"OZ Chicken" and Quinoa

"OZ Chicken" and Quinoa

One of my favorite meals to make is what I call a "Chinese Make-In" dinner. It usually consists of an oven-baked chicken, sweet and sour sauce, and rice. I tried a new recipe for the chicken, which is even tastier (and healthier) than before; as well as a new sweet and sour sauce. I've renamed the sauce "OZ sauce". Fresh oranges make up the base of this sauce, and while it is unlike any other sweet and sour sauce I've made before, the zest of the orange and the sweetness of the agave nectar create a spectacular blend. Also, I typically use a brown rice in place of the traditional "sticky rice" that is used in Chinese cuisine, but this time I used quinoa, a wonderful grain that provides all of the essential amino-acids in a single serving. It is super fun to make and super yummy to eat. Here's what you'll need to make it:

For the chicken:

• 2-3 all-natural boneless/skinless chicken breasts (adjust according to the size of your dinner crowd)
• 2 c Kashi Honey Toasted cereal, crushed
• Black pepper, to taste

For the sauce:

• 1 tsp of fresh orange zest
• the juice of 1 large orange (about 1/4 c juice)
• 3 Tbl agave nectar
• 1 Tbl lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
• 1 tsp cornstarch plus 1 tsp lemon juice, combined

For the quinoa:

• 1 c quinoa
• 2 c water
• Pinch of sea salt and black pepper, optional

1. For the chicken, simply dice the chicken into bite size pieces. Then, combine the cereal and pepper together in a food processor. Finally, place the crushed cereal and chicken bites in a large ziploc bag. Shake well to coat each piece evenly. Bake in the oven at 375 degrees for approximately 30 minutes, or until cooked through.
2. For the sauce, bring the first 6 ingredients in a small pot and bring to a boil. Whisk in the cornstarch and lemon juice and continue to boil for another minute or to until the sauce has thickened slightly. Serve warm or cold.
3. For the quinoa, bring both ingredients to a boil, cover, and simmer for approximately 15 minutes or until all of the water has absorbed.

Drizzle a small amount of the "OZ" sauce over your quinoa and top it off with a sprinkle of cayenne. Serve the chicken bites and "OZ" sauce on the side, or coat the bites in the sauce and warm in the oven before serving. No matter how you choose to eat it, this is an awesome twist to the traditional Chinese Sweet and Sour Chicken.

Always remember, you can have fun, eat great, and stay healthy all at the same time! :)