Lemon Thyme Chicken Breast with Cauliflower Turnip Mash, Sautéed Kale, and Crispy Spiced Chickpeas
🩺 Diabetic-Friendly
Intermediate

Lemon Thyme Chicken Breast with Cauliflower Turnip Mash, Sautéed Kale, and Crispy Spiced Chickpeas

An original, balanced main dish for the Diabetic-Friendly category: seared lemon thyme chicken breast served with a smooth cauliflower and turnip mash, garlic sautéed kale, and oven-crisp spiced chickpeas.

20 minPrep
30 minCook
50 minTotal
4Servings
Gluten-FreeLow CarbHigh ProteinDiabetic-Friendly

Important notice: This recipe is not medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional.

Ingredients

Adjust servings
4
  • 680 g skinless chicken breast (en 4 pieces)
  • 1 unit lemon (3 tbsp de jugo, dividido)
  • 8 g fresh thyme (leaves chopped)
  • 4 cloves garlic (chopped, divided)
  • 45 ml olive oil (divided)
  • 4 g smoked paprika (divided)
  • 2 g ground cumin (divided)
  • 8 g salt (or to taste, divided)
  • 2 g black pepper (divided)
  • 240 g cooked chickpeas, drained (well dry)
  • 500 g cauliflower (en floretes)
  • 250 g turnip (pelado and diced)
  • 120 g plain unsweetened Greek yogurt (for the puree)
  • 180 g kale (without stalks duros, troceada)
  • 60 ml water (for ajustar the puree si hace falta)

Nutrition facts

per serving

395 kcal
Calories
43 g
Protein
21 g
Carbs
15 g
Fat
6 g
Fiber
15 g
Net carbs

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

Dairy

Instructions

  1. 1

    Preheat the oven to 220 °C / 425 °F. Pat the cooked drained chickpeas very dry with a clean towel.

  2. 2

    In a bowl, toss the chickpeas with 15 ml (1 tbsp) olive oil, 2 g (3/4 tsp) smoked paprika, 1 g (1/4 tsp) ground cumin, 2 g (1/4 tsp) salt, and a pinch of black pepper. Spread them on a baking tray and roast for 20 to 25 minutes at 220 °C / 425 °F, shaking halfway through, until golden and crisp.

  3. 3

    Meanwhile, place the cauliflower and turnip in a medium pot with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, reduce to medium heat, and cook for 15 to 18 minutes until very tender. Drain well.

  4. 4

    Transfer the drained cauliflower and turnip to a processor or mash by hand. Add the plain unsweetened Greek yogurt, 15 ml (1 tbsp) lemon juice, half of the lemon zest, 1 chopped garlic clove, 2 g (1/4 tsp) salt, and 15 ml (1 tbsp) olive oil. Blend or mash until smooth. If you want a looser texture, add up to 60 ml (1/4 cup) water. Keep covered and warm.

  5. 5

    Season the skinless chicken breasts with the remaining smoked paprika, remaining ground cumin, 2 g (1/4 tsp) salt, black pepper, fresh thyme, the rest of the lemon zest, and 30 ml (2 tbsp) lemon juice.

  6. 6

    Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat with 15 ml (1 tbsp) olive oil. Sear the chicken breasts for 2 to 3 minutes per side.

  7. 7

    Transfer the skillet to the oven and cook the chicken for 8 to 12 minutes at 200 °C / 400 °F, or until fully cooked. Remove and let rest for 5 minutes.

  8. 8

    In another large skillet, heat the remaining 15 ml (1 tbsp) olive oil over medium heat. Add the remaining 3 garlic cloves and cook for 30 seconds. Add the kale, 2 g (1/4 tsp) salt, and a little black pepper. Sauté for 3 to 5 minutes until the kale is tender but still bright green.

  9. 9

    To serve, divide the cauliflower-turnip mash among the plates. Place a chicken breast on top or alongside, add the sautéed kale, and finish with the crispy spiced chickpeas. Serve hot.

Chef tips

Drying the chickpeas thoroughly before roasting helps them turn crispier. For a silkier mash, blend the vegetables while still warm. If the chicken breasts are very thick, you can loosely cover them with foil during baking to prevent drying out.

Substitutions

You can swap the kale for chard or spinach, adjusting the sauté time. Turnip can be replaced with rutabaga or kohlrabi. If you do not want to use Greek yogurt, try unsweetened coconut yogurt for a dairy-free version, noting that the texture and flavor will change slightly.

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 image: Countertop blenderIllustrative image

    Ninja Professional BL610 Blender

    Smoothies, sauces and soups

    • Smoothies, sauces and soups
    • Easy-to-wash jar
    • Check the power and jar size
    View on Amazon
  • Illustrative image: Air fryerIllustrative image

    Cosori 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
    View on Amazon
  • Illustrative image: Digital kitchen thermometerIllustrative image

    TempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer

    Checking doneness of meat and chicken

    • Checks doneness of meat and chicken
    • Quick reading
    • Clean the probe after each use
    View on Amazon

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