Last week it was absolutely roasting in the Midwest. Our relatively mild summer was slammed with a 90 degree finale. I was meal planning for the week and trying to come up with ideas that required little indoor cooking. I had made this chicken and quinoa salad earlier in the summer and my mom has been bothering me to remake it ever since. Since the recipe requires almost no indoor cooking, it was the perfect dish to make in the oppressive heat.
The chicken portion of this dish is marinated in a mixture of fresh cilantro, lime and various spices, and because it is cut in small pieces and grilled as a kabob, every bite is packed with flavor. The quinoa salad is the perfect accompaniment to the chicken and has a fresh bright flavor from tomatoes, green onions and fresh cilantro and an added creaminess from black beans. A winning combination if you ask me!
I should also note that I made zero changes to this recipe. This almost never happens to me. My friends laugh at me because I usually look at a recipe and think of things I can add or substitute to make the recipe better. The flavors of this recipe, however, are so well balanced that they speak for themselves.
Start by blending cilantro, spices, oil and lime juice for the marinade. Chop 2 pounds of chicken breast into bite size pieces and pour the marinade over chicken. Allow to marinade for at least four hours. I did this step in the morning and let the chicken marinade all day.
Cook the quinoa according to the package directions. Let it cool slightly and then mix in chopped tomatoes, green onions, cilantro and black beans. Whisk together lime juice, olive oil and several spices to create a dressing for the salad. Pour over the quinoa while still slightly warm and toss everything together. This salad can be served at room temperature or cold.
Before serving, place several pieces of chicken on each skewer. Grill the kabobs for 15 minutes on medium high until cooked through. Serve warm over the quinoa.
Cilantro Lime Chicken with Southwestern Quinoa (from My Life as a Mrs)
Ingredients:
For the Cilantro Lime Chicken:
2 pounds (about) boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed into 1 1/2″ cubes
1 cup loosely packed cilantro
2 cloves garlic, grated
2 limes juices (about 1/4 cup)
1/2 cup extra light olive oil (or other mild flavored oil)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
For the Southwestern Quinoa Salad:
1 cup quinoa, rinsed well in a mesh strainer
2 cups vegetable or chicken broth
1/4 cup extra light olive oil
2 limes, juiced (about 1/4 cup)
1 small clove garlic, grated
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne, or more to taste
1 cup halved grape tomatoes
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
4 green onions (scallions), finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
all things bright and beautiful 
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