Balsamic Strawberry Basil Chicken
Bored with your chicken recipes? Well, this Balsamic Strawberry Basil Chicken recipe will tickle your taste buds with new flavors! Not only is it a great way to eat more fruit and vegetables in one meal, but its savory glaze gives it an extra special touch – no matter if you’re following a low-carb diet or eating paleo/whole 30-friendly foods. And who can say no to juicy strawberries and fragrant basil atop succulent chicken breasts? You won’t believe how easy this dish is to prepare. Get ready for your taste buds to be impressed as they experience high-level culinary goodness!
This recipe's list of ingredients is sure to make your mouth water! We've got the perfect blend of strawberries, fresh basil, and balsamic vinegar to give our Balsamic Strawberry Basil Chicken its unique flavor. The strawberries add a tart and zesty flavor to contrast the sweetness of the balsamic vinegar. The fresh basil brings out a subtle herbal kick in this delicious dish. Of course, no dish would be complete without protein so we've added organic chicken as well for an added boost of nutrition. By choosing organic options like strawberries and chicken, you can be sure that this dish is both delicious and healthy – a perfect combination for any meal!
Organic Chicken Breasts: Getting good quality chicken is important. It benefits our health with the protein we need and provides vitamins, minerals, and collagen. Bring the chicken to room temperature to ensure it cooks evenly. Be prepared to pound the breasts to make them flat. Then simply season with salt and pepper.
Strawberries: Strawberries are an excellent, sweet addition to this recipe. They are full of antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, folate, and iodine and help fight inflammation.
Balsamic Vinegar: This vinegar adds a zing to this dish.
Basil: Fresh basil gives added flavor and color when plating this recipe. It is well-known for its immunity-enhancing properties.
Lemon: The juice from a lemon adds some tartness. It is another health gem that is loaded with vitamin C helps with iron absorption and prevents kidney stones.
Organic Avocado Oil: This oil is ranked as one of the healthiest oils to use for cooking. Benefits include the prevention of diabetes, high cholesterol, high triglyceride levels, and skin issues.
Cooking quick tips to make sure the chicken is cooked perfectly and safely:
Crafting the perfect chicken dish can be intimidating but it doesn't have to be! Before cooking with chicken, make sure you buy your meat from a reputable source. After handling raw poultry, wash your hands and surfaces thoroughly with soap and hot water to help prevent getting sick. For cooking safety, always use a clean food thermometer to measure the internal temperature of the chicken; it should register at least 165 degrees F in the thickest part of the breast or thigh. When cooking with ground chicken, bring the temperature up to 165 degrees F throughout the entire product. Mastering these cooking tips will guarantee perfection when cooking with chicken every time.
The classic combination of sweet strawberries and fragrant basil takes on a whole new level of flavor when the balsamic glaze is added! To bring out the best in this Balsamic Glazed Strawberry Basil Chicken, try pairing it with your choice of wild rice Pilaf, lemony mashed potatoes, or rosemary roasted root vegetables. For an even bolder taste, serve it with garlic-infused kale sautéd in olive oil. Whatever you choose to pair it with, one thing is for certain: your tastebuds will be delighted!
Tips for Meal Prepping – How to prep strawberries, chicken breasts, fresh basil, and balsamic glaze ahead of time
Prepping meals ahead of time is an enjoyable activity for some and a huge time-saver for others! If you are one of these folks, then meal-prepping strawberries, chicken breasts, fresh basil, and balsamic glaze can be done quickly and easily.
Wash off your strawberries and store them in an air-tight container
For the chicken breasts, marinate them overnight for juicy tenderness when cooking.
To keep the fresh basil perky and fragrant, wrap it up in a damp cloth or paper towel and refrigerate it – but don’t forget to take it out before it wilts!
Finally, you can make your balsamic glaze by simmering it in a warm pan on low heat until reduced. Prepping these ingredients ahead of time saves both time and energy - making it a perfect way to make life simpler!
XOXO,
Dr.Sheena
INGREDIENTS:
4 organic chicken breasts
1 Package of Organic Strawberries, quartered
I cup of fresh basil, Chopped
1 cup balsamic vinegar (can be strawberry balsamic )
1 tsp Lakanto Monkfruit Sweetener
Juice of 1 lemon
2 teaspoons of Organic Avocado Oil
Celtic Sea Salt
Pepper
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Instructions:
Chicken:
Repeat after me: I will let the chicken come to room temperature before cooking!!! The most important part!
Turn on either a cast iron (best) or non-stick pan over med-high heat and let the pan warm up with NO oil yet.
Meanwhile, wrap the chicken breast in plastic wrap and beat it with anything you can find. Preferably a rolling pin or a meat tenderizer (I’m not judging though) until the breast are flat-chested.
Pat the chicken dry and season generously with salt and pepper.
Swirl the avocado oil in the already hot pan and the chicken breasts to get a little crust on each side. Turn the heat down low and continue cooking/flipping until the chicken is done being sure not to overcook and cook for 8-10 more minutes.
Puréed Strawberries:
Spray a small non-stick pan with avocado oil and sauté 1 cup of the quartered strawberries until they are carmelized and soft. Set aside
Balsamic Reduction:
Take 1 cup of balsamic vinegar, the juice of 1 lemon, and 1 tsp of monk fruit sweetener and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the liquid has reduced to a sludgy glaze.
Plate it:
Place the chicken on plate and layer it with the puréed strawberries, 1 cup of uncooked strawberries, sprinkled basil, and finally drizzle with the balsamic glaze. Enjoy!!
