Sweet/spicy lentil sauce with chicken

Posted by Ben On July - 29 - 2008 Under Entrées, Salsas and Sauces

I love it when dinners come together easily. Especially when I don’t feel like doing anything, like these past days. I don’t know if it is the summer, the fact that I want to go to the beach or just that I am lazy, but just the thought of spending hours in the kitchen cooking (or doing anything there for that matter) is not very appealing right now. That’s why last night’s dinner was a success in my book. I had some chicken, lentils that I had just cooked, and a can of pineapple. What can you do with those ingredients? I put them all in a big pot, say the magic words and this is what came out:

Grilled/baked chicken with sweet/spicy lentil sauce
Serves: 2
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes

For this recipe you will need:

  • 2 chicken breasts, cleaned
  • 2 TBSP olive oil
  • 1/2 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 cup cooked lentils
  • 1 14oz (200 gr) can pineapple chunks, drained
  • 1 14oz (200 gr) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 chipotle adobado pepper
  • 1 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp fresh parsley chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

  1. Season and slightly grill chicken breasts. Set apart in a baking sheet, they will go into the oven later.
  2. Preheat oven to 350ºF (175ºC)
  3. In a saucepan sautee onion and garlic in olive oil over medium heat.
  4. Add lentils, pineapple, tomatoes, pepper and oregano. Bring to a boil. Stir constantly.
  5. Reduce heat, and let simmer for 5 minutes. Season to taste.
  6. Pour lentil sauce over chicken breasts and bake for 10 to 15 minutes.
  7. Serve chicken over white rice and enjoy.

About this recipe:

  • The recipe was easy, fast, very filling and tasty. The sweet and spicy flavors blended really well with the lentils, chicken and rice. I just love that combination of spicy and sweet foods.
  • With all those lentils, rice and fruit this was also a very nutritious and inexpensive dinner.

Now if you excuse me, I am going to lie down for a while. It’s hot, humid and the air very poluted here in central Ohio. I need another easy dinner for tonight.

¡Buen provecho!

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17 Replies

  1. Christina Said,

    This sounds great! Lentils are my favorite, so it’s nice to find different recipes for using them. The pineapple in the sauce is a great addition.

    Posted on July 29th, 2008 at 2:57 pm

  2. Peter Said,

    Good use of that bag of lentils you had and you’re not alone…I’m extremely lazy of late.

    Posted on July 29th, 2008 at 7:11 pm

  3. Peter G Said,

    That’s the best way to cook sometimes Ben…throw it all in and hope for success! Seems to have worked for you amigo!

    Posted on July 29th, 2008 at 8:36 pm

  4. Adam Said,

    Awesome way to keep it simple and easy Ben. Life is too short to spend a year cooking in the heat. Sit back and have a brew with that chicken. Nice. Oh, and it’s time to get ready for your inaugural Baking Event. Get the game face on dude.

    Posted on July 29th, 2008 at 8:41 pm

  5. Elly Said,

    For a lazy throw together meal, this looks incredibly delicious! The flavors sound wonderful together.

    Posted on July 29th, 2008 at 8:50 pm

  6. Kevin Said,

    I have been wanting to try cooking with lentils and this sounds like a really tasty way to do so.

    Posted on July 29th, 2008 at 9:42 pm

  7. [eatingclub] vancouver || js Said,

    Lentils. . .so unexpected in a sauce, but it works. Great stuff.

    Posted on July 29th, 2008 at 10:48 pm

  8. kittie Said,

    Lentil sauces get my vote – I’ve been meaning to cook more with them for some time now!

    Posted on July 30th, 2008 at 6:32 am

  9. Ivy Said,

    It’s nice to experiment, whatever the outcome. This looks great and it’s always good to have more recipes with lentils.

    Posted on July 30th, 2008 at 10:47 am

  10. courtney Said,

    No DB’s? I need to strat using lentils moree.

    Posted on July 30th, 2008 at 7:38 pm

  11. canarygirl Said,

    Ooooh! What a fantastic idea, Ben! Lentejas are one of my very favorite things. :D

    Posted on July 31st, 2008 at 2:08 am

  12. kat Said,

    oh that sounds like a good one!

    Posted on July 31st, 2008 at 9:14 am

  13. kellypea Said,

    Hahahaha! Good to know there’s someone as lazy as me out there right now. The pineapple with that chipotle adobado sounds really good. I would never have thought of the lentils with that combo, but I can see how it would really work. YUM! We’re going out to eat tonight. NO COOKING.

    Posted on August 2nd, 2008 at 5:45 pm

  14. Elly Said,

    Made a version of this a couple weeks ago and finally got around to blogging it. Thanks for the great dinner!

    http://ellysaysopa.vox.com/library/post/sweet-spicy-chicken-and-lentil-stew.html

    Posted on August 27th, 2008 at 5:21 pm

  15. Elly Said,

    I made a version of this a couple weeks ago and finally got around to blogging it. Thanks for the great dinner!

    http://ellysaysopa.vox.com/library/post/sweet-spicy-chicken-and-lentil-stew.html

    Posted on August 27th, 2008 at 5:22 pm

  16. Sweet & Spicy Chicken and Lentil Stew « elly says opa! Said,

    [...] saw this recipe for chicken in a sweet and spicy lentil sauce over on Ben’s blog, What’s Cooking? I immediately starred it because a) I love [...]

    Posted on September 5th, 2008 at 9:11 pm

  17. Mexican Lentejas Con Fruta (Lentils w/Fruit) | Eating Out Loud Said,

    [...] lentil ideas from other bloggers: Sweet/Spicy Lentil Sauce with Chicken – What’s cooking? Sweet Potato, Lentil & Raisin Stew – The Perfect Pantry Spicy Lentil [...]

    Posted on April 14th, 2009 at 8:04 pm

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