Cleopatra Salad

So the other day I made some Mediterranean Chicken  after going to spend the day looking at the Cleopatra exhibit on display here.  The chicken turned out super yummy.  To go along with this comforting dish you need a fresh side dish.  A salad of some sorts would be a perfect partner.

My Cleopatra Salad is simple, and oh so tasty. With cucumber and tomato as the star ingredients, it's light and healthy, and did I mention it tastes sooo good!  Fresh ingredients with minimal fuss.  Can't get much better than that!  Named after the woman and the exhibit that inspired this dish, beautiful and smart with bright flavors.

This would be an excellent dish served at lunch along with a sandwich, or at dinner as I've done here.  It can be made ahead, but the prep is easy enough to work into your weeknight routine.  This definitely fits the Fast & Fresh definition.

A great dish I'm sure the whole family will enjoy!

Cleopatra Salad

serves 5

2 large cucumbers, peeled, seeded, and diced
2 large roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 T olive oil
2 T red wine vinegar
salt & pepper

In a medium bowl, toss cucumbers and tomatoes.  In a small bowl combine vinegar and olive oil.  Whisk to incorporate.  Drizzle over the vegetables and toss to coat.  Season with salt & pepper.

Mediterranean Chicken

I had the great pleasure of being off from work last week in between the holidays.  Boy, was that nice!  I got to do several things I don't normally have time for, such as re-organizing and sorting out no longer used clothes and household items for the donation bins.  It feels really good to get rid of stuff.  You just feel lighter and less cluttered.  

But I did save some time out for some real fun, like visiting the Cleopatra exhibit on display at the California Science Center.   I've been wanting to go forever, and it's about to leave....so now was my chance.  It was a cold and windy day here, but out I went, all bundled up.  the exhibit was terrific.  The statues, the gold, the jewelry!  Awesome to see.

So after the museum it was back out into the cold and home for some comforting food for lunch.    All this Egyptian art got me to thinking grains...and chicken...and Mediterranean flavors.  (Not Egyptian but it was a tangent!) There I was rooting through the refrigerator to see what was on hand to make something with the flavors I was craving yet still provide a hot comforting meal.  One thing led to another and this Mediterranean dish was born.  

This is full of good for you ingredients.  Brown rice, lean chicken, zucchini, mushrooms, and tomatoes.  Add some spice for zip and you have a nice skillet meal that is hot and comforting.  Especially on a cold day.  This dish tastes as flavorful as it is beautiful.  A smart little side salad, which is now known as the Cleopatra salad, is a great accompaniment  Look for that recipe soon.  

So I hope this inspires you to get in the kitchen and make your family some Mediterranean Chicken.  It will please you to no end!




Mediterranean Chicken

Serves 4

1 c brown rice, uncooked
3/4 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite sized cubes
1/2 t coarse ground black pepper
2 T olive oil
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 c zucchini, cut lengthwise and sliced in half moons
8 oz mushrooms, sliced
1/2 c onion, diced
1 15 oz. can of diced tomatoes with juice
1 c reduced sodium chicken broth
1 T dried oregano
1/2 t salt

Cook rice according to package directions. 

Sprinkle chicken with black pepper.  Heat a large skillet over medium high heat.  Add 1 Tablespoon of olive oil and heat.  Saute chicken in a large nonstick skillet, over medium high heat for about 4-5 minutes, stirring often.  Remove from pan to a plate.

Add the other 1 Tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet along with the garlic.  Saute for 30 seconds and add zucchini, mushrooms and onion.  Saute about 5 minutes.  Return chicken back to the skillet along with diced tomatoes.  Add broth, oregano and salt.  Stirring to combine.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer 6-7 minutes, reducing the liquid until 1/4 cup.  Add cooked rice to skillet and mix well.  Serve hot.