Blackened Chicken with Cilantro Lime Quinoa

There is something exciting, yet frightening about trying out a new dish, without having a backup! Even when the ingredients are simple and familiar, and I have made similar meals, it's still a bit nerve-wracking to take that first bite after I've worked on dinner for the past hour or so. What if it's awful, and I don't have anything else to serve?! I'd be lying if I said this has never happened before.

Fortunately, this was not the case last night. Since there are only so may ways to make and serve chicken, (and I use chicken as a main protein source in nearly every meal) I struggle with coming up with new ideas for dinner. Even though I had my "new recipe jitters", last night's meal was a hit, and I'll file this recipe under chicken favorites. My husband liked the chicken sans avocado sauce, I preferred it with. I'll let you decide.

Blackened Chicken
From Sarcastic Cooking

• 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin

Cilantro Lime Quinoa

• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1/2 cup quinoa
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro (or more--I love cilantro!)
• salt and pepper to taste

Avocado Cream Sauce

• 1/2 avocado
• 1-2 tablespoons non-fat, plain greek yogurt

Mix up all the spices and rub on both sides of the breasts. Heat a skillet over medium-high, coat skillet with a bit of oil of non-stick spray. Cook chicken for 7-8 minutes with lid on. Turn over, cover, and cook 7-8 minutes more, or until fully cooked. Set chicken aside.

While chicken is cooking, heat stock and quinoa in a sauce pan, over medium heat. Bring to boil, cover, and reduce to simmer. Cook for about 15 minutes, until liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and add in lime juice and cilantro. 

For avocado cream sauce, simply place avocado and greek yogurt in food processor and blend until smooth. 

Slice chicken into strips. Serve over quinoa and top with avocado sauce.