Lunch: Slow-Cooker Greek Chicken Stew

Bold flavors like cinnamon and lemon peel, turn slow-cooked chicken into a robust stew. Serve with Pillsbury® artisan dinner rolls.

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Cinnamon, Lemon

Health benefits of Slow-Cooker Greek Chicken Stew

Cinnamon is one of the best ingredients that someone with insulin sensitivity can eat. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to be very effective at normalizing blood sugar levels. Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, which is thought to enhance the effects of insulin. It has also been suggested that Cinnamon prevents post-meal blood sugar spikes by slowing the gastric emptying rate - meaning that food digests slowly. (Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11506060). Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to. Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and other antioxidants. They can potentially support the immune system and have other health benefits. Lemons also have a low glycemic index, so they should not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar when consumed in natural form.

Ingredients

2 cups baby-cut carrots, halved lengthwise if large
1 bag (1 lb) frozen small whole onions
6 bone-in chicken thighs (from two 1.5-lb packages), skin removed
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 cans (14 1/2 oz each) diced tomatoes, undrained
1/3 cup tomato paste
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1/4 cup chopped parsley

Instructions

Spray 4- to 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Place carrots and onions in slow cooker. Top with chicken thighs. Sprinkle with cinnamon, salt, pepper and garlic; top with tomatoes. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 7 to 9 hours or until vegetables are tender and chicken pulls apart easily with a fork.
Remove chicken with slotted spoon; cover to keep warm. Stir tomato paste, lemon peel and oregano into liquid in slow cooker. Cover; cook about 15 minutes longer or until thickened and hot. Meanwhile, remove chicken from bones. Stir chicken into mixture in slow cooker, breaking up larger pieces.
To serve, spoon stew in shallow bowls, and top with parsley.

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