Kombucha Chicken with Brew Dr.

Did the title of this recipe cause some furrowed eyebrows? Chicken and kombucha may seem like an odd combo—it’s certainly off the beaten path. I had the same furrowed eyebrow reaction when I first heard of using kombucha in savory meals. But kombucha, a bit acidic and a little bit sweet, has all the makings of a great marinade. The same way you might use lemon juice or orange juice in a sauce, you use kombucha here.

Always game to try new things, odd-ball recipes spark my imagination. I wanted to try my hand at a 'bucha flavored marinade. What ultimately pushed me over the edge was talking to the team over at Brew Dr. They asked if I would make a recipe, which was the perfect opportunity to get creative.

This recipe uses Brew Dr.’s new orange-hibiscus kombucha (named Power Flower). It is a limited edition flavor. If you’re unable to find it at your local grocery store, try their Ginger Turmeric or Lemon Ginger Cayenne...) The orange salsa on top brightens the whole dish, like summer has already arrived!

This is a sponsored post: Foraged Dish partnered with Brew Dr. for this recipe. Writing, recipe, and photography is all my own. Working with brands to develop wholesome recipes is one way I keep Foraged Dish going!

I tried this recipe stove-top and grilled. While it works both ways, I strongly recommend grilling. The hot flames sears in flavor.

Kombucha Chicken with Brew Dr.

Published April 30, 2019 by Caitlin Sherwood

Serves: 4   |    Active Time: 20 minutes

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Ingredients:

1 tablespoon Sriracha hot sauce

2 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 inch piece ginger, minced or finely grated

1/2 cup orange kombucha (Brew Dr. Power Flower)

1 lb chicken breast cutlets

For the orange salsa:

1 orange (try cara cara, navel, or valencia)

1/4 cup minced cilantro

2 tablespoons minced red onion

1 small jalapeño, minced

1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions:

1. In a large Tupperware, combine Sriracha, olive oil, soy sauce, garlic, ginger and kombucha. Stir to combine.
2. Place chicken in Tupperware, covering it in the marinade. Cover and place in fridge for 4-12 hours.
3. Make salsa (this can be done ahead): place orange on a cutting board, and slice off peel. Then, cut segments from orange (here is a good video on how to do this). Discard veins and peel. Dice segments, and place in a small bowl with minced cilantro, red onion, and jalapeño. Drizzle with olive oil and stir.
4. Light grill to medium-high. When grill is hot, use tongs to place chicken cutlets on grill. Allow to cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Use tongs to turn chicken to other side, and brush with extra marinade. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, until chicken is cooked through (165°F internal temperature with an instant read thermometer). Remove from heat.
5. Spoon orange salsa over chicken and serve hot.

Greek Chicken Kabobs

There are two ways to cook this mix of chicken and veggies in a lemon-oregano marinade: grilled, or baked.

Grilled, string everything onto skewers for kabobs. Roast on high until the juices run clear — about 12 minutes total, 6 on each side. You’ll get that fire-touched smokey flavor on the chicken and the onions and the tomatoes. This option is wonderful in the middle of summer, when you are out exploring (camping, at a park, at a potluck, etc), or when you just want to avoid turning on the oven.

Baked, you can skip the skewers and spread everything out on a sheet pan. Roast it all at 450°F for 15-20 minutes, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. On a sheet pan, the juices from the tomatoes, mushrooms, and chicken swirl together in the pan, creating a flavorful pan sauce. It makes the dish juicy which is delicious over rice. This version is best for weeknights or wintertime — when lighting the grill (or even going outside) is off the table.

In both versions, the chicken turns out super tender, thanks to the lemony marinade. That same marinade is what gives the whole dish it’s Greek-inspired flavor. They are a little spot of sunshine in the middle of a wintery week, but also perfect for summer grilling season (once that finally arrives!).

Greek Chicken Kabobs

Published January 29, 2018 by Caitlin Sherwood

Serves: 6   |    Active Time: 30 minutes

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Ingredients:

For the chicken:

Juice from 1 lemon

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary

Sprinkle of red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 pound chicken breast, cubed

For the kabobs:

1 red onion, chopped into bite-sized pieces

2 bell peppers, chopped into bite-sized pieces

1 cup mushrooms (crimini, baby bella, or white)

1 cup cherry tomatoes

1/2 cup Kalamata olives

1 tablespoon olive oil

Garnish: 2 tablespoons minced parsley

Directions:

1. Marinate the chicken: in an airtight container, combine the lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, oregano, thyme, rosemary, red pepper flakes, and salt. Add chicken, and stir to combine. Close container and place in fridge for at least 4 hours (up to 24).
2. For grilling: Light and preheat grill to high.
3. For oven: Preheat oven to 450°F.
4. Place chopped veggies and olives in a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, and stir so everything is coated.
5. Assemble kabobs: Working with one kabob stick at a time, skewer chicken, vegetables and olives in an alternating pattern. (If you plan to roast in the oven, you can skip this step, and simply spread everything out on a sheet pan).
6. For grilling: Place kabobs on preheated grill and reduce heat to medium-high. Grill, with the lid closed, for 6 minutes, and then turn kabobs and grill on second side for another 6 minutes. Juices should run clear and chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove from grill and serve hot over a bed of rice. Garnish with parsley. For oven: Place sheet pan in pre-heated oven and roast for 15-20 minutes, until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove from oven and use a spatula to serve over rice. Spoon juices from pan over top. Garnish with parsley.

Chickpea Antipasto Salad

In the kitchen, there is the sound of a ticking clock. From the open sliding door on my right, the leaves rustling in the breeze. The high today is seventy-one degrees. The last time I could say that was probably early April, and it feels like a treat. 

We had no idea what to expect when we arrived in McCall. Boise is surrounded by golden dry hills, the city itself an sprawl of big box department stores. But the further north you go the more trees you find, and the grasses begin to turn green. As you coast down the road into McCall's center you spot Lake Payette, like a gem in the rough. 

Here, I'm going to be soaking up the cooler weather -- currently drinking orange cinnamon tea - but back home, I'm still defaulting to no-cook, no-bake, minimal effort meals, like this Chickpea Antipasto Salad. 

This dish is a bit like pasta salad, minus the pasta, and all you do is mix. That's right: skip the oven, skip the stove, and even skip dishes -- it's a one-bowl wonder. 

Antipasto pasta salad is a picnic classic, with olives, artichokes, sun dried tomatoes, and cheese. But I wanted to make a version that didn’t use pasta. Something gluten-free with more nutrients per bite. Chickpeas are the perfect option here — they have a starchy quality that makes them a good filler, though they are also filling, more so than pasta, and in a good way. So there you have it, a way to fill those pasta salad cravings when you don’t want to fill your stomach with pasta.

You can make this salad ahead of time and chill it. Served over a few fresh lettuce leaves, it makes for a great make-ahead lunch in the middle of summer! Or, put everything in a large serving dish and tote your chickpea antipasto salad along to a potluck.

Chickpea Antipasto Salad

Published August 23, 2018 by Caitlin Sherwood

Serves: 4-6   |    Active Time: 10 minutes

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Ingredients:

2 sixteen-ounce cans chickpeas, drained

1/4 cup red onion, minced

1 cup artichoke hearts, quartered and drained

1/2 cup sliced sun dried tomatoes in oil, drained

1/2 cup sliced kalamata olives, pitted and drained

1/3 cup pesto

1/4 cup fresh basil, minced

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/2 cup feta crumbles

Optional: serve over a bed of butterhead lettuce

Directions:

1. In a medium size mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and stir to combine.
2. Serve immediately, or make a day ahead of time, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
3. Optionally, serve over a bed of butterhead lettuce leaves.