I wrote the other day about my love for lemons, their brightness lifts many a dish; both sweet and savoury, they are one of my kitchen essentials.
Here I used lemon to add a touch of zing to chicken, served as a bowl. We eat bowls fairly often – not literally crunching the crockery – but a bowl meal – vegetables, grains and protein all served as one complete meal in a bowl.   Bowls are infinitely adaptable; serve warm, hot or cold, they cater for all tastes, if you want to be healthier you can add far more vegetables, if you need comforting, then add in some extra carbs.   I cook with my next bowl in mind – steam extra grains, marinade some extra protein, buy an extra bag of salad leaves – all are perfect for a bowl.
For this bowl I layered peppery crunch watercress, gently steamed tenderstem broccoli, a cup of leftover steamed brown rice and some roasted butternut squash from the fridge.  I cooked some chicken – the only really hands on part of the process – it had been prepped in advance – cut up and frozen in its marinade; a useful trick to maximise flavour. The hot chicken wilted some of the leaves, and to finish off I scattered some seeds over for extra flavour and texture.  Delicious!
Recipe: Lemon Chicken Bowl
Ingredients
- Juice of 1 small lemon
- 2 tbs light soy sauce
- 2 tbs olive oil
- 1 large chicken breast – cut into 1/2" cubes
Instructions
- Whisk the lemon juice, soy sauce and oil together with a fork and pour over the chicken pieces.
- Leave to marinade for an hour or so, or pack into a plastic box, or jam jar and freeze.
- To cook simply fry the chicken in a splash of oil until cooked through. Pour over the remains of the marinade at the end of the cooking and let it simmer and thicken for a few minutes.
Made With Pink
Wow Helen, this seriously looks amazing! So simple, but so fresh and delicious. I’ve been struggling to come up with some simple healthy meals, and this ticks all the boxes. Live the idea of freezing in marinades. Will definitely be making it this week!
Helen
Thanks Andrea. Simple but healthy and importantly delicious and satisfying.
Katie Bryson
I’m with you Helen, lemon is a brilliant ingredient. I like to add the zest of a lemon to my tomato sauce for pasta, just lifts it into the heavens!!! I’m loving the look of your lemon chicken bowl – fresh, green and delicious – I could eat that right this second!!!
Helen
Thank you Katie. I must blog more bowls. So easy, and so delicious!
Franglais kitchen, Nazima
A gorgeous idea. Love lemon too. I love the idea of bowl food – such a comfort in the winter to hold the bowl of warm food. I do freeze in marinade too sometimes but should do more often as the effect is so much better.