Apricot Chicken

It is spicy, sweet, and subtly smokey 

punctuated by little snips of fresh herbs.

Serves: about 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb. chicken breast, pounded to ½" thickness
• ¼ cup finely minced red onion
• ½ cup apricot preserves
• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp honey
• ¼-3/4 tsp red chili flakes (To taste. Start small!)
• ¼ tsp smoked paprika (or more, to taste)
• 1 Tbsp fresh basil, minced
• salt and pepper, to taste
• olive oil or cooking fat of choice
• optional: fresh basil, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add enough oil to coat the pan. Add chicken and season with a little salt and pepper. Cook 5-7 minutes on one side. Flip and cook another 3-5 minutes, or until cooked through.

While chicken is cooking, make apricot sauce. Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a small saucepan. Add onion and cook over medium heat until translucent and just starting to color.

Add apricot preserves, vinegar, honey, ¼ tsp chili flakes, smoked paprika and basil. Stir well to combine. Taste and add additional chili flakes or smoked paprika, as desired.

When chicken is cooked, pour sauce over chicken to coat. Garnish with additional fresh basil, if desired and serve immediately.

NOTES
If you’re watching your sugar intake, look for all-fruit apricot preserves. Crofters makes a great line of all-fruit spreads, sweetened only with fruit juice. You can also skip the honey for if desired. For this recipe, Crofter’s organic apricot jam was used, which is sweetened. 


Smoked paprika might be new to you. It’s delicious but STRONG. Start small and add more slowly.

Source: One Lovely Life