Quick Meals using Dark Meat Chicken

You’ve learned how to use the white breast meat from the rotisserie chicken but now what to do with the dark meat? Below are a couple of recipes.

Asian Lettuce Wraps

          2 cups cooked dark chicken meat, minced

          1 small can water chestnuts, minced

         ½ cup red onion, minced

         2 medium carrots, shredded

         1 clove garlic, minced

         2 T Thai Basil, finely chopped

         1 T fresh grated ginger or 

               minced pickled ginger

         1 tsp Chinese 5 spice

        ¼ cup bottled General’s Tso’s sauce, 

                   Sweet Chili Sauce, or Orange Sauce

        1 T Soy Sauce

        1 T vegetable, canola or sunflower oil

        1 tsp sesame oil

        Leaves of lettuce – such as iceberg, romaine, red leaf, or butter

In a medium skillet heat vegetable oil over medium heat and add red onion. Cook for two minutes until slightly translucent. Add chicken, water chestnuts, carrot, garlic , basil, ginger, 5 spice, soy sauce and sesame and stir two minutes more. Turn heat to low and add ¼ cup sauce and stir gently till coated. Let warm for 5 minutes more, stirring often.  Serve warm in lettuce leaves.

Mexican Chicken, Beans and Rice

                2 cups cooked dark chicken meat, chopped

                ½ cup onion, diced

                1 clove garlic, minced

                1 can cooked black beans, drained and rinsed

                1 package pre-cooked Mexican rice, heated

                2 cups bottled salsa, taco sauce, enchilada sauce

                2 T fresh cilantro finely chopped or 1 tsp dried cilantro (parsley can substitute)

                1 tsp ground cumin

                1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

                2 T oil (vegetable, canola, olive, or sunflower)

                Shredded lettuce, shredded cheese & sliced avocado for garnish

In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until translucent. Add garlic and stir one minute more. Add chicken with herbs and spices and cook for two minutes. Finally  add beans, rice and sauce. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring often. Serve hot, topped with cheese, lettuce and avocado.