Coconut Chicken Curry & Quinoa

by | Feb 12, 2014 | Article, Healthy Eating

Looking for a non-dairy curry recipe? Try this dairy-free, gluten-free Chicken Curry with great health benefits.

Chicken: Excellent source of lean protein when eaten without the skin. Excellent source of tryptophan which can help regulate your appetite, help you sleep better, and elevate your mood. Excellent source of niacin and vitamin B6 that are very helpful in supporting energy production, preventing cardiovascular disease, and providing cancer protection.

Curry / Turmeric: Source of Turmeric which is a great digestive aid, liver support, anti-inflammatory and has anti-cancer properties.

Cumin: Good source of iron that helps maintain energy levels and supports immune system function. Supportive of good digestion and liver function.

Coconut Oil: Rich in medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), lauric, and capric acid which has potent antiviral antibacterial properties. MCTs are also stated to have metabolic benefits to the body, ie they are burned for energy rather than stored as fat. Coconut oil is also stable at high heat.

Quinoa: Considered a grain, quinoa is actually a plant seed related to beet, chard, and spinach plants. Quinoa is a good source of magnesium and manganese. It is gluten-free and has a complete amino acid profile and has a high protein level for grain, approximately 6g per serving

Spinach: 1 cup of spinach has just 41 calories but is an excellent source of vitamin C & K, cartonenes, and folic acid. It is also a very good source of manganese, magnesium, and iron and contains good amounts of B1, B2, B6, and vitamin E.

Ingredients

  • 2-4 Chicken breasts or fish fillets
  • 1-2 Onions chopped
  • 1-2 Carrots chopped
  • 1 Red Pepper chopped
  • 3 handfuls of Spinach
  • 1 cup Quinoa or brown rice, or lentils

Curry ingredients

  • Coconut milk lite
  • Curry powder- 2 tbsp
  • Ground Cumin & Coriander – 1 tbsp
  • Coconut oil- 1 tbsp
  • Garlic powder- 1 tsp
  • Sea salt/ pepper to taste
  • Chili pepper – 1-2 tsp
  • 1/2 lemon juiced

Instructions

  1. Combine ingredients for curry mixture in a separate bowl.
  2. In a pan on medium heat, cook chicken breast with a little water (not required if you have a good non-stick pan).
  3. Add onions and carrots, once the chicken has been cooked on both sides.
  4. Add curry mixture and remainder of vegetables, spinach last.
  5. Cook for another 3-5 minutes, covered to steam the spinach.

Originally published at HEAL