With the popularity of the Sesame Chicken Snack Wraps on last month’s Global News Morning, I new I had to find a way to level up this already amazing recipe. Enter “Spring Chicken Sesame Power Bowls!”
You’ve probably already heard me say that nutritious, delicious, quality protein should be present at every meal and snack. Why? Mainly because when protein is present, the satisfaction factor i.e., satiety/comfortable fullness is also present. Protein is important for every cell in the body and when our day is punctuated at regular intervals with protein, along with colour, healthy fats and whole-grain carbs, we’re better equipped to power through the day with stable energy and blood sugar levels.
For this month’s Alberta Chicken (#partner) recipe, I opted to use boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Ready for the grill, air-fryer, pan or oven, they’re super versatile and a breeze to prepare. I love their flavour and nutrition profile, too. The extra iron and zinc in chicken thighs is something me and my active kids need all year long, but especially now as outdoor sports ramp up. Extra lean chicken breast would also be a winner, or time-saving rotisserie chicken, simply shredded.
The choice is yours!
Spring Chicken Sesame Power Bowls
Grilled chicken thighs are one of the stars in this bright and beautiful power bowl. Energize your week with balanced meals!
Ingredients
Makes 4 bowls
Chicken & Marinade:
- 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs (1 ½ chicken thighs per bowl)
- ¼ cup soy or tamari
- 1 TBSP honey or brown sugar
- 1 TBSP toasted sesame oil
- 1 TBSP rice vinegar
- 1 TBSP freshly grated ginger
- Red pepper flakes to taste
- 1 TBSP sesame seeds (garnish)
Power Bowl
- 2 cups cooked rice (½ cup per bowl)
- 2 cups finely shredded purple cabbage (½ cup per bowl)
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and thinly sliced (¼ cup per bowl)
- 1 cup shelled cooked and chilled edamame beans (¼ cup per bowl)
- 1 red pepper, thinly sliced (¼ per bowl)
- 4 spring onions, thinly sliced (1 per bowl)
- 1 handful cilantro, finely chopped (Optional)
Sesame Dressing:
- 2 TBSP toasted sesame oil
- 2 TBSP olive oil
- 2 TBSP soy sauce
- 2 TBSP rice vinegar
- 1 ½ TBSP pure maple syrup
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 TBSP freshly minced ginger
- 2 TBSP tahini
- Salt & pepper to taste
Directions
Prepare Chicken
- Add marinade ingredients to a shallow baking dish or resealable bag. Mix together. Trim excess fat from chicken, if needed and cut in half. Add chicken to marinade and marinate for 30 minutes (up to 3 hours) in the refrigerator.
- Preheat the grill to medium high, or airfryer to 390-400F and cook chicken for 8-10 minutes, or fully-cooked, tender and golden. Discard marinade.
Mix Dressing
- Add dressing ingredients to a mason jar. Cover and shake well to combine. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Garnish cooked chicken with sesame seeds and allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes, then slice each thigh into 4-5 slices.
Assemble Bowls
- Assemble 4 power bowls by dividing ingredients and layering. Chicken on top. Add desired amount of dressing just before ready to enjoy.
- Cover remaining bowls and store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Recipe Tips:
- Store fresh ginger in the freezer for easier grating.
- Opt for Jasmine rice or sticky rice if enjoying this power bowl as your pre-workout meal. Consider swapping rice with a higher fibre grain such as quinoa, farro or barley if enjoying this meal after a workout, or when higher fibre meals are generally better tolerated.
- Swap soy sauce for tamari for a gluten free option
- Short on time? Skip the grill. Shred store-ready rotisserie chicken as a quick protein solution.
- No tahini? No problem. Use peanut butter and swap seeds for chopped peanuts!
If you’re curious about the full back story and more spring inspired, healthy habit recipes, check out my previous blog post on Growing Healthy Habits, or watch the latest Global News spot, here. Take care, friends!
Joyfully,
Emily
Emily Mardell is a Registered Dietitian, busy mama of three and proud Alberta foodie. Emily is passionate about quality ingredients and creating delicious, nourishing recipes that bring families together. Follow her on social media @GetJoyfull or GetJoyfull.com for nutrition advice and tips to grow food joy and fill up on family time.
Disclaimer: This post was created in partnership with Alberta Chicken Producers. Special thanks to ACP for their ongoing support to Food Banks Alberta and community food security during the holidays and beyond. From this Dietitian Mama, and local food banks province-wide, thank you farmers!