Mediterranean Chicken Skewers with Quinoa & Chickpea Salad

Name: Mediterranean Chicken Skewers with Quinoa & Chickpea Salad
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 3 servings
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 9 ounce chicken breast (boneless, skinless, cut into 1-inch cubes); 1 lemon (halved (juice of half for dressing, wedges for serving)); 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder; 2 tablespoon olive oil; 1 cup quick-cooking quinoa (uncooked); 1 can canned chickpeas (15-ounce, very well rinsed); 2 Roma tomatoes (diced); 4 cup spinach (roughly chopped); 0.25 cup fresh parsley (chopped); 0.25 teaspoon black pepper; 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

Flavorful chicken cubes marinated in lemon and oregano, pan-seared to perfection, and served with a refreshing salad of quinoa, chickpeas, tomatoes, and spinach.

Prep: 15 min
Cook: 15 min
Total: 30 min
Servings: 3
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Difficulty: Easy
Cost: $3.60/serving

Dietary

Gluten-Free
Dairy-Free
Nut-Free
Soy-Free
Egg-Free
Low-Sodium
Low-Sugar
High-Protein
High-Fiber
Halal
Kosher

Ingredients

9 ounce chicken breast (boneless, skinless, cut into 1-inch cubes)
1 lemon (halved (juice of half for dressing, wedges for serving))
1 teaspoon dried oregano
0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup quick-cooking quinoa (uncooked)
1 can canned chickpeas (15-ounce, very well rinsed)
2 Roma tomatoes (diced)
4 cup spinach (roughly chopped)
0.25 cup fresh parsley (chopped)
0.25 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

Instructions

In a bowl, toss the chicken cubes with the juice of half a lemon, dried oregano, garlic powder, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. If using skewers, thread chicken onto skewers (if time allows, otherwise just pan-sear the cubes).
Cook quick-cooking quinoa according to package directions. While quinoa cooks, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken (skewers or cubes) and cook for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until cooked through and lightly browned.
In a large bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, well-rinsed chickpeas, diced Roma tomatoes, chopped spinach, and fresh parsley. Drizzle with red wine vinegar and black pepper. Toss gently to combine.
Serve the Mediterranean chicken skewers or pan-seared chicken cubes with the quinoa and chickpea salad. Garnish with lemon wedges.

Notes

If you don't have skewers, simply pan-sear the chicken cubes directly in the skillet. Ensure chickpeas are thoroughly rinsed to reduce sodium.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 495
Protein: 41.9 g
Carbohydrates: 44.8 g
Fat: 15.7 g
Fiber: 11.4 g
Sodium: 106 mg
Saturated Fat: 2.7 g
Sugar: 3.8 g
Cholesterol: 78 mg