Coconut Crusted Chicken with Avocado Sauce (AIP version)

Whoa!  Where did those last weeks go?  I've started, and neglected, this post twice already, so let's try and get something actually published this time, eh?

Here is a very easy, completely delicious paleo recipe that is worth a try, even if you're not paleo, or usually a coconut fan.  

Paleo Coconut Crusted Chicken

Click Here for Printable Recipe (PDF)

Ingredients:

(Makes 2 Servings)

For the Chicken

2 large, skinless chicken breasts

3 tbsp coconut flour

3 tbsp dessicated coconut

3 tbsp coconut oil

tsp salt

tsp dried thyme

Optional:  2 eggs.   If you are on the AIP, you can skip the 'egging' step and simply coat the breast strips with melted coconut oil before introducing them to the coconut mix.

For the Avocado Sauce

Oh She Glows Avocado Pasta Sauce

Instructions:

Cut the chicken breasts into three strips each.

Melt the coconut oil in a fry pan.

Turn the oven to 180C.

Mix the coconut flour, dessicated coconut, salt and thyme in a bowl large enough to toss the chicken strips in.

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If you are using egg

Beat the eggs in another bowl.

One by one, immerse the chicken strips in egg then toss them in coconut mix until covered and then put each in the fry pan.

If making the AIP version

Quickly swoosh the chicken strips in the fry pan to coat them with coconut oil, then toss them through the coconut mix until covered

After coating, place the chicken strips in the fry pan
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Allow the coated strips to gently sizzle (adjust the heat so that they don't burn), and turn them when slightly browned.

Once they are browned on both sides, remove from the fry pan to an oven dish. There will be some coconut and oil left in the pan that can be poured over the strips, if you want extra crunch.

Bake for about 25 minutes or until you are 100% sure the chicken is cooked right through (usually I do a sort of biopsy for this - check that the largest strip is fully cooked at its fattest part.

Drizzle with avocado sauce. Or, if you are me, just lay it on thickly.

Serve with all manner of healthy veges.

One serving is two strips. The nutrition data does not include the avocado sauce.

And here's a more recent pic:

Still works, still delicious. I'm getting better at cooking it to the right level without it sticking (the trick: more oil..).

Let me know if you like it and here's some good reading and a thought for the weekend:

Naughty Dogs!  (good to start the weekend with a shakes-ya-belly-like-a-jelly laugh)

Mentally Strong People: The 13 Habits they Avoid

Breakfast, Not Really the Most Important Meal of the Day - this links in very well with what I wrote on the subject, here.

7 Tips for a Great Start to your Day

Apricot Chicken (AIP, Paleo) + Reflections on Thrombocytopenia

Let's Eat!! If you don't like this recipe, well, I'm not sure we can be friends (unless you like chocolate, and wine, then it's probably ok).

Paleo Apricot Chicken

Click Here for Printable Recipe

This is a recipe borrowed from my friend Beatrix. It's the one she sweated over to make AIP compliant when we ate together recently. I swear, it is delicious.

Ingredients:

(makes 5 servings)

* 6 chicken breasts, skin off
* 3 tablespoons coconut oil
* 3 chopped onions
* 1 can coconut milk. I used AYAMS - net weight 270g
* 1 can of apricots in juice (this was 400g net)
* 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
* salt to taste
* fresh or dried herbs - I used a large handful of fresh thyme, savory and oregano, finely chopped

Method:

* Melt the coconut oil in a frypan and sear the chicken on both sides, sprinkle salt on each side.

* Transfer the chicken to an oven pan and put in the oven to cook at 180C. It is ready when cooked right through.

* In the same pan from which you just removed the chicken, sautee the onions until softened, then add the apricots (including juice), vinegar and herbs. You can add a little more salt if required.

* Let the apricot concoction simmer for 10 minutes, then turn down the heat to low and stir in the coconut milk.

* Return the chicken breasts to the frypan and swoosh them around until they are covered with the sauce.

* Serve.

Just for you, I did crunch the stats. This is per breast, with about 1/5 of the sauce.

Musing... I was reflecting today on the way that positive things so often emerge from what seem like negative situations or conditions. 

Obviously, at the moment I'm reflecting on my immune thrombocytopenia, reading my way through a pile of research and becoming immersed in the process of discovery. Like other autoimmune problems, the studies can't agree on the causes, but there is an 'shrugged consensus' that there is 'probably' genetic susceptibility + something that starts the process (e.g. a viral infection) + an ongoing environmental trigger. The last point is hotly debated. However, conditions like celiac disease support the 'trigger' theory - removing gluten and related proteins usually results in celiac disease remission.  There may be environmental triggers for other autoimmune conditions, but discovering them is time-consuming and not attractive research (no big drug money to be made).

"Environmental" could be anything, including, but not limited to foods.  Kek suggested that I might be triggered by housework and I've really taken that on board.  No more housework; it's almost certainly bad for me.  If that works, instant scientific renoun. ;)

Come to think of it, have truer words ever been spoken?

Sorry, where was I? Thrombocytopenia.

In terms of treatments that work, there are steroid drugs, which I hope to never need, and surgery (spleen removal), which seems pretty damn radical, and doesn't always work. There are a few random studies (mostly case studies, although there are a few mouse studies) suggesting that Chinese or Ayurvedic herbs and/or high-dose vitamin D may help - I'll be trying these.  I'm very grateful to Seth Roberts (PhD, author of the Shangri-La Diet), who posted my plea for help on his blog. The information I've received from his readers has saved me months of research and given me a much needed boost of confidence. 

My plan is to intelligently try those research-based ideas in an organised manner until something works, or I feel I've exhausted all options.  It's not in my nature to sit back and accept that nothing can be done, and in any case, it really is about the journey, isn't it?  When I think of some things I have deliberately 'lost': eating disorders, excess weight, arthritis, acne, what I feel most is a sense of gain through the process: knowledge, friends, confidence, skills, understanding and many adventures. And that's just the health related stuff.  I think the principle stands for other challenging life experiences too.

I think that's enough philosophising for a Thursday.  Let's make that apricot chicken recipe and get some eating underway!