Recipe: Spicy Avocado-Stuffed Lime Chicken Breast
Ingredients:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (around 6 oz each)
- 2 ripe avocados
- 1 jalapeno pepper
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 limes, divided
- 5 oz shredded low-fat mozzarella
Cooking Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). While the oven is heating up, slice your chicken breasts in half, but do not cut all the way through. You should be left with a ‘pocket’ you can stuff.
- In a bowl, combine the ripe avocados, minced jalapeno pepper, minced garlic, roughly chopped cilantro leaves, juice of 2 limes, cumin, salt, and pepper. Mix it all together until you’ve created a chunky, spicy guacamole.
- Stuff each chicken breast with a generous amount of the spicy avocado mixture, then carefully seal each one. You can use toothpicks or kitchen twine to ensure the filling stays put while they’re cooking.
- Heat a large, oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Add the olive oil and, once it’s hot, add the stuffed chicken breasts. Sear each one for about 5 minutes on each side until they’ve got a nice, golden exterior.
- Move the skillet to the preheated oven, and bake the chicken for about 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked through.
- Remove the skillet from the oven, and sprinkle a bit of shredded low-fat mozzarella on top of each chicken breast. Cover the skillet with a lid or some aluminum foil, and let the residual heat melt the cheese.
- Slice the remaining two limes into wedges. Serve each chicken breast with a couple of lime wedges.
Nutritional Information Per Serving:
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 52g
- Fat: 22g
- Carbs: 14g
Plating:
Place one stuffed chicken breast in the center of a flat, round plate. The golden-brown surface of the chicken beautifully contrasts with the melted cheese on top. Alongside the chicken, arrange two lime wedges. The aim is to create a visually appealing dish—like a painting—that has its own colors, textures, and of course, tastes. The final touch of a sprinkle of fresh cilantro leaves adds a pop of color, enhancing the plate’s overall look.