Chicken!

While many foods seem to be best suited for a particular season - hot soups and stews for winter, burgers and fresh salads in summer - chicken seems to be one of those foods many of us enjoy at any time of year. Here are six chicken recipes to help you through the day, including Tandoori Chicken Skewers with Mint Raita and Oven-Fried Chicken. Enjoy!

MOROCCAN CHICKEN WITH EGGPLANT-ZUCCHINI RAGOUT

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipe/moroccan-chicken-with-eggplant-zucchini-ragout

Ingredients

1-1/2 to 2 pounds chicken leg quarters

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 teaspoon salt, divided

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided

1 small eggplant, cut into 1/2-inch dice

1 medium zucchini, cut into 1/2-inch dice

1 small onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup white wine or water

1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes with juices

1/4 cup pimento-stuffed green olives, roughly chopped

2 tablespoons capers, rinsed

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon sugar

2 tablespoons parsley, minced

Directions

In large skillet over medium high-heat, warm 2 tablespoons olive oil. Season leg quarters with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Add leg quarters to pan, skin-side down. Brown chicken, turning once, 8 to 10 minutes per side. Remove chicken to plate and drain off all but 2 tablespoons oil.

Add eggplant to hot pan and cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Add remaining tablespoon olive oil, along with zucchini, onion and garlic. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Raise heat to high and add white wine to pan, stirring to scrape up any browned bits. Add all other ingredients, except parsley, and place chicken legs in mixture. Bring to boil, reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for 35 to 40 minutes or until cooked through or until an instant read thermometer reads 170F.

To serve, place some of the eggplant ragout onto plates, top with a leg quarter and sprinkle with parsley.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 370; Fat: 20 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Fiber: 6 g; Sodium: 900 mg; Protein: 28 g; Carbohydrates: 17 g; Sugars: 8 g

CHICKEN AND ALMOND STEW

Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings

Source: Express Lane Diabetic Cooking

Book Title: Express Lane Diabetic Cooking

View this online at https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/chicken-and-almond-stew.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 cups low-fat, low-sodium chicken broth

1 cup diced canned tomatoes, drained

2 tablespoons slivered almonds

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 pound cubed cooked deli chicken

1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

Directions

In a large stockpot over medium-high heat, heat the oil. Add the onion and saute for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add the broth, tomatoes, almonds, and spices. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the chicken and beans and simmer for 10 more minutes.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 276; Fat: 7 g; Cholesterol: 40 mg; Protein: 31 g; Carbohydrates: 25 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 Starch, 1 Vegetable, 4 Very Lean Meat, 1 Monounsaturated Fat

EAST-WEST BURRITO

Recipe Yield: Makes 8 servings

Source: AICR

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/east-west-burrito

Ingredients

1/2 tsp. ground coriander

1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground cumin

Pinch tsp. ground cardamom

Pinch tsp. ground black pepper

1/2 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch strips

3 tbsp. canola oil, divided

1 medium onion, chopped

1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and chopped

1 1/3 cups canned fat-free refried kidney or pinto beans

8 flour tortillas (7-8 inch)

1 1/3 cups cooked brown rice

4 Tbsp. reduced-fat sour cream

1/2 cup (loosely packed) cilantro leaves, roughly cut up

1 cup prepared salsa

Directions

Combine ground spices in a bowl. Add chicken and press spices in so they adhere. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Bring to room temperature before cooking.

Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté chicken until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a plate. Cut chicken into bite-size pieces and set aside.

Add remaining oil to the pan. Sauté onions and pepper until soft and lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to the chicken, mix in and set aside. Add beans to the pan and cook, stirring until they are warmed.

Warm tortillas in a large, dry skillet over medium high heat. Spread one-fourth of the beans in center of each. Top with rice, then chicken mixture. Add a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkle of cilantro leaves. Fold sides of tortillas over the filling, then fold in ends. Turn the burrito over. Serve with salsa sauce on the side.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 346; Fat: 10 g; Sodium: 562 mg; Protein: 16 g; Carbohydrates: 48 g

Diabetic Exchanges: 3 Bread/Starch, 2 Lean-Meat, 1 Fat

TANDOORI CHICKEN SKEWERS WITH MINT RAITA

Recipe Yield: Makes 4 servings for main course or a snack for 6 or 12 people

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/tandoori-chicken-skewers-with-mint-raita.

Ingredients

1 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt, divided

1/3 cup reduced fat coconut milk, divided

2 tsp. curry powder, mild or hot

1-2 finely chopped garlic cloves

3/4 tsp. sea salt, divided

1 Tbsp. canola oil

1 lb. skinless and boneless chicken breast

2 Tbsp. finely chopped red onion

2 Tbsp. chopped fresh mint

1 tsp. fresh lime juice

12 (8-inch) bamboo skewers

Directions

In wide, shallow bowl or deep plate, combine 2 tablespoons of yogurt with 2 tablespoons of coconut milk, curry powder, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Mix in oil.

Cut chicken lengthwise into 12 strips. Insert skewer into bottom of one chicken strip and work it up lengthwise to top. Repeat with remaining chicken.

Place skewers in curry marinade and using your fingers, make sure it coats them. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 8 hours.

Arrange marinated chicken on paper toweling and blot dry, removing all excess marinade.

Heat large skillet over medium-high heat, then coat with cooking spray. Or heat stovetop griddle.

Arrange skewers in one layer in pan and cook for 2 minutes, browning chicken. Using tongs, turn skewers and brown on another side, 2 minutes. Turn chicken and cook until it is opaque and hot around skewer at thickest part of chicken. Transfer skewers to serving plate.

While chicken cooks, prepare the Raita (follows).

In bowl, combine remaining yogurt and coconut milk with onions, mint, lime juice and remaining salt.

When possible, make Raita 30 minutes before serving chicken to allow its flavors to develop and meld. Serve it the day it is made.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 121; Fat: 7 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Sodium: 297 mg; Protein: 8 g; Carbohydrates: 7 g

20-MINUTE CHICKEN CREOLE

To view online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/20-minute-chicken-creole

Recipe Yield: Yield: 4 servings (1-1/2 cups per serving)

Ingredients

12 oz boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into thin strips

1 cup canned whole peeled tomatoes, chopped

1 cup chili sauce (look for lowest sodium version)

1-1/2 cup green bell pepper, rinsed and chopped

1-1/2 cup celery, rinsed and chopped

1/4 cup onion, chopped

1 Tbsp garlic, minced (about 2–3 cloves)

1 Tbsp fresh basil, rinsed, dried, and chopped (or 1 tsp dried)

1 Tbsp fresh parsley, rinsed, dried, and chopped (or 1 tsp dried)

1/4 tsp crushed red pepper

1/4 tsp salt

Directions

Spray saute pan with cooking spray. Preheat over high heat.

Cook chicken in hot saute pan, stirring for 3–5 minutes. Reduce heat.

Add tomatoes with juice, chili sauce, green pepper, celery, onion, garlic, basil, parsley, crushed red pepper, and salt. Bring to boil over high heat, and then reduce heat to simmer.

Simmer, covered, for 10 minutes.

Nutritional Information Per Serving: Calories: 274; Fat: 5 g; Saturated Fat: 1 g; Fiber: 4 g; Sodium: 383 mg; Cholesterol: 73 mg; Protein: 30 g; Carbohydrates: 30 g

OVEN-FRIED CHICKEN

This recipe begins, “This chicken is easy to prepare and just as tasty as deep-fried chicken, yet much healthier.”

To view this online, go to https://diabeticgourmet.com/diabetic-recipes/oven-fried-chicken

Recipe Yield: 8 servings.Serving Size: 1 chicken breast.

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups fine bread crumbs

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp paprika

1 tsp rosemary, basil or oregano

3 Tbsp canola oil

8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts halves

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F.

Lightly grease 9 x 13 inch baking dish.

In bowl, combine bread crumbs, flour, paprika and rosemary. Mix in canola oil until well combined. Roll chicken in bread crumbs and place in prepared dish. Discard any crumb mixture that is left over.

Bake 30 to 35 minutes in preheated oven or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.

Nutritional Information Per Serving:Calories: 300; Fat: 10 g; Saturated Fat: 1.5 g; Fiber: 1 g; Sodium: 230 mg; Cholesterol: 75 mg; Protein: 30 g; Carbohydrates: 21 grams