On the Table: Hearty Chicken, Sweet Potato, and Apples

Healthy food can taste good. Really good. Case in point: this one-skillet dish that has become a family favorite for us.

Zack found it on Twitter, from the Beach Body website (here). He challenged, I accepted.

Of course, as is usually the case with recreating an American recipe in Norway, I made some modifications. 

It all starts with the sweet potatoes. A food that made me gag as a child has now become a favorite in my quest for mixing it up when trying to cook healthy.

Two potatoes, ready for baking

And the rest of the ingredients, sitting and waiting while the potatoes bake. I used ground chicken instead of chicken breasts, and I was very pleased with the results.

I also have quite an assortment when it comes to spices. Sage brought from the states. Pepper from Norway. Paprika purchased in Germany. And Hawaiaan sea salt that was a gift from some Norwegian friends. Also included: apples, raisins, red onion, and olive oil.

Apples and onions. With a little OO. Yum.

 Chicken, raisins, and spices.

 Toss that all together.

Throw it all back in the skillet with the diced sweet potatoes, and let it brown a bit. Then get ready to devour it.

Yeah, you can thank me later.

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Hearty Chicken, Sweet Potato & Apples

Ingredients
3 teaspoons Olive oil
1 red onion, chopped
2-3 apples - recipe called for cooking apples, I used what was on hand: Gala - cored, diced (the menu said peeled - I did not peel them)
2 cups cubed baked sweet potato (I baked two medium sweet potatoes)
¼ cup raisins
400 grams (@1 lb) ground chicken
1 tsp. dried sage
¼ tsp. sea salt
¼ tsp. ground black pepper
¼  tsp. paprika

Preparation:

1. Bake the sweet potatoes. (Oven is always best, but use the microwave if you must)
2. Remove from oven. Cool slightly, remove skin, and cut into cubes
3. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
4. Cook chicken, using a little bit of the seasonings listed above (I ended up using more paprika & sage than the recipe suggested). Place in a large bowl.
5. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in the skillet.
6. Add onion and apples; cook, stirring frequently, for 6 to 7 minutes, or until mixture begins to brown. Place in bowl with chicken.
7. Add all other ingredients in the bowl; mix well.
8. Heat remaining 2 tsp. oil in skillet over medium heat.
9. Add mixture, pat into an even layer in pan; cook, without stirring, for about 5 minutes.
10. Stir gently; cook an additional 2 minutes, or until it begins to brown. Serve immediately.

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Get the full recipe at http://www.beachbody.com/beachbodyblog/nutrition/hearty-chicken-sweet-potato-apples