In the middle of winter comes the trees’ new year. Hard to believe if you’re surrounded by greyish, dried-out trees and bare gardens like I see in my neighborhood now. But if you live closer to the equator (Israel for example!) then it’s somewhat easier to imagine that the foliage will soon bloom.
On Tu B’shvat many people have the custom to eat from the 7 minim- I’ve heard many of our grandparents have memories of being handed out brown paper bags with dried fruits and nuts, little sticks of honey, and other interesting snacks.
(Personally I love nuts and seeds and dried fruit, so I wouldn’t have minded at all, haha. But I think serving a cooked chicken with some 7 minim elements would definitely be a win-win-win for everyone at the table, children and adults alike.)
So, in honor of Tu B’shvat being next week, I’m here with an easy recipe today- soft chicken cutlets with pomegranates, dates, and olive oil.
Just like always, there are no extra steps here. It is FAST.
I assembled this dinner in about 10 minutes and then left it in the oven while we were out of the house for a few hours.
This would be perfect for any day, but of course if you’re making this before next week, then it’s an especially perfect dinner to serve on Tu B’Shvat.
Probably, I could have been more creative and included more of the 7 minim, but the simplest ones to add to a chicken dish were:
- Olive oil- which I cook with multiple times per day, regardless!
- Dates- sweet chicken recipes are always beloved, especially on special occasions! If you’ve never tried silan chicken- just pour the date syrup over chicken and cook as you normally would- you’ll be stunned at how delicious it is
- Pomegranates- They add sweetness, color, and crunch to everything!
How to Assemble the Pomegranate Chicken
I always like to put down a bed of onions underneath chicken and meat to give it extra flavor and moisture. You can skip this step if you prefer.
Then, as you can see below, just pile everything in the pan:
Chicken–>garlic–>pomegranate–>dates–>olive oil
P.S. feel free to add honey if you’d like a little extra sweetness.
We really enjoyed this dinner and it was gone FAST! You may want to make 2 trays.
I’ve been very into batch cooking recently, and really wish I’d doubled or tripled this! Unfortunately it was gone so quick but I’ll have to make it again for Tu B’Shvat itself, so maybe then it will work out. Some other recipes I’m doubling or thinking of doubling:
- Healthier Spiced Cinnamon Buns- Make as much dough as you like, and the filling comes together so fast you won’t notice the difference.
- Paleo Blueberry Muffin Tops– I never don’t double these, lol! Plus the recipe itself is super generous and makes 2 baking sheets full.
- Salmon Turmeric Patties- Patties freeze so well, and work as a protein-filled breakfast, lunch or snack. (If you’re new to paleo eating, YES meat, chicken and fish are breakfast foods 😉 Much more qualified for the role than cereal, waffles, and pancakes.
(Speaking of pancakes- If you’re going to want some, these are my family’s pick and is another toddler favorite that I made 2 boxes of today, to freeze extra of).
