Chicken!

There was a time, years (decades) ago when chicken was relegated to Sunday dinner. But these days, chicken is more an any time food. Its popularity has gone beyond Sunday dinner: besides fast food restaurants specializing in chicken, even burger places are occasionally offering chicken sandwiches.

So here are today's six diabetic recipes highlighting the versatile chicken. Enjoy!

CHICKEN WITH TRI-COLORED PEPPERS

Yield: 4 servings

Source: The Diabetes Food and Nutrition Bible

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/403.shtml

Ingredients

2 teaspoons canola oil

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch strips

1/2 cup diced onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 each small red, yellow, and green bell peppers, seeded and sliced into 1-inch strips

1/2 cup fat-free, reduced-sodium chicken broth

2 tablespoons lite soy sauce

1 tablespoon white wine (optional)

1/2 teaspoon sesame oil

2 teaspoons cornstarch

Directions

In a wok or heavy skillet over medium-high heat, heat the canola oil. Add the chicken and saute for 2 minutes. Add the onion and garlic and saute for 4-5 minutes more.

Remove the chicken and onion from the pan. Add the peppers and saute for 5 minutes.

Combine the broth, soy sauce, white wine, sesame oil, and cornstarch in a measuring cup and mix well.

Add the sauce to the peppers. Add the chicken and onions back to the pan. Stir for 1-2 minutes until sauce has thickened.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 204; Protein: 27 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 425 mg; Cholesterol: 68 mg; Carbohydrates: 10 g; Exchanges: 4 Very Lean Meat, 2 Vegetable, 1/2 Fat

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH FRUIT SALSA

Yield: 4 servings.

Serving Size: about 4 ounces

Source: The Diabetes Food and Nutrition Bible

Book Info: http://diabeticgourmet.com/book_archive/details/11.shtml

View online: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/537.shtml

Ingredients

Fruit Salsa:

2 cans (8 oz each) crushed pineapple, packed in juice, drained

1 mango, peeled and cubed

1/2 papaya, peeled and cubed

2 Tbsp rice vinegar

1 Tbsp finely minced cilantro

1 Tbsp minced red pepper

Grilled Chicken:

2 whole chicken breasts, boned, skinned, halved (10 oz meat each)

2 tsp olive oil

Garnish:

Kiwi slices

Directions

In a medium bowl, combine salsa ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Preheat an oven broiler or outdoor grill. Brush the chicken breasts with the olive oil. Grill or broil the chicken about 7 minutes per side or until no pink remains.

To serve: Place fruit salsa on a plate using a few spoonfuls per person. Top with a cooked chicken breast. Garnish with kiwi slice.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 305; Calories from Fat: 54 ; Protein: 32 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 79 mg; Cholesterol: 85 mg; Dietary Fiber: 3 g; Sugars: 25 g; Carbohydrates: 30 g; Exchanges: 4 Very Lean Meat; 2 Fruit; 1 Fat

GARLIC CHICKEN

Servings: 4

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/79.shtml

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=79

Source: Gourmet Inspirations Healthy Cooking

Ingredients

2 teaspoons oil

4 single chicken breasts (16 oz. raw weight) skinned, boned, washed, cut into 1" strips

5-6 cloves garlic, sliced

2-1/4 cups chicken broth, low-sodium

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/3 cup dry white wine

1/4 teaspoon salt

Ground black pepper to taste

Directions

In a large skillet, heat oil to medium high.

Stir-fry chicken strips until well browned on both sides. Remove chicken pieces and set aside.

Saute garlic slices until soft and golden.

Stir in chicken broth, lemon juice, and wine.

When mixture is hot, reduce heat to medium and return chicken to skillet. Simmer a few minutes to heat through.

If desired, thicken sauce with pinch of instant potatoes. Serve over rice, if desired.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 165; Protein: 19 g; Fat: 7 g; Carbohydrates: 3 g; Exchanges: 3 Low-Fat Meat

CARIBBEAN CHICKEN

Servings: 6

Source: Gourmet Inspirations Healthy Cooking

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/67.shtml

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=67

Ingredients

2 teaspoons oil

6 single chicken breasts (24 oz. raw weight) skinned, boned, washed, sliced in 1/2" strips

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/4 cup peach or apricot chutney (fruit sweetened)

1/2 teaspoon thyme

1/2 teaspoon each curry powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves

1/4 teaspoon dry mustard

1-1/2 cup low sodium chicken broth

3 tablespoons dry white wine

2 teaspoons coconut flavoring

Directions

In a large skillet, heat oil to medium high, and saute chicken pieces until brown.

Remove chicken, set aside.

Saute garlic and onion in skillet until soft, and golden.

Stir in chutney and spices and cook one minute.

Add broth and wine, and heat through, stirring constantly.

Return chicken to sauce, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes.

Stir in coconut flavoring. Serve over hot rice.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 160; Protein: 19 g; Fat: 6 g; Sodium: 44 mg; Carbohydrates: 6 g; Exchanges: 3 low-fat meat; 1/3 fruit

CHICKEN STUFFED WITH APPLES, ALMONDS AND BLUE CHEESE

This recipe begins, “Apples, almonds and blue cheese, mixed with vibrant, fresh dill and stuffed into tender chicken breasts. You get a bounty of flavors in every bite.”

Yield: 4 servings

Source: Almond Board of California

Author: Robin Miller

Find this recipe at: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/1134.shtml

Ingredients

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (about 5 ounces each)

4 ounces crumbled blue cheese (any variety, including Gorgonzola)

1/2 cup slivered almonds

1 apple (preferably Mackintosh, Gala, or Jufi), peeled, cored and diced

3 teaspoons chopped fresh dill

salt and freshly ground pepper

4 teaspoons olive oil

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon (4 teaspoons) dried minced onion (from the spice aisle)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400F.

Coat a shallow roasting pan with cooking spray.

Using a sharp paring knife, slice a pocket into each chicken breast, as if halving a bagel, without completely cutting through the other side.

Arrange chicken in prepared pan and set aside.

In medium bowl, combine blue cheese, almonds, apple, and dill. Add a pinch each of salt and black pepper. Mix together with a fork until mixture is well blended and comes together.

Divide mixture into four equal portions and spoon each portion into the pocket of the chicken. Brush olive oil all over the top of chicken and season the top with salt, black pepper and dried onion (1 teaspoon dried onion for each breast).

Bake 25 to 30 minutes, until chicken is golden brown and cooked through.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 490; Protein: 53 g; Fat: 25 g; Sodium: 867 mg; Cholesterol: 141 mg; Saturated Fat: 7.9 g; Carbohydrates: 11 g

CHICKEN AND SPINACH SALAD

Yield: 14 cups

Serving size: 7 (2-cup) servings

Source: Cooking Healthy and Fast

View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/111.shtml

Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=111

Ingredients

6 oz. fresh spinach

2 oranges, peeled and cut into chunks

2 cups cooked and cubed chicken

2 cups fresh strawberries

Dressing Ingredients:

2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

3 Tbsp. orange juice

1-1/2 Tbsp. canola oil

1/4 tsp. dry mustard

1/3 tsp. poppy seeds

Directions

Mix dressing ingredients and refrigerate.

Wash spinach and tear into bite size pieces.

Add oranges, chicken and strawberries.

Serve with dressing.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 135; Fat: 4 g; Sodium: 46 mg; Cholesterol: 31 mg; Carbohydrates: 10 g; Exchanges: 1 fruit, 1 1/2 lean meat