Chicken with Kale and Freeken-Lentil Pilaf

By Heritage330

Ingredients

• Vinaigrette:
• 2 tablespoons cumin seeds
• 1/2 cup Sherry vinegar
• 2 small garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons finely dried cherries
• 2 teaspoons whole grain mustard
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• Kosher salt
• Pilaf and chicken:
• 4 tablespoons (or more) olive oil, divided
• 1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2"-thick cutlets
• Kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 garlic clove, smashed
• 1 pound kale, large center ribs and stems removed, torn into pieces
• 1 cup cooked freekeh
• 1 cup cooked lentils

Preparation

Step 1

For vinaigrette:

Stir cumin in a small dry skillet over medium heat until toasted, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; add vinegar and garlic. Let stand for 30 seconds. Transfer to a blender; add oil and next 3 ingredients. Purée. Season with salt.

For pilaf and chicken:

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large heavy nonstick skillet over medium heat. Season chicken with salt. Working in 2 batches and adding 1 tablespoon oil between batches, cook chicken in single layers until browned on both sides and just cooked through, 2–3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm.

Remove pan from heat; add 1/4 cup water. Stir, scraping up browned bits. Whisk in 1/4 cup vinaigrette. Scrape sauce into a bowl.

Melt butter with 1 tablespoon oil in same skillet over medium-low heat. Add garlic and cook until just beginning to brown, 1–2 minutes. Discard garlic. Working in 3 batches and adding more oil as needed, add kale to skillet and toss until wilted, 1–2 minutes per batch. Transfer to a large bowl. Season lightly with salt. Cover to keep warm.

Add freekeh and lentils to same skillet. Increase heat; stir until warm, 2–3 minutes.

Spoon pilaf onto plates. Top with chicken. Whisk juices from plate with chicken into sauce; drizzle over chicken and pilaf. Top with kale.


Note: Only need 1/4 cup of the vinaigrette. Save the rest for another use.

550 calories, 29 g fat, 28 g carbohydrate