This was very good! A hearty comfort food without the usual guilt that comes along with comfort food! This is so healthy! And, my best friend who is a Holistic Nutritionist gave it two thumbs up and requested it be posted on my blog so she can have the recipe :) (I made a large batch and she got sent home with some leftovers!) Adapted from http://www.cookincanuck.com/2011/11/hearty-chicken-stew-with-butternut-squash-quinoa-recipe/
Note: leftovers will freeze well for future easy/healthy dinner :)
Butternut Squash, Quinoa and Chicken Stew
(serves 6)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lb. butternut squash, peeled, seeded & chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
- 3 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 can (14 oz) petite diced tomatoes
- 2/3 cup uncooked quinoa
- 1/3 cup dried mixed beans
- 3/4 cup pitted and quartered kalamata olives
- Juice of one freshly squeezed lemon
- Franks red hot sauce, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper and sea salt, to taste
- 1/4 cup minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
Instructions
- Steam the butternut squash until barely tender, about 10 minutes. Remove half of the squash pieces and set aside.
- Steam the remaining squash until very tender, an additional 4 to 6 minutes. Mash this squash with the back of a fork. Set aside
- Preheat a large sauce pan to medium heat. Add olive oil.
- Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is starting to turn brown, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and oregano. Cook, stirring, for 1 additional minute.
- To the saucepan, add tomatoes, butternut squash pieces, mashed butternut squash. Stir to combine.
- Stir in chicken broth, quinoa and dried beans. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook until the quinoa turns translucent and beans are soft; about 30 minutes.
- Stir the chicken, olives, lemon juice, hot sauce, salt and pepper into the stew and simmer, uncovered, to heat, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in parsley and serve.
