Soy, Tahini and Ginger Chicken Salad
A great salad recipe which will leave you feeling satisfied and nourished from the inside. It works great for leftovers and actually tastes better after a night in the fridge (soggy salads are no no in my book). The tahini, soy, honey, lime and ginger dressing is so moreish in this recipe and by poaching the chicken breasts first in an aromatic broth of ginger, spring onions and chicken stocks, before finishing off in a frying pan, you get lovely soft and succulent pieces of chicken which don’t dry out.
Crispy Chicken, Sundried Tomato, Olive and Fennel Traybake with Salsa Verde, Feta Oregano Smashed Potatoes and Almond Asparagus
I made this a few weeks ago when I was craving a Sunday roast but wanted something lighter and full of summery flavours. It’s super easy to make and full of flavour. It’s the type of meal you can put on platters in the middle of the table and let everyone dig in. Fennel, olives, tomatoes and plenty of garlic amp up the Mediterranean flavours and with a punchy bright green salsa verde, it’s the perfect pairing. Super crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside and with oregano, plenty of sea salt flakes, and crumbled salty feta the potatoes are the dream side dish for this spread. Some simply fried in-season asparagus spears and toasted flaked almonds add some freshness and crunch.
Cajun Spiced Chicken with Sweet Potato Black Bean Salad, Avocado, Feta & Lime
Marinading, frying, then baking the chicken breasts keeps them lovely and juicy and moist and works every time. You can add whatever veggies you like to the salad but for me, some roasted sweet potato in a few spices, roughly chopped spinach leaves and extra coriander work a treat.
Greek Chicken Orzo Salad with Tzatziki
This has become one of my go-to meals when I get home from work. Perfect for a weeknight meal and great for leftover lunches the next day. The chicken breasts are marinaded in a simple marinade of oregano, lemon, garlic and olive oil while the orzo pasta salad has all the ingredients of a delicious fresh and zingy Greek salad - kalamata olives, crumbled feta, parsley, mint, lemon, balsamic, chopped red pepper and tomatoes and some cucumber. Finished with a little sumac and red pepper flakes for some heat, topped with creamy cooking tzatziki, this is a tasty and healthy bowl of goodness.
Butternut Squash Chicken Korma with Stir Fried Green Beans
A healthy and tasty chicken korma for a Sunday night. The butternut squash adds a lovely sweetness to the sauce and soaks up the spices really well. Adding the chicken to the simmering sauce towards the end means it doesn’t dry out and stays soft and tender. Some ground almonds gives a nutty creaminess which you want from a korma and some crunchy stir fried beans with garlic, shallots, nigella seeds and toasted almonds gives colour and texture. Some flatbreads, naan, chapatis or fluffy rice are the perfect sides.
Greek Chicken Burger Bowls with Sundried Tomato Yoghurt, Lime Feta Sweet Potatoes and Tomato Olive Salad
These greek chicken burgers have all the flavours of a chicken souvlaki but in healthier form. The chicken burgers are made with plenty of fresh herbs, garlic, lemon, oregano, cumin and paprika and the baked sweet potatoes with a hit of lime and salty feta are so moreish. You could of course have them with pitta breads or in a burger bun, but little gem lettuce leaves are another alternative for some crunch and texture. Healthy, filling and super tasty.
Chicken Parma with Tomato Sauce & Rocket Salad
You just can’t beat a chicken parm. Soft chicken breasts stuffed with mozzarella, sundried tomatoes and basil, wrapped in salty parma ham, topped with cheesy, lemony, herby breadcrumbs and served with a rich tomato sauce and fresh rocket salad - it is ultimate comfort food. Kids will love it, adults will love it, its just one of those dishes which is a total crowdpleaser. Perfect for a midweek dinner but also tasty enough that people would be delighted to be served it at a dinner party, it’s just too good.
Ultimate Chicken Satay
Everyone loves chicken satay and that’s because there is everything to love about this dish. Tender baked chicken thighs covered in a rich coconut peanut sauce with a slight hint of chilli heat, salty umami soy and zingy lime. A crunchy grilled topping and sweet honey glaze completes the dish while all you need to serve with it is some steamed basmati rice and sesame wok greens. Simple, but so effective and the perfect midweek meal to impress.
Smoky & Spicy Chicken Sweet Potato Traybake with Feta and Chimichurri Dressing
This is a staple midweek meal for us. You can buy all the ingredients on your way home, it’s quick, easy and completely delicious. Smoky, spicy chicken thighs are roasted in a mixture of spices before adding sweet potatoes, peppers and tenderstem broccoli for sweetness, colour and texture. A fresh and herbaceous chimichurri adds a citrus zing while salty, creamy feta finishes everything off. You can use thighs with or without the bone if you’re short on time, but the bone does help them stay lovely and moist and tender. Plus, its all roasted in the same tray so washing up is minimal - ideal.
Harissa Baked Chicken with Fridge Raid Bulgur Wheat Salad and Spiced Houmous
This recipe is quick, fresh and healthy and is also an ideal way to clear out your fridge of any veggies you might have lying around. It also just happens to be super tasty and has one of my favourite ingredients of all time - rose harissa. It’s very straightforward and you can put whatever you want in the bulgur wheat salad. This is my favourite way to cook chicken breasts. It’s all in the marination, leaving them at room temperature for at least 30 mins before frying, frying over a medium/low heat to develop a gentle crust and then baking at a lowish temperature so it stays nice and moist.
Soy, Ginger & Honey Marmalade Chicken with Stir-Fried Rice and Sesame Broccoli
This soy orange marmalade baked chicken dish is so quick, easy to make and deliciously moreish. It uses ingredients which you can easily buy on your way home and it makes great leftover lunches for the next day. This will become a staple in your house.
Dukkah Chicken with Harissa, Chickpea and Spiced Tomato Bulgur with a Lemon Tahini Yoghurt
This recipe has some of my most favourite things. Dukkah, tahini, rose harissa, pine nuts all come together in this delicious and healthy chicken salad which is perfect for leftovers or for a hearty dinner. Roasting the chickpeas with the tomatoes on the vine and a mixture of whole and ground slices adds so much flavour to the bulgur wheat. The rose harissa adds a subtle heat which doesn’t overpower the chicken and the tahini yoghurt is cooling and nutty with the flavour of sesame.
Sesame Soy Chicken Salad with Cucumber Noodles and Peanuts
I made this sesame chicken salad a few weeks ago and it was so tasty and refreshing. Light, healthy and delicious this is the perfect midweek meal for when you fancy something a bit fresher which doesn’t scrimp on flavour. Also ideal for getting rid of those winter blues. Refreshing, tasty and healthy, save this recipe for when you next crave something light and delicious.
Spiced Poppadom Crusted Chicken Wraps with Raita, Pickled Red Onions and Mango Salsa
I wanted to come up with a chicken wrap recipe which had all the flavours of a curry but had crunchy chicken breasts as it’s centrepiece. The chicken was so moreish - crunchy, slightly spicy and lovely and moist inside. With punchy mango salsa, cooling raita, sharp pickled onions, sweet chutney and fresh lettuce, these wraps are full of texture and flavour. They are also perfect for leftovers the next day (that’s if there will be any left). This would make a great Friday/Saturday night meal.
Ultimate Chicken Biryani
This chicken biryani has got everything you want - fluffy rice which absorbs the fragrant and aromatic sauce, tender, moist chicken thighs, sweet caramelised onions and a luxurious saffron milk to finish everything off. This is full of flavour and texture and the whole thing is just a hug in a bowl. Plus at £2.01 a portion it’s an affordable, filling dish the whole family will love.
Roast Chicken Orzo with Fennel, Lemon and Parmesan
This is a true one pot dish which makes one chicken go a long way. Roasting the chicken on top of the orzo and vegetables allows all the chicken juices to be absorbed by the pasta grains, making them extra delicious. It’s a great way to enjoy a roast but without the many pots and pans and often hefty price tag. Healthy and so comforting at this time of year, this will become a regular recipe in your household I’m sure.
Sichuan Chicken Stir Fry with Cashews and Peppers
This is a quick and easy recipe which is perfect for when you’re short on time. It’s also a great fakeaway meal for when those takeaway cravings come calling. Cheaper, healthier and I think tastier than your average takeaway stir fry, I hope this becomes a staple recipe for you as it has for me.
Chicken Kyiv with Garlic Herb Butter and Minted Veg
Chicken kyiv may be a retro classic but I’d forgotten just how delicious and comforting they are. This was a birthday request meal from a few weeks ago and I discovered when coming up with the recipe that the secret to a great chicken kyiv is the butter - it really is a case of the more butter the better. It’s the type of meal I never make but it’s the perfect weeknight comforting dinner on these dark, wintry nights.
Ginger Sesame Chicken with Orange, Garlic and Peanut Broccoli, Brown Rice and a Soy, Lime and Coriander Dressing
This is a bowl which just feels like it’s nourishing you from the inside out with every mouthful. Full of fresh, clean flavours and lots of texture - it’s quick, tasty and healthy. The broccoli recipe is from Ottolenghi’s Simple and is one of my favourites - a must try. This is a staple dish in our kitchen and I hope it will become one of yours too.
Baharat and Orange Chicken Thighs with Saffron Jewelled Rice, Dukkah Roasted Carrots and Dill Tahini Yoghurt
This is one of my favourite recipes I’ve made recently and would make a great alternative to your Sunday roast. The flavours are also quite festive and Christmassy. The spiced chicken thighs with the sweetness of the orange and pomegranate glaze were so tasty and the rice was buttery and rich with saffron, nuts and dried fruits. The carrots were roasted in a mixture of spices and topped with pistachios, dukkah and fruity pomegranates. The creamy dill tahini yoghurt underneath really made the dish - this is definitely a side that could go with anything.