Description
Hearty chicken and white bean delight recipe melds Mediterranean flavors into a comforting meal. Robust herbs, tender chicken, and creamy beans create a satisfying dish home cooks will savor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450 g) chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 5 cups (1.25 liters) low-sodium chicken stock
- 1 can (14 oz / 400 g) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 cups (75 g) black kale (cavolo nero), shredded
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 medium carrot, diced
- 2–3 celery stalks, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp paprika
- Juice of ½ lemon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Sautéing Foundation: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, creating a flavorful base for the dish.
- Vegetable Harmony: Introduce chopped onions, carrots, and celery, sautéing until they soften and release their aromatic essence, developing a robust flavor profile.
- Protein Integration: Add chicken pieces to the vegetable medley, cooking until the meat transforms from pink to a uniform golden hue, ensuring thorough cooking and maximum flavor infusion.
- Seasoning Symphony: Sprinkle Italian seasoning and paprika across the mixture, stirring vigorously to distribute spices evenly and create a complex taste experience.
- Liquid Transformation: Pour in chicken stock and cannellini beans, bringing the mixture to a vigorous boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer, allowing ingredients to meld and develop depth.
- Final Flourish: Introduce fresh lemon juice and kale, letting the greens wilt and integrate for a few minutes while adjusting seasoning with salt and black pepper to achieve a perfectly balanced flavor.
- Serving Presentation: Transfer the aromatic mixture to serving bowls, pairing with crusty bread to complete this hearty and satisfying culinary creation.
Notes
- Optimize Vegetable Softening: Sauté onions, carrots, and celery until translucent to unlock maximum flavor depth and develop a rich aromatic base.
- Perfect Chicken Cooking: Ensure chicken reaches uniform white color without overcooking, maintaining tender and juicy meat texture throughout the dish.
- Bean Preparation Tip: Thoroughly rinse cannellini beans to remove excess sodium and starch, enhancing overall recipe cleanliness and taste profile.
- Liquid Balance Technique: Keep pot lid slightly open during simmering to control moisture and prevent excessive liquid reduction while allowing flavors to meld seamlessly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg