Sweet and Spicy Chicken Breast
Did you know that dates grow on date palm trees? This sweet fruit is a staple food in the Middle East and is often used as a sugar substitute in many recipes, especially desserts! Today I’m using these sweet dried dates in a savoury way!
Sweet and Spicy Chicken Breast
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- 2 very ripe mangoes, cut in cubes
- 4-5 dried dates, chopped
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 spicy pepper , minced
- 1/2 lemon juice
- Pepper to taste
- Extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the mangoes, dates, paprika, salt and pepper, spicy pepper , lemon juice and a very generous drizzle of olive oil.
- With a masher (or a fork), mash everything up to make a chunky marinade sauce. Set aside for 15-20 min so the dates can absorb the juices .
- Salt the chicken and add them into the marinade bowl and mix well. Cover and let marinate in the fridge for 30 min.
- Preheat oven to 450F (or preheat the BBQ). When chicken is done marinating, place the breasts on a lined baking sheet, bake for 25-30 min or until the internal cooking temperature reaches 165F. I like to finish off by broiling them for 2-3 min. If you prefer the BBQ, then grill on medium-high heat for 10-15 min, turning them over at the halfway point. DO NOT discard the leftover marinade.
- Take the leftover marinade and pour into a small sauce pan. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer for 10 min (to kill any bacteria from the chicken). Feel free to add a bit of water and olive oil if it’s too thick. This will make a beautiful chunky sauce!
- When ready to serve, add some of that sweet chunky sauce on chicken and Enjoy!
