Chicken is one of the foods we see the most in a day to day menu. It’s a true source of protein and a great choice when we are more conscious of what we are eating. It makes us feel full quickly and also has a lot less fat than red meat.
As you will see later on, there are many ways for someone to introduce chicken into their diet. There are also plenty of recipes with origins from all over the world to travel you with their rich flavors to a dozen different countries such as India (tantouri), China (sweet and sour), USA (fried), Italy (catsiatore) etc.
When it comes to cooking it you really need to be careful, as we all know it’s very easy for bacteria to develop around chicken that can cause diseases and transient food poisonings. We make sure to immediately put it in the fridge or freezer after buying it as especially during the summer it can go bad very quickly. It’s a very sensitive ingredient and we need to be pretty strict and careful when it comes to both storing and cooking it. As said before it’s one of the most popular foods together with eggs, that cause infections and food poisonings. That’s why you should:
- Always make sure to wear gloves when touching it, slicing etc.
- Be careful with where you leave it on (cutting boards etc.) and always use vinegar to clean those surfaces and utensil you used too. It’s better if possible to have certain scissors, knifes and others that you only use when cooking chicken, to be sure you are cooking safely.
- We don’t choose to wash it but clean it with some paper and remove any feathers that might be left on the skin.
- When you want to touch herbs and spices to add to our recipe, preferably grab a piece of kitchen paper and touch it do that you don’t transfer any potential bacteria from the chicken.
Here I am suggesting some ways in which you could cook chicken in order to inspire you, facilitate you as well as remind you to prepare more meals for the next days. This way, not only will you be winning time, but also make yourself follow a balanced diet program. This of course means less stress, better health and a better mood.
So, let’s see what we can do. In case of having a whole chicken, you could cook it all and have it ready to consume in the fridge for the next 2-3 days. To begin with, you boil it together with a whole onion and some salt. Remove any skin and the bones and keep the meat that’s left.
- Part of this could be turned into soup or served with a side of pasta, tarhana or groats
- In a short pot, sauté some tomato paste (always sauté the paste) or some fresh tomato and thinly chopped onion, herbs and some butter in the end. Accompany it with some pasta No 5 or penne.
- After boiling you have some homemade chicken broth ready to go that can be stored in the fridge for many different uses.
- If you don’t want to choose that option, you can always bathe your chicken in beer and mustard and bake it in a roster in the oven, together with baby potatoes.
Now, when we are cooking chicken breasts this time, we could:
- Cut it in small pieces and bake it in the toaster, to use it as an ingredient in our salads and sandwiches
- You could also mix it with mayonnaise, mustard and some paprika and make a chicken salad ready to go in your fridge, to eat by itself or use in many different recipes.
- Also, after cutting it in small pieces, mix it together with a table spoon of corn and 2 table spoons of colorful peppers chopped into small pieces too, together with a table spoon of low- fat cream cheese or cottage cheese and have a diet friendly chicken salad for your cravings. For those of you liking a bit of spice, a couple of drops of green tabasco give a great touch to the recipe.
- After cutting it in smaller pieces you could mix it with salty shredded cheeses, an egg and some fresh pepper and make small chicken pies with either store bought or homemade dough, in just a few minutes.
- Add it in your omelet (one which you perhaps used only whites to make) and together with some cheese, mushrooms and red peppers on top, have a rich and flavorful, filled with protein dish which reminds us of a pizza, with ingredients we can consume without any guilt when taking care of our diet.
You could use the softer parts (the breast, legs and wings) after boiling, for a recipe by themselves:
- In a wok or non-stick pan, with some soy sauce, honey, mustard and sesame seeds, accompanied by steamed rice (ready in less than 15 minutes).
- In a warm pan, sauté without adding any olive oil, some fresh mushrooms and then add the boiled chicken parts together with some cooking oil. Extinguish it with some wine and lastly add heavy cream together with some butter or cream cheese for anyone being more mindful of their calorie intake. Serve it with some pilaf or parmesan risotto.
- Also in a pan, add the chicken together with 2 table spoons of pesto sauce (or any other sauce of your choice) and some cherry tomatoes. Serve it on top of your favorite pasta with lots of shredded parmesan cheese and fresh pepper.
When it comes to chicken legs and wings, as they are sold separately on the market, you could:
- Sauté the legs in a deep pan with some olive oil and butter, garlic, thyme and lemon. Accompany them with mashed potatoes or fries.
- Deep them in shredded toast or a mixture suitable for schnitzel and fry them well from all sides
- Marinate and grill them on the barbeque, the grill or using a non-stick pan.
The options are endless and I am sure you will be able to think of even more than the ones I listed here. So, get in the kitchen and start making your favorite recipes and whatever it is that you need I am here to help you. Don’t make any discounts on your personal joy and care. We all choose what is best for us and the people around us, with respect and love for life.
