Clean Eating Recipe #1: Chilli Bean Quinoa with Honey Grilled Chicken and Veg

This is a very simple recipe and is jam-packed full of protein and veg.

It’s perfect for lunch or dinner and great for a pre/post gym workout as it has everything your body needs.

I usually make a batch of this quinoa to keep in the fridge for the week to add to a salad or have as a side for fish or meat. Quinoa is amazing for several reasons:

• It is gluten-free
• It is high in protein, more so than other ‘carbs’
• It’s a complete protein meaning it contains all the amino acids your body needs, just like meat does
• It even contains calcium!

COOL QUINOA FACT: Apparently the grain is being considered by NASA as a crop for future long haul space adventures where spacecrafts need to be self sufficient. Because it’s a bleedin’ good crop!

Personally, I think you can judge how good for you a plate of food is just by how colourful it is, and by chucking in a heap of different coloured beans in here, you really give the quinoa a boost. Maximum protein, minimum carbs, all tasting delish.

WHAT YOU NEED

For the quinoa...

• Quinoa – as much or as little as you want
• Frozen peas
• Tinned beans (any will do kidney, berlotti, chickpeas etc)
• Chilli powder

     

      For the chicken...

• Chicken breast
• Black pepper
• Honey

For the veg...

• Broccoli and mange tout to steam
• Courgette to grill

WHAT TO DO

• Drizzle some honey onto your chicken breast, sprinkle the cracked black pepper on top and place under the grill. No need to go crazy on the heat, just hot enough to cook it without burning.
• Chop a courgette thinly and grill alongside the chicken, turning often
• Place the quinoa in a pan and pour boiling water on top, so it is double the amount of quinoa. Pour in chilli powder to taste and depending on how big a batch you are making (go small as you can always add later). Set the heat so it is simmering and steam is rising off the pan.
• Place a steamer on top of the pan you’re cooking the quinoa on and chuck in the veg. Leave to steam until how you like them. I like broccoli to be al dente (and even raw, but that’s just me).
• Turn the chicken, glaze the other side with honey and sprinkle on the pepper again.
• Check the quinoa is simmering nicely, still with some water in the pan, and add the frozen peas.
• Keep an eye on the quinoa. You want to take it off the heat as soon as all the water has been absorbed – if you have got the amount of water just right, the quinoa will be just soft enough, but not slushy.
• Take off the heat and stir in some of the beans.
• Serve!

The quinoa should look like this...

Yum! And it’s all good for you. No salt. No oil. Tonnes of protein and lots of flavour.