Healthy Chicken Recipes

Chicken has long been known as a healthy white meat, full of protein and essential fats. It's also totally versatile - you can cook it in a variety of delicious and healthy ways or use it to add texture to many savoury recipes.

 Chicken is a favorite of many health advocates, and has a simple, elegant flavour that is great paired with many different ingredients and spices. Here are a few simple healthy recipes to get you started:

♥ Thai Chicken Salad
A fresh and light salad recipe, perfect for your lunchbox or a night in with the girls.

1. Cook 1 sliced chicken breast, in a hot buttered pan until brown.

2. Wash and prepare 1 handful of snow pea pods and sprouts, 1 yellow capsicum/bell pepper and 1 spring onion.

3. Chop 1 handful of fresh coriander leaves, 1 de-seeded red chilli and 1 clove of garlic. Mix with the juice of half a lime, and a 1 Tablespoon yogurt - if you can process this in the blender, that would be perfect.

4. Mix together the snow pea pods and sprouts, capsicum/pepper and spring onion with your yogurt sauce.

5. Then mix in a few cashew nuts and the cooked chicken. Season with salt and pepper.

♥ Orange Spiced Chicken
A beautiful and healthy summer dish, perfect to enjoy on hot evenings with a cool glass of homemade lemonade.

1. Cut 2 chicken breasts into thin strips. Then coat in a mixture of 2 Tbsp flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 tsp cloves and a pinch of mace.

2. Fry in butter, slowly, until brown.

3. Mix together 2 Tablespoons orange juice, 1 Tbsp water, 1 tsp soy sauce, 1 tsp honey and pour over chicken.

4. Simmer for 5 minutes.

5. Add slices of fresh orange and cook for 5 minutes.

6. If you desire, at the end of cooking time stir in 2 Tbsp greek yogurt, to create a creamy chicken dish.

7. Serve with steamed asparagus and red cabbage coleslaw.

♥ Pumpkin Chicken Curry
For cool winter days, try this pumpkin chicken curry meal, to tempt your tastebuds and warm your toes.

1. Peel and dice into 1 inch pieces a quarter pumpkin.

2. Bring some salted water to the boil, and throw in the pumpkin cubes, and simmer until soft - a fork should slide through easily. Drain and set aside.

3. Cut up 2 chicken breasts and 1 onion into 1 inch cubes, and place these in a hot buttered wok pan or deep frying pan. Cook for 5 minutes to sear the edges.

4. Once browned, add in the pumpkin, 1 tin of cooked chickpeas, 1 Tbsp Korma curry paste, 1/2 a tin of tomatoes and 1/2 a tin of coconut milk or cream.

5. Simmer for 5 minutes, then season to taste. Serve with fresh steamed green beans.

♥ Barbequed Chicken Drumsticks with Curry Mayonnaise
A lovely summer treat, to be enjoyed by all the family.

1. Place chicken drumsticks in a casserole dish and cover with stock and 1 chopped onion. Place covered in a hot oven for 1 hour, stirring occasionally (or boil for 20 minutes.

2. Light up the barbeque, and when up to temperature, place the drumsticks on the grill, basting with butter and sprinkling with pepper. Turn once browned, and continue serving until fully finished.

3. To make the curry mayonnaise, mix 1 1/2 tsp curry powder with 3/4 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 cup greek yoghurt and 1 Tbsp lemon juice.

4. Once the drumsticks are ready, serve with the curry mayonnaise and a salad of tomato, cucumber and salad greens.

Other dishes to try out:
- Coriander Chicken with Fennel Salad
- Mexican Chicken Fajitas
- Chicken and Mushroom Pie

Check out this Healthy Chicken Salad video for tips on creating a beautiful and nutritious lunch dish with plenty of good-for-you vegetables!