A vibrant green, colourful superfood lunch recipe, it even looks healthy. The fresh watercress, with roasted pieces of chicken and hints of salty feta make for a great partnership in flavours. It’s super easy to make.
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Watercress, Chicken, Feta Quinoa
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This vibrant superfood lunch combines fresh watercress, roasted chicken, and salty feta for a flavorful and healthy meal.
Ingredients
- 1/2 garlic clove
- 5 oz (150 g) watercress, spinach, and rocket
- Grated zest of 1/2 lemon
- 1 cup (175 g) quinoa
- 2 cups (500 ml) chicken stock
- 9 oz (250 g) cooked roasted chicken
- 1/3 cup (45 g) unsalted cashew nuts
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 3 1/2 oz (100 g) feta cheese, crumbled
Instructions
- Peel and chop the garlic, then add it to a food processor with the watercress, spinach, rocket, lemon zest, and a little olive oil. Blitz until it forms a paste.
- Place the quinoa in a saucepan and add the chicken stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, or until the quinoa is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked quinoa with the watercress paste, mixing thoroughly.
- Add the roasted chicken pieces and cashew nuts to the quinoa mixture. Stir well to combine.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Top with crumbled feta cheese before serving.
Notes
- You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Substitute chicken with tofu for a vegetarian option.
- Toast the cashew nuts for added flavor and crunch.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
If You Liked This Recipe, You’ll Love These
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the watercress blitzed into a paste instead of being left whole?
The 5 oz (150 g) of watercress, spinach, and rocket are blended with garlic, lemon zest, and a little olive oil into a paste, then stirred through the warm quinoa — this coats every grain with vibrant green flavour and is what gives the dish the striking colour and intensity the article describes.
Can I make this vegetarian?
Yes — the notes specifically suggest substituting the 9 oz (250 g) of roasted chicken with tofu for a vegetarian option. 
Should I toast the cashew nuts before adding them?
Toasting is optional but recommended — the notes say toasting the 1/3 cup (45 g) of unsalted cashews adds extra flavour and crunch to the finished dish.
