Chicken provides the amino acid tryptophan which is needed for serotonin production. When the body is in a state of inflammation, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli can help prevent this tryptophan being ‘stolen’. You can also make this with fish or chickpeas/beans.
This easy orange and balsamic chicken traybake is taken from my book ‘Eat Right, Lose Weight’ which helps you discover your metabolic type.
Serves 4- Serotonin Type
For the chicken:
Ingredients
-
80g red onion, peeled and
cut into 8 wedges -
80g leek, thickly sliced
-
80g red or yellow pepper,
deseeded and chopped -
80g radishes
-
4 garlic cloves, unpeeled,
crushed -
½ orange, cut into 4 wedges
-
4 x 120g skin-on chicken thighs
-
Salt and pepper
-
100g cherry tomatoes
-
80g Tenderstem broccoli
-
80g courgette, sliced
For the balsamic dressing:
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2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
-
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
-
Juice of ½ orange
-
½ tsp flaked sea salt
Method
-
Preheat the oven to 190ºC. Tip onion, leek, pepper, radishes, garlic and orange wedges into a deep roasting tray.
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Whisk together the dressing ingredients and pour 3 tablespoons over the vegetables, tossing to evenly coat in the dressing.
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Season the chicken with salt and pepper and rub into the skin. Nestle the chicken in between the vegetables and pour the remaining dressing over the skin
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Roast for 30 minutes, turning the tray and basting halfway through. Add the tomatoes, Tenderstem and courgette to the tray and give everything a good shake to make sure nothing is sticking.
-
Cook for a further 15 minutes or until the chicken is golden and cooked through.
-
For fish: add the fish fillets to the tray with the broccoli and tomatoes and baste with dressing from the pan. Cook as above.
-
For chickpeas/beans: add with the broccoli and tomatoes and cook as above.
