Life is Peachy Chicken Stir-Fry and Grilled Pineapple

Life is Peachy Chicken Stir-Fry and Grilled Pineapple

Ingredients

3 pounds Chicken Thighs/Breasts (bone-in preferably) or 3 pounds cooked chickpeas

3 pounds of Peaches

1 bunch of Kale

1 large Onion

1 Pineapple

¼ pound of fresh Ginger Root

1 bag of Dark Chocolate Chips

Toasted Sesame Oil

Sea salt, pepper, coriander, cinnamon

Lemon Juice

Love

Yield: Serves 6-8 people

Directions

1. Begin by giving thanks for the life of the chicken and all the ingredients you are about to prepare.

2. If using bone-in chicken thighs or breasts cut them into small pieces roughly the size of 1-inch. Mix the chicken with 1 cup of lemon juice, a large pinch of sea salt, pepper, and the coriander. You can do this step a day or two ahead of time to allow the chicken to absorb maximum flavor from the seasoned marinade. The reason for using the bone-in chicken is because the dish will have more flavor.

3. Slice the onion and mince the ginger and place aside in a bowl.  Slice each peach into 6 segments. Wash the kale well and shake free of any excess water.  Using your hands tear the kale from the stem into bite sized pieces.  Peel the pineapple and slice into 4 pieces.

4. In a large wok or sauté pan add 2 tablespoons of toasted sesame oil along with the sliced onions and ginger. Stir this mixture constantly over medium heat until the aroma of the ginger increases. This will take approximately 3-4 minutes.

5. At this point you can add 1/3 of the peaches and the chicken and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook stirring constantly allowing the chicken to brown and cook through and for peaches to become syrup like in consistency.

6. With the sliced pineapple you can light the grill or use a grill pan or sauté pan.  Brush the pineapple with the toasted sesame oil and cinnamon and place onto grill pan over high heat. Cook for about 3 minutes on each side to allow the pineapple to develop a slight char. You can also place the pineapples under the broiler in your oven for it to brown.

7. Once the chicken is cooked toss in the remaining peaches and kale and place immediately onto a serving dish.

8. Cut the pineapple into smaller pieces after being cooked and in a large bowl toss the pineapple with the dark chocolate chips. You can also sauté the grilled pineapple with the chocolate to allow it to melt.

9. Enjoy with love!

Life is peachy and thanks to Mother Nature and the season of summer we can enjoy the bounty provided during these warmer months.  Peaches come into season in the Northeast during the month of July.  This recipe combines the fuzzy and sweet peach into a stir-fry with kale, chicken, and ginger to create a dish with an Asian flair. If you would like to omit the chicken you can prepare the dish with chickpeas. Did you know that in ancient Chinese culture peaches signified the Tree of Life?

Pineapples provide a light delicious replacement for dessert requiring only some melted dark chocolate to enjoy. Pineapples are high in enzymes that aid our digestion as well. The enzyme bromelain is found mainly in the core of the pineapple.

The dish provides a high amount of fiber, protein, and a vast spectrum of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support our overall health. Vitamins A, B, C, K, iron, potassium, magnesium are present along with many more.

Go ahead and plan a family trip to a local orchard and begin picking.

- Chef D’Amour