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So….these Cuban Chicken and Black Bean Quinoa Bowls with Fried Bananas…..YES!
I am on a huge “bowl” food kick right now. I think it’s all this healthy, fresh eating that I’m currently into at the moment. It seems that when it comes to healthy, fresh food it just works nicely in a bowl!
I don’t know, either that or I really just like making giant bowls of delicious food.
But umm, happy Wednesday!! I am so excited for today because I am back in the kitchen cooking. Yes! I spent Monday and Tuesday catching up on computer work (ugh) because I had people finishing up in my kitchen and photo room. They were finishing the final coat of paint and other miscellaneous things, which meant no cooking for me. I cannot even remember the last day I didn’t cook for practically the entire day. With Christmas and New Years, I’ve honestly been cooking for three weeks straight – and pretty much all of December too. My new kitchen surely got a good workout though, especially over Christmas.
Oh my gosh, I was tired, but believe it or not, I still hated sitting and staring at my computer screen all day long.
That is just so not my thing, but everyones gotta do it at some point…I guess. Bottom line is I am crazy exited to get back to cooking and photographing today. I guess I kind of love it…obviously.
Oh, and I also spent a decent portion of my Monday night pulling my brother’s friends giant trailer full of snowmobiles out of my driveway. Yup, I didn’t even know I had it in me, but apparently I am pretty good at getting people unstuck. Even if their trailer is the biggest I have ever seen and they don’t have snow tires (ahh..yes). Who doesn’t have snow tires up here (his friend IS from Michigan though)? And yes, I do have five brothers…wonder where the heck they were?
Ah ah hmmm…..the bar. Yes, I’m serious, or at least the older ones were. Brothers.
And back to these Cuban chicken and black bean quinoa bowls, because my rambling is making me tired.
Doesn’t this just look so pretty and delicious? I think so, especially the delicious part. So many good flavors, so many textures. Besides being a flavor freak, I am also a texture freak, so this is totally my kind of bowl.
Plus, hello! Cuban food. YUM!
Now I realize there are a fair amount of steps to this recipe. DO NOT let this scare you off. I will not lie, these bowls take a little time, but nothing is that hard and you make them to your liking. I of course would not recommend skimping on even one part of this meal, because I think everything in it is a must. The fried bananas? FOR SURE? The Mangos? WITHOUT A DOUBT. The quinoa? Well, rice would totally work awesome here too, but quinoa gives us protein and whole grains. The chicken? THE BEST.
And that pretty much sums up how I feel about this meal.
Meaning I clearly love it to death, which is why my caps lock has been on way too much throughout this post. Sorry, but how else am I supposed to show you my excitement. I mean you can’t actually see me, so caps lock it is. Don’t get annoyed, just know I really, really love this bowl.
And I am kind of mildly (or maybe wildly?) exited for you guys to make them too. I hope you love them as much as we all did!
Oh, but before I go – fried bananas done in a savory dish? Best. Thing. Ever.
Seriously, do not be freaked by them. They are delish!
Cuban Chicken and Black Bean Quinoa Bowls with Fried Chili Spiced Bananas + Spicy Mangos.
Servings: 4 Servings
Calories Per Serving: 862 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Chicken
Black Beans + Quinoa
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 red pepper chopped
- 1 1/2 cups dry quinoa
- 2 cups cooked black beans rinsed + drained if using canned
- 2 cloves garlic minced or grated
- salt and pepper to taste
Bananas + Mangos
- 2 bananas sliced + chili powder if desired
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 mango diced
- 1 red chile seeded + chopped
- 1/2 of 1 lime juiced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro chopped
Instructions
- To a blender, add the cumin, 3 cloves garlic, red chile, pinch of pepper, 3/4 cup orange juice, lime juice + lime zest, honey, soy sauce and cilantro. Blend until everything is finely chopped and smooth. Next, add the chicken to a bowl or a ziplock bag and pour half the marinade over the chicken. Toss to coat and allow the chicken to sit for 20 minutes, or even overnight, in the marinade.
- Meanwhile, work on the quinoa. Heat a large high sided skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot add the oil and onion. Cook for 5-10 minutes or until the onion is soft. Add the red pepper and quinoa, cook another five minutes until the red pepper is soft and the quinoa is lightly toasted. Now pour in 3 cups of water or chicken broth, bring the mixture to a boil, cover and then simmer over low heat for 25-30 minutes or until the quinoa is cooked and fluffy. Once the quinoa is done cooking, scoot it over to the side and add another drizzle of oil to the skillet if needed, add the black beans, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook until warmed through. Alternately, you may just stir the black beans into the quinoa.
- While the quinoa cooks, fry the bananas. Remove the peels from the bananas and slice into 1/2 inch thick slices. Set a skillet over medium to medium-high heat and add the oil. Lay down your banana slices and sprinkle with chili powder if using, fry for 4-5 minutes on each side. Be sure to watch the heat and turn it down if the bananas are browning too quickly. You want enough heat to caramelize and brown the slices, but you don't want them to burn. Remove from the skillet and place on a plate. Sprinkle with sea salt.
- Add the mango, red chile, lime juice and cilantro to a bowl. Toss well.
- To cook the chicken, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the pan is hot, add a drizzle of olive oil. Add half the chicken and cook, 3-5 minutes or until browned all over and cooked throughout. Remove and repeat with the remaining chicken. Once all the chicken is cooked, cover with foil. Add the remaining marinade + 1/4 cup orange juice to the skillet and bring to a boil. Add the 2 tablespoons of butter and cook about 5 minutes or until reduced slightly. Stir in some chopped cilantro if desired.
- To serve, divide the quinoa among bowls. Top with chicken, black beans, mangos and bananas. Drizzle with the the mojo sauce and chopped cilantro if desired.
Thinking 2015 may be all about food in bowls? Bring it on!
This post was originally published on January 7, 2015
Dude, totally obsessed with Cuban flavors!! Making ASAP!
ME TOO! 🙂
Thanks Lauren!
Are you not linked to Pinterest any more? I like to pin your recipes and the last few posts I have not been able to find the Pinterest link
Hey Mimi, the pinterest button is located on every photo, just hover over the photo with your mouse. Sorry if you had a hard time seeing it. I will also be adding pin it buttons at the bottom and on top of every post. Please let me know if you still do not see the pinterest button over each photo.
Tieghan!
I need to make this ASAP! Gorgeous and looks so delicious!!
As someone who has traveled to Cuba a couple of times, I’ve never had “spicey” food there, but I do like your recipe
My husband’s office is on the street with an amazing street market, loads of international food but Cuban pork with rice and beans topped with fried plantains is by far our favourite! Every time we meet up for lunch in the city we get those bowls and all I can think about while eating it is-I NEED their recipe! I haven’t managed to get it, it’s probably kept in a vault somewhere yet but yours looks gorgeous and I am going to make it this week. Thank you for sharing!
Bowl food is the BEST food in my books! All these flavours are reminding me of when I lived in Florida.
And I like it. I like lots. Pinned!
This looks so good Tieghan – will be making this very soon!
Thank you so much, Kathy!
Looks incredible, Tieghan! You’re making me hungry!
Thanks Tori!
I’m loving bowls right now too! They’re usually so fresh and light and this one looks like its packed with Cuban flavors…Love! I’m looking forward to that kitchen post 🙂
Thank you so much, Bri!
ditto
thanks . looks great. i am trying work out just how to cook it friday afternoon, before Shabat starts and serve it warm for lunch Shabat morning. any ideas?
I am all about bowls right now too! What more can you ask for? Entire dinner rolled into one single dish. Perfection.
WOA – this IS a flavor and texture feast! Gorgeous photos as always – glad you are back to doing what you love 🙂
OK here I go again–I really like my steel cut oats on these very cold mornings and I don’t get to eat my lunch until 11 or as late as 12:30 but these wonderful pictures get to me in the morning–ugh–lol.
Oh keep all the wonderful recipes coming but I do hope you have a day off from the kitchen once in awhile.
Thank you so much, Nancy! Hope you are having a great first week of the New Year!
Good Morning all.
To begin with, the dish is beautiful. It’s so tasty and healthy which is a really nice break away from the usual snore-fest that so many recipes offer. I was quite rushed yesterday evening and so I found it very difficult to follow the instructions. Personally I found them a little confusing, but then my wife argued they were quite straight forward (lol) – There are a number of separate steps required in this dish in order to make it happen. An example of where I was confused was whether to cook the chicken with the marinate in the pan or to extract the chicken on it’s own completely and cook it, whilst then adding butter etc to the marinate on it’s own. I also got confused about how much juice to use at certain points.
Like I say, I was rushed though.
Taste wise it’s a big hit, and the mango pieces work a treat against against the spice. It would also work very well with pineapple I reckon. It’s lovely to be able to throw it all into one bowl and chow it down without having to worry about eating unhealthily. Thank you so you much for this dish. We will be definitely making it again
I am thrilled this dish went so well for you and you loved it! Thank you!
I’ve had fried bananas served up in Cuban restaurants, but I’ve never given them a go myself. Definitely going to try this!
You have to try them, so good!