The benefits of a fiber-rich diet, along with the increased intake of B-vitamins and a wide variety of minerals, are undisputed. But don’t ignore how great whole grains taste—experiment with the exploding availability of interesting rice blends, unique pastas, and grains like barley.
Lightly mashing up a dish of raspberries with the sweet-tart of vinegar and honey instantly becomes a sauce to dress up grilled chicken or to toss with fresh baby greens. Serve on a bed of quick-cooking quinoa or whole-grain bulgur wheat for a fresh summertime supper.
“Swiss” enchiladas are made with a cheese sauce, a southwestern variation of more traditional enchiladas. This version is stacked in a deep-dish pie plate—a faster technique than filling and rolling up individual tortillas.
Just 5 Cooking Challenge finalist Colleen D. of Kansas City, MO captures the flavors of fall in this protein-rich grilled chicken recipe.
Pad Thai is really just a stir-fried noodle dish, with a sauce that’s a balance of salty, sour, and sweet. It’s a popular street food snack in Thailand, tossed with small dried shrimp and tofu, but strips of chicken add more weight for a main dish. Look for tamarind concentrate, fish sauce, and palm sugar in Asian grocery stores.
A finalist in the 2012 Just Bare Just 5 Cooking Challenge, this recipe comes from Debbie R. of Clearwater, FL. Greek in inspiration, the chunky sauce topping this chicken makes good use of jarred roasted bell peppers, salty feta cheese, and briny olives.
This is a great dish for a cold day. The pistachios and breadcrumbs create a flavorful crunchy crust that pairs perfectly with the plum relish!
Shredded Brussels sprouts are the new coleslaw, teamed up here with sweet cranberries and tangy feta cheese. Earthy quinoa cooks up so quickly it’s easy to make a small amount for coating tender chicken breasts—a nice counterpoint to the crunch of the salad. Bake Your Day created this recipe from an ingredient list submitted by Tanah B., who was a finalist in the Just Bare Chicken +5 Ingredient Challenge.
This dish is impressive and easy—and can grace both a weeknight or celebration table. Serve with a garlicky wild rice pilaf that has sautéed butternut squash and chopped winter kale stirred into it.
For a speedy after-work dinner, get the chicken marinating before you leave the house in the morning. Fragrant jasmine rice rounds out a simple menu—freeze the leftover coconut milk in an ice cube tray to use in a future curry supper. Add a salad of thinly sliced cucumbers or a quick Napa cabbage slaw.