A few weeks ago I decided that I would be adventurous and master the art of "clean eating." Clean eating is very different than healthy eating. One becomes more conscious about the food they eat, how it is or is not processed, and so on. I found and still find this to be a very intriguing and captivating concept. I bought a magazine and decided that I would be brave and try new dishes that on a normal occasion would never grace my plate. A quick flip through the magazine brought my attention to this beautifully rich purplish-red vegetable....the endive. I was mesmerized and decided this would be the first recipe that I would try. The preparation was simple and the cooking time was swift.
Spring Break Day 2: Braised Belgian Endive & Chicken Cutlets (courtesy of Clean Eating: March issue)
Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3/4 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
- Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tsp finely chopped fresh thyme
- 4 heads Belgian endive, cored and cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
- 2 tsp raw honey
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 tbsp chopped Italian parsley
One: Heat oil in a large skillet on high. Season both sides of chicken with pepper and thyme and brown for 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove from pan and reserve.
Two: In same skillet, add endive, honey, lemon juice and broth and boil until liquid is syrupy, 6 to 8 minutes. Return chicken to skillet , add parsley and toss until chicken is coated with pan juices. Serve immediately.
Nutrients per serving: (3 oz chicken and 1/4 cup endive): Calories 146, Total Fat: 4.5 g, Sat. Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Carbs: 8 g, Fiber: 3 g, Sugars: 0.25 g, Protein: 21 g, Sodium: 67 mg, Cholesterol 49 mg.
I served this with brown rice. Charles dined on his meal as prepared. I added a small amount of salt. The recipe does not call for any but I felt it needed it. A small amount of sea salt will bring out the richness of the flavors.
Charles will have to chime in on his true feelings in regards to my experimentation into clean eating.
~e
