Greek Spiced Chicken with Spinach Rice pilaf

Why is this a Foodgasm? This was a spontaneous creation. You know how sometimes you just look in the fridge and freezer and make various combinations in your head, well that is what happened. I intended on making stir fry, but I find stir fry sooooo boring. I had me some orzo, brown rice, spinach, chicken breast and feta and I was feeling my Greek heritage saying “just do it!” So I made a kind of spanakopita inspired rice pilaf, similar to the filling in my yia yia’s (grandma in Greek) spanakopita. Plus we needed some protein so I seared some chicken tenderloin in some Greek spices as well!

This is a 8 point foodgasm! (Recipe yields 5 servings)

Why you need:

For the chicken:
2 medium chicken breasts
3 tbsp olive oil
Garlic powder, onion powder and oregano to taste.

For the spinach rice pilaf:
1.5 cups brown rice
.5 cup orzo
2 tbsp smart balance
3 cups chicken broth
1 bag frozen spinach
3 cloves of garlic
2 tbsp Feta for flavor and garnish for each serving
Garlic powder, onion powder parsley and oregano to taste.

In a large skillet on medium heat add the smart balance. Once it’s melted toast the pasta and orzo and stir until it is a golden brown (about 3 minuted). Then add garlic and stir until fragrant. Now we are ready for the spinach, keep stirring until it is thawed. Add the chicken broth and spices and simmer while covered on low heat.

While that is cooking and becoming yummy- place another frying pan on the stove with the olive oil on medium-high heat. Add the spices to the oil and stir. Cut chicken breast into strips or medallions and place in pan- sear on both sides for about 3 minutes each.

Serve with desired amount of crumbled feta and enjoy the taste of Greece!!