Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Cranberry Quinoa
TOTAL TIME: Prep: 45 min. Bake: 30 min.
YIELD: 6 servings.
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
Ingredients
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2 cups chicken broth
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1 cup quinoa, rinsed
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1 fresh thyme sprig
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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8 green onions, chopped
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1 celery rib, chopped
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2/3 cup dried cranberries
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2/3 cup chopped dried apricots
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3 tablespoons lemon juice
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2-1/2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
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1/2 teaspoon salt
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CHICKEN:
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3/4 cup dry sherry
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1/4 cup water
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3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
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1 tablespoon brown sugar
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2 teaspoons cornstarch
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1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
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1 large tart apple, peeled and chopped
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1/2 cup dried cranberries
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1/3 cup chopped walnuts
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1/2 cup apricot preserves
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2 tablespoons butter
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6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (6 ounces each)
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1 tablespoon olive oil
Directions
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1.
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.
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2.
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.
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3.
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.
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4.
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.
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5.
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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