One-Pan Basil Halloumi Chicken - PCOS-Friendly Recipe
Nutrition per Serving
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1 8oz block of halloumi cheese
- 2 cartons red cherry tomatoes
- 4 large leaves Basil
- 2 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 2 tsp pepper (or to taste)
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- Basil Oil:
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves
- 2 large handfuls of basil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- Juice from ½ a lemon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350˚F / 175˚ C
- Turn the block of halloumi on its side and cut it into 3-4 even slices. Set aside. Pour the olive oil, salt, and pepper into a large plastic bag. Put the tomatoes and chicken in and massage until everything is evenly coated in the seasoned oil. Dump everything onto a foil lined baking sheet. Top the chicken with the large basil leaves and then the slices of halloumi.
- Bake for 15 minutes at 350˚, then turn on the broil setting and cook for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is golden brown and the chicken is cooked. (note: oven times vary, especially broil so keep an eye on it!) Take the chicken out and let it rest on a plate and continue to cook the tomatoes for 10 more minutes back on 350˚ F. (They will become super sweet and have a great concentrated tomato flavor!)
- Meanwhile, add the olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and lemon juice to a blender and blitz for 30 seconds. Next add the basil and blitz until it’s the consistency of pesto, about 30 seconds.
- Recipe by Claire King
How This Recipe Supports PCOS Management
Understanding the nutritional profile of what you eat is a powerful step in managing PCOS. Here is how the key ingredients in this One-Pan Basil Halloumi Chicken contribute to your health goals:
- Chicken: Protein-rich meals help manage insulin resistance common in PCOS
- Olive oil: Anti-inflammatory properties make it especially beneficial for PCOS
- Garlic: May help reduce cholesterol levels often elevated in PCOS
- Tomato: Antioxidants help combat oxidative stress elevated in PCOS
PCOS Diet Principles in This Recipe
The PCOS diet focuses on three core principles: reducing inflammation, managing insulin resistance, and supporting hormonal balance. Every recipe in our collection is evaluated against these principles. This recipe excels in providing protein-rich ingredients that help regulate appetite hormones (ghrelin and leptin), and anti-inflammatory spices that target the chronic inflammation underlying PCOS. As part of a balanced PCOS meal plan, we recommend pairing recipes like this with a variety of nutrient-dense foods throughout the week to ensure you are meeting all your micronutrient needs.
Meal Prep Tip: This One-Pan Basil Halloumi Chicken can be prepared ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Meal prepping is one of the most effective strategies for sticking to a PCOS-friendly diet, as it removes the temptation to reach for processed convenience foods when time is short.
PCOS-Friendly Foods in This Recipe
This recipe contains the following foods that may benefit PCOS management: Chicken Breast, Lemon, Basil.
Skinless chicken breast, often heralded for its lean nutritional profile, is undeniably a powerhouse when it comes to protein content. With an impressive 21 grams of protein packed into every 100 grams of the breast, it emerges as a preferred choice for those conscious about their protein intake. Delving deeper into the nutritional matrix of chicken, one can't overlook the copious amounts of vitamin B6 it houses. This particular vitamin plays an indispensable role in our body, especially when di...
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