Costa Rica Herb Chicken with Tropical Salsa

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It’s a bright, herby taste sensation inspired by Nichole’s travels in Costa Rica—perfectly cooked chicken thighs covered in cilantro, dill, and chopped chives. That's enough flavor on its own, but the sweet heat from the salsa, which is made of pineapple, peaches, and cucumber, gives this dish another level of flavor. We love to make this for company and equally love it atop lettuce cups for leftovers the next day. 

This recipe yields 4 - 5 servings.

Ingredients 

INGREDIENTS


  • For the chicken:
  • 6 chicken thighs
  • ⅓ cup fresh chopped cilantro
  • ⅓ cup fresh chopped dill
  • 3 tablespoons fresh chopped chives
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper

  • For the Tropical Salsa:
  • 2 fresh yellow peaches, chopped
  • 1 mango, chopped
  • ½ cucumber, chopped
  • 2 jalapeños, finely diced with ribs and seeds removed
  • 1 cup fresh pineapple, chopped
  • 1 passion fruit, chopped (optional)

  • For the chicken:
  • 6 chicken thighs
  • 33.7 grams fresh chopped cilantro
  • 33.7 grams fresh chopped dill
  • 20 grams fresh chopped chives
  • 30 ml olive oil
  • 30 ml maple syrup
  • 6 grams sea salt
  • 1.15 grams pepper

  • For the Tropical Salsa:
  • 2 fresh yellow peaches, chopped
  • 1 mango, chopped
  • ½ cucumber, chopped
  • 2 jalapeños, finely diced with ribs and seeds removed
  • 151.7 grams fresh pineapple, chopped
  • 1 passion fruit, chopped (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit. In a large mixing bowl add chicken thighs, fresh chopped herbs, olive oil, maple syrup, salt, and pepper. Toss the chicken until each piece is evenly coated, cover. Let marinate for 30-60 minutes.

  2. Once the chicken is marinated, place on a baking sheet lined with parchment and roast for 20-23 minutes. The chicken will appear golden and juicy. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing to serve.

  3. In another mixing bowl, toss the peaches, mango, cucumber, jalapeños, pineapple, and passion fruit (if using) together. Serve the fresh salsa over the herb roasted chicken. Enjoy!

tips

*For leftovers, add the chicken and salsa to a bowl with a small splash of coconut aminos and dollop of mayo for a quick tropical chicken salad. You can serve in lettuce boats or atop bread.

 

Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders

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The breading on these spicy chicken tenders is perfectly PrimaFoodie-approved, meaning it's gluten-free and filled with nutrients. The cayenne packs a heat punch, which you can dial up or down depending on your desired spice level. And if you love hot sauce, this one is as delicious on its own and is perfect for adding flavor to any regular meal. 

This recipe yields 4 - 5 servings.

Ingredients 

3-4 large chicken breasts cut into 2/3-inch thick sticks
1 egg
1 tablespoon mayonnaise ayo
1 ½ tablespoon dijon mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
¾ cup almond flour
½ cup blanched almonds ground in a coarse mixture (or you can use more almond flour)
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon sea salt alt
½ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic powder

Nashville Hot Sauce:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3 tablespoons cayenne pepper
3 tablespoons coconut sugar
1 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 
1 tablespoon honey 

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with lightly oiled parchment paper. Set aside.

  2. In a large bowl, whisk all the liquid ingredients. Dip the chicken tenderloins in the egg mixture and let rest for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the almond coating.

  3. Place the almonds in a grinder or small food processor and pulse in 5-second bursts until it forms a coarse crumb.

  4. In a bowl, whisk coarse almonds, almond flour, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Pick up the chicken tenderloins one at a time and place them in the bowl with almond flour coating. Sprinkle coating and press down to allow the coating to stick. 

  5. Place on a baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes then flip and bake for another 7-10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Remove promptly to prevent dry chicken tenders. 

  6. Add all the Nashville hot sauce ingredients to a saucepan. Stir over low heat until combined. Mixture may not be completely smooth and that's okay. Coat tenders in the sauce or serve sauce on the side. Enjoy!

Tips

**You can air fry leftover chicken tenders and toss on top of fresh green salads or into tacos, a sandwich, a wrap, or use as the base of chicken salad.

 

Shenandoah Chicken Thighs

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There’s a trifecta to our favorite chicken thighs: Crispy skin. Rich juicy flavor. Fall-off-the-bone texture. These marinate in a garlicky balsamic-honey glaze that gives the meat a rich sweet-tangy-umami flavor that is unforgettable. We make these on repeat for parties and weekend family dinners.

This recipe yields 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 chicken thighs
  • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
  • ¼ lemon, juiced
  • ½ cup soy sauce
  • ½ cup red wine
  • ½ cup aceto balsamico
  • ⅛ teaspoon of black pepper
  • ¼ cup of honey
  • 4 chicken thighs
  • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
  • ¼ lemon, juiced
  • 120 grams soy sauce
  • 120 grams red wine
  • 120 grams aceto balsamico
  • ⅛ teaspoon of black pepper
  • 60 grams of honey

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, add soy sauce, red wine, aceto balsamico, garlic, lemon, honey and black pepper. Whisk together until honey has dissolved. Set aside a half cup of the marinade for later.

  2. Add the chicken thighs to the marinade, skin side down, and let it sit for about four to six hours (or overnight).

  3. Remove the chicken thighs from the marinade, and pat them dry.

  4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit/176 degrees Celcius.

  5. On the stove, heat an oven safe skillet to medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Sear the chicken thighs in the skillet for about two minutes per side. Next, transfer them to the oven and let them cook for about 30 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

  6. In a small pot, add the remaining half cup of marinade and a ¼ cup of aceto balsamic. Let it reduce until it almost caramelizes. Drizzle on top of the chicken and serve. 

 

Rosemary Rhubarb Chicken Thighs

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We think of this as an abbreviated version of a full roast chicken (which is a PrimaFoodie favorite). Because this recipe calls for just thighs rather than the entire chicken, cooking time is reduced, as is clean-up. The result is juicy, sweet, and savory. (And your house will smell amazing.)

This recipe yields 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 chicken thighs
  • 4 tablespoons ghee, melted
  • 1 onion, roughly chopped
  • 5 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2 cups rhubarb, roughly chopped
  • 2 carrots, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  • 4 chicken thighs
  • 4 tablespoons ghee, melted
  • 1 onion, roughly chopped
  • 5 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 256 grams rhubarb, roughly chopped
  • 2 carrots, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 60 ml chicken broth

Directions

1. Place chicken thighs in a baking dish. Salt and pepper both sides of the thighs. 

2. Mix together ghee, onion, garlic, bone broth, rosemary, thyme, and fennel. Spread over the chicken. 

3. Bake at 425 degrees Fahrenheit/218 celsius for 25 minutes. 

4. Remove from the oven and add the rhubarb, carrots, and honey to the baking dish. Mix to coat the chicken.

5. Bake for another 20 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit/218 celsius.  

 

Spicy Super Bowl Wings

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There’s a reason why wings are the quintessential party protein: They’re easy to make and complement most any side dish or dip. Plus, the dark meat on chicken is hard to mess up, which means these make for moist, tender bites every time. Just make sure you make extra for unexpected guests. 

This recipe yields about 25 wings

INGREDIENTS

  • 3 pounds chicken wings
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 3 teaspoons crushed red pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil
  • 4 kg chicken wings
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 3 teaspoons crushed red pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon olive oil

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit / 220 degrees Celsius.
2. In a large bag combine all ingredients except the olive oil and shake well. Set in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
3. After the chicken has been in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, remove and add the olive oil to the bag. Shake well.
4. Place the wings on a baking tray lined with parchment paper taking care to space them evenly on the tray.
5. Bake for 20 minutes. Then flip and bake for another 15 minutes. Then flip once more for another 5 minutes.


TIPS

**Serve with Primal Kitchen Ranch Dip or any of your favorite dips.

 

Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

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While the origins of this beloved dish are widely contested (some say it was created in Britain, others say its roots are firmly planted in India), the fact remains that this hearty meal has won countless hearts because of how cooking it in a tandoor oven lends it a smoky, layered flavor. Our variation calls for a slow cooker oven, which allows for the same richness from the ghee, tomatoes, and fresh onions to meld together to make this slightly sweet, complex, indulgently rich meal.

This recipe yields 6 servings

INGREDIENTS


  • For Tikka Masala:
  • 3 lbs chicken breast, cubed
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon ghee
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons garam masala
  • 1 tablespoon turmeric
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 can tomato paste (6 ounces)
  • 1/2 can full fat coconut
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt

  • For Cauliflower Rice:
  • 1 head cauliflower
  • 1 tablespoon ghee
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt

  • For Tikka Masala:
  • 1.3 kilograms chicken breast, cubed
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 120 ml chicken broth
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon ghee
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons garam masala
  • 1 tablespoon turmeric
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 can tomato paste (170 g)
  • 1/2 can full fat coconut
  • 1 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt

  • For Cauliflower Rice:
  • 1 head cauliflower
  • 1 tablespoon ghee
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt

Directions

1. Put all ingredients except the coconut milk into a slow cooker or dutch oven and cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours stirring every few hours.
2. Add coconut milk and stir.
3. Use the grater attachment on a food processor to chop cauliflower into rice.
4. In a skillet over medium heat, add ghee, cauliflower rice and sea salt.
5. Cook for 5 minutes or until rice is soft.
6. Serve Tikka Masala over top of cauliflower rice.


 

Turmeric and Sesame Chicken Tenders

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It’s all about the crisp when it comes to perfect chicken tenders, which these deliver on. Coconut flour lends a nuttiness and the sesame seeds an additional crunch. Serve these with your favorite dipping sauce, atop fresh mixed greens, or next to our Green Lentil and Squash Salad. They’ll please the kids and adults in your household. 

This recipe yields 6 chicken strips

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 ½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into strips
  • ¼ cup coconut flour
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 6 tablespoons white sesame seeds
  • 1 tablespoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 680 g boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into strips
  • 32 g coconut flour
  • 60 ml olive oil
  • 6 tablespoons white sesame seeds
  • 1 tablespoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit / 190 degrees Celsius.

  2. Place three flat glass baking dishes on the counter. In the first dish, spread the coconut flour. In the second, pour the olive oil. In the third dish, mix sesame seeds, turmeric, cayenne, sea salt and black pepper.

  3. Slice chicken thighs into long strips, about 3 per thigh. Take each strip and dip it in the coconut flour (shaking off excess), then in the olive oil, then in the sesame mixture, and place them evenly spaced on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.

  4. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit / 190 degrees Celsius on convection for fifteen minutes, then flip and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until chicken is crispy and cooked through.

  5. Serve with your choice of dipping sauce.

TIPS

**For dipping sauce, I recommend my tahini dressing. For a sweeter option, mix 1 part stone ground mustard with 1 part honey. 

 
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Whole Roast Chicken

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Cooking a whole chicken is a little less intimidating than cooking a whole turkey, but in both cases, avoiding a dry bird is the goal. The key to this recipe’s moist and tender meat is ensuring the chicken is fully bathed in the lemon juice and spice mixture. In addition to yielding tender pieces, the process also results in a bright, mouthwatering flavor. 

This recipe yields 1 roast chicken

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 5-pound whole chicken
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 2.25 kg whole chicken
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon oregano

Directions

1. Remove chicken from refrigerator 20 minutes before desired baking time, allowing it to come closer to room temperature. 

2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit / 200 degrees Celsius. 

3. Drizzle lemon juice into the bottom of a clear glass baking dish large enough to fit chicken. Add all spices to dish.

4. Using cold water, thoroughly rinse chicken in an empty sink. Remove innards.

5. Dry chicken thoroughly with a paper towel.  

6. Use sea salt to salt the top and underside of skin.

7. Place prepared chicken in baking dish, using your hands to rub juice and spice mixture until the entire chicken is covered. For extra flavor, be sure to get under the skin.

8. Place in oven and bake for 1 hour.  

Tips

**I use a Le Creuset baking dish with a lid. After 45 minutes in the oven, remove lid to brown and crisp the outside of the chicken skin for the last 15 minutes. 

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What's the Deal With Bone Broth?

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Consuming broth is an ancient tradition found across many different cultures. Bone broth specifically has gained popularity in recent years, and for good reason. Today, many tout this nutrient dense broth, which is made by slowly simmering animal bones, for helping to reduce inflammation, heal the gut, increase joint health, and improve sleep. As the bones and connective tissue cook down, they release minerals, essential fatty acids, collagen, vitamins A and K, and other vital nutrients into the water, transforming it into a "liquid gold” superfood. (In truth, bone broth is more of hearty stock than a broth.)  

A cup of bone broth with a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of sea salt is a hydrating and healing way to start the day. To maximize health benefits, it’s best to consume bone broth on an empty stomach. While filling enough to be consumed on its own, bone broth can also be used as a foundational building block for other recipes. I like to use it as a base for my favorite soups, or as a way to add rich flavor to grains and steamed vegetables.

While high quality, pure bone broths are becoming easier to find, I advocate for making your own. It’s surprisingly easy, and makes for a sustainable way to use leftover bones and vegetable scraps.

How to Make Bone Broth

Gather the goods. A flavorful, rich bone broth is made simply from bones and water. I also often add herbs and vegetable scraps for added flavor and nutrients. Rather than throw away bones, I store them in bags marked “Chicken,” “Beef,” or “Pork,” in my freezer.  If you need bones, ask your local butcher for stock bones, or chicken feet, necks, and backs. These parts of the chicken are often quite high in cartilage, which make for a rich stock. [While using previously roasted bones adds flavor to your broth, it is not necessary to roast or blanch the bones beforehand.] I also keep a bag of vegetable scraps in my freezer. (Carrots, onions, and celery make for great stock, but more sulfurous vegetables like broccoli and kale tend to add a strange flavor.) You can also rescue wilted vegetables from your weekly fridge clean.

Set your simmer. I usually make one type of broth per month, either from the bones of chicken, pork, or beef. When one of my freezer bags is full, I start the simmering process. Fill a large pot with your bones and enough water to fully submerge everything. Bring to a boil and skim the white foam (impurities) that rises to the surface. Add vegetables and herbs and lower to a very gentle simmer. If you boil your stock for too long, you will effectively pasteurize it, killing beneficial enzymes. The simmering process is long to allow the bones to release the maximum amount of nutrients. Chicken usually takes 24-36 hours, Beef simmers for 48-72 hours. Wait until you have a gelatinous, liquid gold.

Strain your stock. Once your bone broth has reached the appropriate consistency, it’s time to strain and store. I use a three-step straining system, which yields a smooth, velvety liquid. Allow your broth to cool [enough to handle safely], then place the pot in or near the sink. Using a spoon or a scoop, remove the bones and scraps. Then, using a strainer, pour your stock into a large bowl. I use a gravy strainer for the final step, pouring the liquid from the bowl into a series of Mason jars. Be sure not to fill the jars above the shoulder (where the jar begins to curve) as the liquid will expand as it freezes. I label and date each one, store them in the refrigerator if they need further cooling, or directly in the freezer for long term storage.

There are many ways to experiment with your bone broth. I often add a tablespoon of collagen and various spices to add nutrition and zest. One of my favorite sources for broth recipes is Craig Fear, of Fearless Eating. I encourage you to experiment with your own cup of “liquid gold,” and note how your body feels after you develop this healthy habit. It is important to note that while bone broth is especially healing for the gut, it’s not recommended if you are adhering to a SIBO diet. The bone broth can be made without cartilage, but it is a cumbersome process, and less delicious, so perhaps wait until you have healed enough to incorporate cartilage into your diet.