I travel every year to Peru on a medical mission trip and was introduced to quinoa there. For years I made a similar chicken dish with rice, so I tried it with quinoa. We love it. —Joyce Moynihan, Lakeville, Minnesota

Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Cranberry Quinoa

Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Cranberry Quinoa
Prep Time
45 min
Cook Time
30 min
Yield
6 servings
Ingredients
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
- 1 fresh thyme sprig
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 green onions, chopped
- 1 celery rib, chopped
- 2/3 cup dried cranberries
- 2/3 cup chopped dried apricots
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2-1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- CHICKEN:
- 3/4 cup dry sherry
- 1/4 cup water
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 large tart apple, peeled and chopped
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/2 cup apricot preserves
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (6 ounces each)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Directions
- In a small saucepan, bring broth to a boil. Add quinoa and thyme. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Remove from the heat; fluff with a fork. Discard thyme.
- In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add green onions and celery; cook and stir until tender. Add cooked quinoa. Stir in the dried fruits, lemon juice, lemon zest and salt.
- In a large saucepan, mix the first six chicken ingredients until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir until slightly thickened. Add the apple, cranberries and walnuts. Stir in preserves and butter until melted.
- Cut a pocket horizontally in the thickest part of each chicken breast. Fill each with 2-3 tablespoons quinoa mixture; secure with toothpicks. Place remaining quinoa mixture in a greased 1-qt. baking dish; cover with foil. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Carefully brown stuffed chicken on both sides. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish; pour apple mixture over top.
- Bake chicken and quinoa, at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a thermometer inserted in chicken reads 170° and quinoa is heated through. Serve chicken with quinoa. Discard toothpicks before serving.
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