Healthy eating is an important part of staying physically and mentally fit. Of course, this can have its challenges such as finding meals, prep, time for healthy options outside the home, and using the money for nicer things. Fortunately, we can consider the benefits of cooking healthy recipes at home which also saves your money and make an overall healthy eating lifestyle, more enjoyable. Let’s see how.
Healthy recipes – Chicken Thighs With Hoisin Rice
If you want to develop your skills in the kitchen there are many cooking recipe articles and tutorials that show you different techniques and ingredients that you can incorporate into your healthy diet.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp. coconut oil
- 8 skinless chicken thighs
- scant 1 cup (200g) jasmine rice
- 4 spring onions, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, sliced
- ⅓ cup (200ml) white wine
- 2 cups (500ml) chicken stock
- 4 tbsp. dried cranberries
For the sauce:
- 3 tbsp. soy sauce
- 2 tbsp. of rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp. of peanut butter
- 1 tsp. of chili flakes
- 1 tsp. of honey
- 1 tsp. of sesame oil
Method
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large pan, heat the coconut oil.
- Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper and fry for 5 minutes each side until golden brown, then take off the heat and transfer onto a plate.
- Pour out most of the fat from the pan, leaving about 1 tbsp. in the pan.
- Add into the pan the peeled and sliced garlic and the spring onions. Sauté for 1 minute.
- Add uncooked rice and fry again for about 1 minute. Pour in the wine and cook for a further 2 minutes until most of the liquid evaporates. Next, add all ingredients of hoisin sauce, hot stock, and cranberries, bring to a boil.
- Transfer the rice into an oven safe dish and place the chicken thighs in the center. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
- Once cooked, divide between plates and serve, or store in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.
Preparation
- Preparation Time – 5 mins
- Cooking time – 50 mins
- Serves – 8
Nutritional Intake per serving
- Calories – 336 Kcal
- Carbs – 16 (g)
- Fats – 15 (g)
- Protein – 29 (g)
Food Type
- Diet free
- Gluten free
- High protein
- Low Carb
- Meal prep/Freezer friendly
- Contains Nut
Benefits of homemade healthy recipes
- It saves time– When you’re in a hurry, eating a takeaway from your local supermarket or nearby restaurant may seem like a quick fix. In fact, it is sometimes much faster to cook something at home especially when planning ahead. There are many meals that can be prepared in less than 30 minutes.
- Portion Control– Many restaurants and fast-food outlets serve larger portions than recommended. And the problem is that you can eat the food when it’s right in front of you. You can adjust the amount of food served at dinner when you eat to eliminate unnecessary temptations. Do you know these eating patterns can actually impact you daily? Know more.
- Healthy Ingredients– Many commercial foods are high in fat, salt, and sugar. When we prepare our food, we know what the ingredients are and what each one does in our food.
- Avoid food allergies and sensitivities– Preparing meals at home can be especially helpful if you or a family member has food allergies (1). You can reduce the problem of allergies because you can control them in your own kitchen.
- Bring the family together – Eating at home gives the whole family time to talk about their day. Involving your kids in food preparation is not only fun but wonderful. Also, a way to learn healthy eating habits.
- Save Money – Eating a home-cooked meal is much cheaper than eating out at a restaurant or buying processed food from the market. You pay not only your bill but also the costs of running your business. Water, lights, and staff in the building – except for the food we eat. The same goes for ready-made and frozen foods at the grocery store.
“Eating healthy, clean and nutrient-rich food fills your body with energy, nutrients, and antioxidants. Imagine your cells smiling back at you saying thanks!!”
