Cardamom Chicken Breast with Roasted Pumpkin, Warm Chickpea Spinach Salad, and Light Tahini Yogurt Cream
An original, balanced dish with an aromatic profile: chicken breast marinated with cardamom, lemon, and garlic, served with roasted pumpkin, a warm chickpea and spinach salad with red onion, and a light tahini yogurt cream. Designed for the Diabetic-Friendly category, using everyday ingredients in a simple yet elegant preparation.
Important notice: This recipe is not medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional.
Ingredients
- 680 g skinless chicken breast (cut en 4 porciones)
- 500 g pumpkin (pelada and diced medium)
- 240 g cooked chickpeas (escurridos)
- 120 g fresh spinach (lavada)
- 160 g plain Greek yogurt (without sugar)
- 30 g tahini (for the cream)
- 80 g red onion (en pluma fina)
- 12 g garlic (chopped or grated)
- 1 unit lemon (3 tbsp de jugo en total)
- 45 ml olive oil (divided)
- 20 g pumpkin seeds (tostadas lightly)
- 2 g ground cardamom (for the chicken)
- 2 g ground cumin (for the ensalada tibia)
- 2 g sweet paprika (for the calabaza)
- 10 g fresh parsley (chopped)
- 6 g salt (or to taste)
- 2 g black pepper (freshly ground)
Nutrition facts
per serving
Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.
Allergens
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 220 °C / 425 °F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- 2
In a bowl, mix 1 tablespoon olive oil, half of the garlic, the ground cardamom, lemon zest, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and a little black pepper. Rub the chicken breasts with this mixture and let them rest while you prepare the remaining components.
- 3
Place the pumpkin in another bowl and toss it with 1 tablespoon olive oil, sweet paprika, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and a little pepper. Spread it on the tray and roast for 15 minutes at 220 °C / 425 °F.
- 4
Remove the tray from the oven, push the pumpkin to the sides, and place the chicken breasts in the center. Roast everything together for 14 to 16 more minutes at 220 °C / 425 °F, or until the chicken is fully cooked and the pumpkin is tender and browned.
- 5
Meanwhile, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the red onion and cook for 3 minutes until slightly softened. Stir in the remaining garlic and the ground cumin, and cook for 30 seconds more.
- 6
Add the chickpeas to the skillet with 1 tablespoon lemon juice, a pinch of salt, and black pepper. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring, until heated through. Add the spinach and cook for 1 minute, just until wilted. Turn off the heat and mix in the parsley.
- 7
In a small bowl, combine the Greek yogurt with the tahini, the last tablespoon of lemon juice, and 1 to 2 tablespoons of water if needed to loosen the texture. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper until smooth and creamy.
- 8
Lightly toast the pumpkin seeds in a dry skillet for 1 to 2 minutes over medium heat, stirring, until fragrant. Remove from the heat.
- 9
Let the chicken rest for 3 minutes out of the oven. Serve each portion with roasted pumpkin, the warm chickpea spinach salad, a spoonful of tahini yogurt cream, and finish with the pumpkin seeds on top.
Chef tips
For juicier results, make sure the chicken breasts are of similar thickness. If they are very thick, butterfly them slightly before marinating. The tahini yogurt cream also works very well as a dip for raw vegetables the next day.
Substitutions
You can replace the pumpkin with diced sweet potato, adjusting the roasting time if needed. Spinach can be swapped for tender chard. If you do not have cardamom, use a small amount of cinnamon mixed with black pepper for a different but aromatic profile.
What I used to make it
Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.
Illustrative imageNinja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
Illustrative imageCosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
Illustrative imageTempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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