Sumac Chicken!

What can I say? It has been a Middle Eastern food fest at my house this week! This is a simple and stunning dish that taste GREAT! I want to let you know that it is also very healthy and packs a big flavor punch.

Sumac chicken:

2 chicken breast- add more if you are feeding more than 2 people.Cube chicken in 2 inch pieces

1 tablespoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon onion powder

1 tablespoon Sumac- you can get it locally at Creation Gardens- you can also google spice purveyors.

2 teaspoons olive oil

salt and pepper to your taste

2 green, red or cubanelle peppers- cut into slices

1/2 white Spanish or red onion

Cover chicken with spices and 1 teaspoon olive oil. Cover onions and peppers with olive oil, salt and peppers. Place on foil lined sheet pan and bake at 400 degrees until chicken has brown edges and is cooked completely. In my gas oven this takes around 30 minuets.

Quinoa salad topping:

1/4 cup of red Quinoa( you can get this in bulk bins at any health food stores!)

1/2 English cucumber- diced

1/2 white onion- very small dice

1/2 red pepper small dice

1 tablespoon minced fresh mint

1 tablespoon minced parsley

2 lemons- juiced

1/2 cup of tahini-this is ground sesame paste- you can find it by the olives or in the health food section of your grocery store

1/4 cup of hot water for tahini

salt and pepper to taste

Add 1/2 cup of water 1/2 teaspoon of salt and boil in the microwave on high for around 8 minutes. The Quinoa will sprout and become soft. Put tahini, lemon juice and hot water in a bowl. I know this sounds crazy, but this is a well developed secret. Take your hand mixer and only put in one beater. Whip this mixture like you would a cake mix. This should look fluffy and creamy. Stir in all remaining ingredients. Make sure you taste this for salt.Heat pita bread in oven or toaster. Open the pocket. Place in the chicken onion mixture, top with Quinoa salad mix. We like to squeeze in some fine chiffonoad of Romaine lettuce.

Grow your own Cubanelle peppers!

This is a stunner and a fabulous tasting meal. It is worth the effort and the little extra time it takes to make!Enjoy! Remember, you can ROCK THAT PLATE!