Coconut Quinoa & Chicken

All I hear about and read about in health blogs (you paleo crossfitters) is coconut, coconut oil, coconut butter, coconut flavored everything. I lovveee coconut, but, when it comes to savory, I'm a Mediterranean-diet/"from the earth" kind of girl. I stick to my Italian roots and create most meals with extra virgin olive oil, garlic, lemon, garden veggies, herbs, etc... you know the drill.  

Tonight as I was driving home, I wanted to switch it up (mainly because I'm on my summer kick of avocado/tomato/basil and probably boring the bageezus out of you). Plus, I wanted to make quinoa, which I always see as a fun little challenge to make it taste like something other than sand.

Now, go ahead and google health benefits for coconut oil/milk/etc. I'm on the fence with promoting it because although the research is rather interesting (good for digestive track, anti-inflammatory, etc), it is still a saturated fat and I can't get behind it like my #1, extra virgin o/o. (rule of thumb: fats in liquid form at room temperature are better for you (unsaturated - olive oil, veg oil) than fats that harden at room temp (saturated - butter/coconut oil) .

All things in moderation though, right!? Biggest benefit of this meal? It made my condo smell like a coconut factory. You crossfitters must wreak of coconut. Not a bad thing, not a bad thing at all. 

Oh, and it's LOADED with protein from both the Chicken and the Quinoa. And, it is simple to make.

1. Cook your quinoa. 1 part quinoa, two parts coconut milk (I used coconut almond milk). I also put in a tsp of coconut oil on the bottom of the pan in fear that it might stick.

2. Add a small handful of raisins, coconut chips (or flakes), and pecans or slivered almonds. 

Cook chicken in a saute pan over medium heat in, yep, coconut oil.

Once the quinoa is fully cooked, add the chicken and top with more coconut chips (or coconut flakes - doesn't really matter). This meal is fast, easy, and pretty dang tasty. The flavor of the coconut really came out (of course) and I really enjoyed it. This is a GREAT recovery meal. Quinoa isn't just a protein superstar, it also has twice the fiber as most grains, and tons of iron (important for us ladies). I always feel like I've won when I make quinoa taste good! 

Have a great THURSDAY! xo