Made Chicken Stew from the Cookin Canuck

Another great discovery on Pinterest, the Cooking Canuck and her unique Chicken Stew with Butternut Squash & Quinoa.  The stew is not a quick weeknight meal but if you get home early or can start prepping late afternoon you can pull off this great meal.  I found that the leftovers are even better!!

  

Start with some great, healthy ingredients:

1 1/2 lb. butternut squash, peeled, seeded & chopped into 1/2-inch pieces

3 1/2 c. chicken broth

1 1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs

1 tbsp. olive oil

1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano

1 can (14 oz.) petite diced tomatoes

2/3 c. uncooked quinoa

3/4 c. pitted and quartered kalamata olives

Freshly ground pepper, to taste

1/4 c. minced fresh flat-leaf parsley

Steam the butternut squash until barely tender, about 10 minutes.  Remove half of the squash pieces, set aside.  Steam the remaining squash until very tender, an additional 4 to 6 minutes.  Mash this squash with the back of a fork.  Set aside.  (I mashed all of the squash since B does not like the chunks)

In a large saucepan set over medium-high heat, bring the chicken broth to a simmer.  Add chicken, cook until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes.  Transfer the chicken thighs to a plate and allow to cool.  Pour broth into a medium-sized bowl.

Return the saucepan to the stovetop and lower heat to medium.  Add olive oil.  Add onion and cook stirring occasionally, until onion is starting turn brown, 8 to 10 minutes.  Add minced garlic and oregano.  Cook stirring for 1 additional minute.

To the saucepan, add tomatoes, butternut squash, pieces and mashed.  Stir to combine.

Stir in reserved chicken broth and quinoa.  Bring to a simmer, cover and cook until quinoa turns translucent, about 15 minutes.

Shred the chicken with your fingers or a fork.  Stir the shredded chicken, olives and pepper into the stew and simmer, uncovered, to heat, about 5 minutes.

What I would do next time:

Double the kalamata olives or slice olives in half so more bites have the great taste

Simmer for longer with olives so the flavors have more time to soak in

Invite girls over to enjoy - sadly, not B's favorite