Santa Fe Sautéed Chicken & Quinoa

Tired of your typical taco night? Here is a quick and easy spin on a favorite Mexican meal.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 small red onion, diced
• 3-4 gloves garlic, smashed (optional-I love garlic so I use it in everything!)
• 1 package chicken tenders, cubed
• 1/2 bag of steamed corn kernels
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 can diced tomatoes Mexican style with jalapeños, mostly drained (leave some juice)
• 1/2  a  package of Ortega low sodium Taco seasoning (Ortega is gluten-free, if you don't follow a gf diet then use whatever seasoning you prefer)
• 1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
• dash of red pepper flakes
• 1 cup of uncooked quinoa

DIRECTIONS:

• Prepare the cup of quinoa according to directions (generally packaged quinoa requires 15-20 min to cook)
• In a large saute pan heat about 1 tbsp. of olive oil and cook red onions and garlic until soft, stirring often so not to burn either
• Season chicken generously with taco seasoning reserving a bit for seasoning the rest of the veggies at the end
• Add remainder of olive oil to pan and saute chicken until almost cooked through (5-7 min), stirring often, again so nothing overcooks in one spot
• Add corn and black beans, sprinkle with remainder of taco seasoning and heat through
• Add tomatoes with a dash of red pepper and heat through
• Pour mixture over cooked quinoa*
• You may enjoy adding a sprinkle of cheddar cheese, fresh cilantro or a splash of lime juice.

<3 Make it heart healthy and add some avocado! <3

The avocado is virtually the only fruit that has monounsaturated fat (aka good fat).

Buen provecho!

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* Just some knowledge on the power of quinoa (especially if you are gluten free):

(pronounced keen-wah)

Health BenefitsQuinoa seeds contain twice the protein of rice, though it's the quality of the protein that stands out. With all nine essential amino acids, including lysine, quinoa is considered a complete protein.
If you suffer from migraines, make quinoa a regular part of your diet; it's rich in both vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and magnesium, two nutrients that may help decrease the frequency of these headaches. Magnesium may also help prevent hypertension and osteoporosis while riboflavin may ward off cataracts. Quinoa also contains vitamins B6 and E as well as high levels of iron and zinc, minerals necessary for a healthy immune system.
Quinoa is also a good source of dietary fiber, packing 5.2 grams per 1 cup serving. Studies show that the fiber from whole grains and seeds protects against breast cancer and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Since it's technically not a grain, quinoa has no gluten, making it typically tolerable for those with celiac disease or grain allergies.

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MAKE THIS VEGETARIAN and substitue extra firm tofu in place of chicken!