Lime Chicken with Chickpeas, Asparagus and Yogurt Mint Sauce

Serves 4

• 3 limes, 1 sliced
• 1 Tbsp chopped thyme
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground pepper
• 4 chicken breasts
• 8 oz cooked chickpeas
• 1 bunch asparagus, blanched
• Handful of arugula leaves, for plating

Yogurt mint sauce:

• ½ cup natural Greek yogurt
• 2 Tbsp chopped mint
• Juice of ½ lime
• ¼ tsp salt

1. In a bowl, zest the two whole limes and squeeze the juice. Add sliced lime, thyme, oil, salt and pepper.

2. Cut 3 or 4 slits in the chicken. Place in the marinade, mix well, and let sit at least 30 minutes.

3. Heat oven to 350˚F.

4. Remove chicken from marinade. Heat a frying pan and brown all over. Place into an ovenproof dish and add reserved marinade, chickpeas and asparagus.

5. Place in oven for 15 minutes, or until cooked through.

6. To make the sauce, combine yogurt, mint, lime juice and salt.

7. Let chicken sit for a few minutes before cutting each piece into three.

8. Place a few arugula leaves on each plate, followed by chickpeas, asparagus and chicken. Drizzle with dressing.

Choosing quality asparagus is almost an art but is very easy when you know how.

1 Look for asparagus spears that are firm to the touch. They should be straight and not bendable; on bending the spear, it should be brittle and “crack.” Stalks should be firm but tender.

2 Look for a bright green color.

3 Check the tips of the asparagus spears. For the main part, they should be closed tightly. A nice dark green or purple tinge on the tips is a good indication of quality. If the tips are yellowish or dried out, the asparagus is too old.

4 Choose the diameter of the spears according to your needs. The size does not affect the tenderness of the spears; rather, you should be looking for the other above signs instead. Sometimes smaller asparagus is simply a better look for your food presentation but you will get more food from the larger stalks if the price is per bunch.

5 Avoid blemished, mottled, or wilting asparagus. If you do find asparagus like this on special and you’re prepared to make soup, then grab a bargain. Asparagus with flowers is long past its prime, so avoid!

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