Ah, Christmas—the season of indulgence, where every bite feels like a festive dance on your taste buds. You munch on cookies like there’s a North Pole shortage, chase gingerbread houses with hot cocoa, and treat your stomach like a VIP guest at a feast.
By the time January rolls around, you tiptoe towards the scale like a master detective about to uncover a grand mystery. Lo and behold, the scale groans under the weight of your festive adventures, as if it’s contemplating a New Year’s resolution of its own: “Handle less post-Christmas guilt!” Who knew the aftermath of joyous munching could turn your scale into a drama queen? Time to hit the gym—or, let’s be real, perhaps just to hit the snooze button on that early morning workout!
But fear not, dear intrepid feaster! Just as December indulgence led to a scale rebellion, January is your ticket to redemption. Instead of grabbing for a third cookie, toss in some greens, and let those vitamins and nutrients party in your system. It’s the perfect kick-start to bid farewell to that gnawing Christmas guilt.
Remember, it’s not about punishing yourself; it’s about nourishing the superhero within you!
So, here is a recipe to jumpstart your well-being with an invigorating Fennel-Grapefruit Salad paired with Sesame Chicken.
Packed with vitamin C-rich fennel, this salad provides a crisp, flavorful escape from heavy holiday fare. The bitter notes from grapefruit act as a “mucous membrane workout,” promoting metabolism and enhancing mood. Sesame seeds add a nutty crunch while delivering cholesterol-lowering phytosterols.
Fennel-Grapefruit Salad with Sesame Chicken
Equipment
- 1 Chopping knife and board
- Colander
- 2 Breading trays alt. just use regular plates
- 1 Frying pan
- 1 Closable mason jar
- Large salad bowl
Ingredients
- 1 Fennel bulb
- 1 handful Baby arugula
- 1 Grapefruit
- 500 g Chicken breast fillet
- 1 Egg
- Sesame seeds
- 2 tbsp Sesame oil
- 3 tbsp Fruity olive oil
- 1 tbsp Mustard medium-hot
- 1 tbsp Honey
- 2 tbsp Lemon juice
- Black pepper and salt
- 1 Cucumber
- ½ bunch Tarragon
- 1 bunch Spring onions
- Cress
- 3 tbsp Pine nuts
Instructions
- Prep:Rinse and dry fennel, spring onions, arugula, and tarragon thoroughly.Slice fennel into very fine slices, cut spring onions into 1cm pieces. Peel and thinly slice the cucumber.Cut the peel of the grapefruit down with a knife, removing all the white. Cut out the fillets. Chop the tarragon finely.Gently roast the pine nuts until golden brown in a dry pan.
- Dressing:For the dressing, mix all liquids with mustard, chopped tarragon, and spices in your mason jar and mix vigorously until a homogeneous.
- Sesame-chicken:Cut chicken breast into strips. Separate the egg, and preserve the white in one of your breading trays, use the other tray for your sesame seeds.Coat the chicken breast strips in the egg white, then gently roll them in your sesame seeds until evenly covered. Heat sesame oil in a pan and gently fry the chicken until golden brown on all sides. Caution: Sesame burns quickly and turns bitter, therefore work with medium heat and let it fry slowly until golden brown and meat is fully cooked.Remove chicken strips from the pan and drain on kitchen paper. Sauté spring onions for a few minutes in the same pan.
- Plating the salad:Mix vegetables in a large salad bowl, marinate with the dressing, and mix evenly.Serve the salad on large plates, garnish with chicken strips, and sprinkle cress and roasted pine nuts.
What I love about this recipe is that it’s revitalizing, so fresh and nourishing–especially during the early grey, dark, cold months of the new year it’s a real mood booster, bringing the taste of the warm summer sun to your plate!
Recipe Highlights:
Fennel Boost: Known for its rich vitamin C content, fennel not only satisfies taste buds but aids digestion, reduces bloating, and offers a dose of folic acid and potassium.
Grapefruit Zing: The bitterness in grapefruit stimulates metabolism, aiding in the expulsion of viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Elevate your mood with this citrus superstar, high in Vitamin C.
Sesame Magic: Sesame seeds, besides offering a delightful flavor, bring cholesterol-lowering phytosterols, essential vitamins (especially E), minerals, and beneficial unsaturated fatty acids.
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you!
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