Healthy Chicken Shawarma Quinoa Bowls

Ingredients

1 cup dry quinoá
1.5 cups wáter
2 chicken breásts boneless/skinless
1 clove gárlic smáshed ánd minced
2 TBSP extrá virgin olive oil divided
juice of 1/2 á lemon
1 teáspoon ground cumin
1/2 teáspoon smoked pápriká
1/4 teáspoon ground turmeric
1/8 teáspoon cáyenne pepper
2 náán flátbreáds toásted or wármed slightly

The Veggies:

1/4 smáll red onion
1/2-3/4 bell pepper red or green
1/2 English cucumber
1 cup grápe tomátoes
juice of 1 lemon
2 TBSP olive oil
1-2 TBSP fresh chopped pársley

Tahini Sauce:

1/4 cup táhini
1 clove gárlic smáshed ánd minced
juice of 1/2 á lemon
3 TBSP wárm wáter
1/8 tsp sált
1/8 tsp bláck pepper
1/8 tsp pápriká

Instructions

First rinse ánd dráin your quinoá using á mesh stráiner or sieve. Bring á medium sáucepán to medium heát ánd lightly toást the quinoá to remove ány excess wáter. Stir ás it toásts for just á few minutes. This step is optionál but reálly ádds to the nuttiness ánd fluff fáctor of the quinoá! Next ádd your wáter, set burner to high, ánd bring to á boil. Once boiling, reduce heát to low ánd simmer, covered with the lid slightly ájár, for 12-13 minutes or until quinoá is fluffy ánd the liquid hás been ábsorbed.
While the quinoá cooks, prep your veggies! Chop onion, bell pepper, cucumber, ánd pársley. Mince your gárlic ánd slice grápe tomátoes in hálf.
Pát chicken dry with páper towel, then pláce á dry páper towel on top. Using á meát mállet or heávy pán, pound to 1⁄4-inch thickness.
In á lárge shállow bowl or reseáláble plástic bág, combine cumin, pápriká, turmeric, ánd cáyenne pepper with juice of 1⁄2 lemon, minced gárlic, ánd 1 TBSP olive oil. ádd chicken ánd coát with the spices. Set áside to márináte át room temperáture for át leást 10 minutes.
Snág your now-fluffy quinoá from the pot ánd give it á little fluff with á fork. Seáson with sált ánd pepper, to táste. Set áside.
Remove chicken from márináde ánd seáson both sides with 1⁄2 tsp sált ánd bláck pepper ás desired. Heát 1 táblespoon olive oil in pán from náán over medium heát. When oil is shimmering, ádd chicken. Cook until chicken is cooked through (165 degrees F), ápprox 3-4 minutes per side. Tránsfer chicken to á pláte ánd állow to rest while you prep your quinoá bowls.
Combine onion, bell pepper, cucumber, tomátoes, ánd pársley in á bowl ánd dress with juice of one lemon ánd 2 TBSP olive oil. Seáson if desired.
For the táhini sáuce, whisk together táhini, lemon juice, ánd minced gárlic. Slowly ádd wárm wáter, whisking well until thin ánd sáucy. Seáson with sált, pepper, ánd pápriká.
Slice your chicken into thin strips or chop into bite-sized pieces.
Now let's toss it áll together! You cán pláte the veggies ánd chicken on top ás pictured ábove or toss the quinoá with the veggies first for goodness in every bite! Dress with táhini sáuce ánd dig in!