chopped cilantro. Top the salad with the dressing, toss to coat and serve.
QUINOA WITH CHICKEN AND LENTILS
This low-calorie Middle Eastern-inspired dinner uses darkly browned onions and a few spices to develop big flavor without relying on extra fat. A small amount of leftover rotisserie chicken makes this balanced meal budget-friendly, too.
Provided by Food Network Canada
Categories chicken,Healthy,Legumes,Main,nuts,rice and grain
Time 40m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Put the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold running water until the water runs clear. Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil, add the quinoa and cook until it is translucent and tender and the threadlike germ wraps around each kernel, 8 to 12 minutes. Strain the quinoa well, return it to the saucepan and stir in the lentils; cover and keep warm.
- Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until deep golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, cinnamon, lemon zest, 3/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper and stir until toasted and fragrant, about 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup water and scrape up any brown bits. Add the chicken, bring to a simmer and cook until almost all of the liquid evaporates and the chicken is moistened, about 2 minutes.
- Meanwhile, put the green beans in a microwave-safe bowl with 1 tablespoon water. Cover and microwave until hot, about 3 minutes.
- Add the chicken-onion mixture, lemon juice and 1/4 teaspoon salt to the quinoa-lentil mixture and stir to combine. Divide among four bowls. Top each with greens beans, almonds and a dollop of yogurt.
LENTIL AND QUINOA CHILI
This is a hearty chili full of lentils, quinoa and unique flavors. While I use homemade chicken stock, it can be made vegan by subbing vegetarian broth for the stock. I like to skip the canned beans and use dried. I prepare 1/2 of each, dried kidney and black beans and have them ready to go before I make this recipe, but you can use canned for convenience. You can also use canned tomatoes if you prefer. If you use canned ingredients, you may want to reduce the amount of salt used.
Provided by itsnevrenough
Categories Lentil
Time 1h10m
Yield 10 cups, 5 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- 1. Heat olive oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Once oil is hot, add garlic and cook for a minute or until fragrant and slightly golden.
- 2. Add onion and pepper and cook for a few minutes or until onion is translucent.
- 3. Add in tomatoes, cumin, chili, cinnamon, curry powder, and pepper; bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 6-8 minutes or until tomatoes begin to break down.
- 4. Add broth, quinoa, and lentils, and bring back to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 30-40 minutes or until lentils are tender and quinoa has expanded.
- 5. Stir in black beans, kidney beans, salt and cilantro. Chili will continue to thicken.
- 6.Taste and adjust seasonings if needed. Simmer a few more minutes.
MEXICAN QUINOA WITH CREAMY CHICKEN AND VEGETABLES
This dish has a Mexican flavor to it. The chicken mixture can also be wrapped and served in a tortilla. Garnish with crushed tortilla chips if desired.
Provided by Kristina S.
Categories Meat and Poultry Recipes Chicken
Time 45m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Bring 2 cups water and quinoa to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Simmer until quinoa is tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Saute onion until lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in 3 garlic cloves, chili powder, salt, paprika, and red pepper flakes with a wooden spoon. Add chicken; cook and stir for about 5 minutes. Pour in remaining 1/4 cup water. Cover and cook for 15 minutes.
- Stir corn, peas, peppers, and spinach into the skillet. Cover and cook for 5 minutes more. Mix milk and flour together and pour into the skillet; cook and stir for 2 minutes.
- Divide quinoa among 4 serving plates. Scoop chicken and vegetable mixture on top. Whisk lime juice and remaining garlic together in a bowl; drizzle over each serving.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 326.4 calories, Carbohydrate 37.9 g, Cholesterol 31.5 mg, Fat 11.1 g, Fiber 4.9 g, Protein 19.4 g, SaturatedFat 1.7 g, Sodium 639.1 mg, Sugar 2.5 g
Tips:
- For the chicken, you can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. If you are using chicken breasts, you may need to add a little more cooking time.
- If you don't have chicken broth on hand, you can use water. However, chicken broth will add more flavor to the dish.
- Be sure to rinse the quinoa well before cooking. This will help to remove any saponins, which can give quinoa a bitter taste.
- Cook the quinoa according to the package directions. Quinoa typically takes about 15 minutes to cook.
- Once the quinoa is cooked, fluff it with a fork and set it aside.
- While the quinoa is cooking, you can cook the chicken. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, and then cook it in a skillet over medium heat until it is cooked through.
- Once the chicken is cooked, add it to the quinoa along with the lentils, vegetables, and herbs.
- Stir everything together and serve.
Conclusion:
This quinoa with chicken and lentils recipe is a healthy and delicious meal that is perfect for a weeknight dinner. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own tastes. For example, you can add more or less vegetables, or you can use different types of herbs. You can also use different types of beans or lentils. This recipe is a great way to use up leftover chicken, and it is also a good way to get your daily dose of protein and fiber.
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