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Chicken With Cashew-Spinach Sauce

Preparation Time : 15 min | Cooking Time: 30 min | Makes : 6 portions

Recipe provided by CanolaInfo.org ©

INGREDIENTS

Marinade

  • 1/2 cup (125 mL) plain low-fat yogurt
  • 1/4 cup (50 mL) raw cashew nuts
  • 8 medium cloves garlic
  • 3 slices fresh ginger, cut lengthwise about 1 1/2 inches (3.75 cm) long, 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide and 1/8 inch (0.3 cm) thick
  • 1 tbsp (15 mL) coriander seeds
  • 1 tsp (5 mL) cumin seeds

Assembly

  • 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts – about 4 oz (125 g) each
  • 1 tbsp (15 mL) canola oil, to divide
  • 1 small red onion, cut in half lengthwise and thinly sliced
  • 1 cup (250 mL) water
  • 8 oz (250 g) fresh, pre-washed baby spinach leaves
  • 1/2 tsp (2 mL) cayenne pepper
  • 1 large tomato, cored and finely chopped

DIRECTIONS

  1. In blender, combine marinade ingredients. Purée, scraping inside of blender as needed to make smooth, yet slightly gritty, sauce. Transfer mixture to medium sized bowl.
  2. Add chicken breasts to bowl and coat well with marinade. Refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour or as long as overnight.
  3. In large skillet, heat 1/2 tbsp (7 mL) canola oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, 3-4 minutes, stirring until onion slices are soft and light brown around edges. Transfer onion to a plate.
  4. Pour remaining 1/2 tbsp (7 mL) canola oil into same skillet. Add chicken breasts (most of marinade will still be clinging to pieces) to skillet in single layer. Sear meat until lightly browned, 3-5 minutes. Turn pieces over and sear other side, for another 3-5 minutes, until lightly browned. 3 to 5 minutes.
  5. Remove chicken from skillet onto a plate. Transfer onion slices to pan and pour water into skillet. Scrape bottom to release browned bits of chicken and deglaze pan. Move chicken breasts back to skillet   and spoon mixture over them. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and braise chicken, basting it with sauce occasionally, until meat in thickest parts is no longer pink inside and juices run clear, 12-15 minutes. Transfer chicken and onions to serving platter and cover with foil to keep warm.
  6. Raise heat to medium-high and add spinach, one handful at a time, into sauce along with cayenne pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, just until leaves have wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in tomato and spoon sauce over chicken breasts to serve.