Fajita Chicken Salad

Serves 4

Ingredients

Marinate 500g chicken thighs (cut in half) in the following;

1 clove of crushed garlic ( plus extra for guacamole)

1 tbsp paprika

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp dried oregano

juice of one lime (save the zest)

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (evoo)

Method

Marinate overnight if you can or at least 2 hours

Served on a cos lettuce leaf, then pile on carrot and cucumber ribbons- just use you potato peeler to do this, plus:

Capsicum, tomato, red onion, grated cheese

Guacamole is 1 mashed avo with garlic, a squeeze of lemon or lime, salt and the lime zest you saved

Plus sour cream and a drizzle of evoo and a squeeze of lemon or lime juice.

Spiced chicken salad with an almond crumbed brie

Ingredients

2 tsp paprika

2 tsp sumac

1 tsp dried oregano (or 1 tbsp fresh, chopped)

1 tsp celery salt

Method

Mix together and pour in enough olive oil so it makes a loose paste. Put your meat in and marinate 2 hours or over night

Take wedges of brie and pat on a crumb mix of almonds and a little parsley on the cut sides- you can use any herbs or nut/seed you like, just blitz to a crumb.

Pan Fry the brie wedges on a high heat for a few seconds each side until the brie starts to melt a little.

Serve up with your favourite salad ingredients! Dressing can be as simple as red wine vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.

One of the most valuable nutrients in cheese is vitamin K2, studies indicate K2 is even more important to your heart, brain and bones than previously thought. Cheese contains high-quality protein and amino acids, high-quality saturated fats and omega-3 fats (esp if grass fed) vitamins and minerals, including calcium, zinc, phosphorus, vitamins A, D, B2 (riboflavin) and B12, Vitamin K2 and CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), a powerful cancer-fighter and metabolism booster. The cheeses highest in K2 are Gouda and Brie, which contain about 75 mcg per ounce. Hard cheeses are about 30 percent higher in vitamin K2 than soft cheeses. What is interesting that the cheeses highest in vitamin K2 also tend to be the highest in protein and calcium! Yay!

The lettuce mix contains Baby Green & Red Russian Kale, Baby Green Curly Kale, Baby Beetroot Leaves, Baby Silverbeet Leaves & Baby Rainbow Chard Leaves.

Spicey Twicey cooked chicken

This is twice cooked chicken and it is to die for!

8-10 chicken drumsticks cooked in the slow cooker for the day. You don’t need to add any water, just season well with salt and some pepper, I have used herbamare.

When done take the chicken out and take all the meat off and shred with your fingers. Put all the juice at the bottom of your slow cooker in a cup, you will be using this. Keep the bones to make bone broth. I have a stash of bones in the freezer with other chicken bones and vege scraps, make when you have lots!

Spice mix 

Blend up until fine 1 tbsp turmeric, 1 tbsp of ginger, 2 cloves of garlic. No need to take the skin off the turmeric and ginger. Skin the garlic though. Plus 1 tsp ground coriander seeds, ½ tsp ground cumin seeds and 1 tsp smoked paprika.

 In a large pan heat a really good splash of the oil of your choice, at least 2 tbsp. Put in your spice mix and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add in your shredded chicken, stir in to coat the chicken, then add the leftover juice you set aside. Simmer for about 10 minutes or until the liquid has evaporated.

There you have twice cooked chicken to use for salads, on top of some rice with yoghurt sauce, burritos, pizzas etc….

I have made a kick ass salad with it using fried haloumi, cos  lettuce, shredded cabbage, grated carrot, diced capsicum and cucumber, fermented broccoli and homemade red cabbage sauerkraut.