Marry Me Chicken
Dairy-free take on the viral creamy sun-dried-tomato chicken, made with coconut milk and miso.
makes 16 blocks, about 49p each
- Time
- 40 min12 min prep · 28 min cook
- Makes
- 16 blocks
- Cost per blockPer block
- 49p
- Calories per blockCalories
- 103 kcal
- Spice
- 1 of 5
You’ll need
- 450gchicken breast
- 1 tin (400ml)full-fat coconut milk
- 250gbaby spinach
- 1 (150g)onion
- 70g drainedsun-dried tomatoes in oil, chopped (plus 10ml of their oil)
- 4 clovesgarlic
- 25gwhite miso
- 20gtomato purée
- 15mllemon juice
- 20gfresh basil
- 10gcornflour
- 2gsmoked paprika
- 1gchilli flakes
- 1gthyme
- 1gpepper
- 100mlwater
Allergens: Soya. Check the labels on stock cubes, sauces and pastes, as brands vary.
Serve it
Penne or orzo · Mash or a jacket potato · Roasted Mediterranean veg
Method
- Step 1: Brown the bite-size chicken pieces in the sun-dried tomato oil, then lift out; they need not be cooked through. (5 min)
- Step 2: Soften the chopped onion in the same pan. (5 min) Add the garlic, purée, paprika, chilli and thyme for 1 minute.
- Step 3: Add the sun-dried tomatoes, coconut milk, water and the miso whisked smooth in a ladle of sauce. Simmer. (5 min)
- Step 4: Return the chicken and simmer gently until cooked through. (8 min)
- Step 5: Thicken with the cornflour mixed into 2 tbsp water (1 min), then wilt in the spinach in batches. (3 min)
- Step 6: Off the heat, add the lemon juice, pepper and torn basil. Cool and freeze.
Hotter: add ½ tsp chilli flakes with the paprika, or stir in 30g 'nduja.
| kcal | protein | carbs | fat | fibre | salt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per block | 103 | 8.2g | 3.7g | 6g | 1g | 0.32g |
| Per 3 blocks | 309 | 24.6g | 11.1g | 18g | 3g | 0.96g |
Cook’s notes
- Classic dairy version: swap the coconut milk for 300ml half-fat crème fraîche plus 100ml stock, add 20g parmesan, and leave out the miso.
- About 200g frozen leaf spinach, defrosted and squeezed, saves about 95p.
- Thigh instead of breast stays juicier after freezing.
Serve it
Penne or orzo · Mash or a jacket potato · Roasted Mediterranean veg.
Freeze, reheat and serve
- Freeze
- Cool it within two hours, portion it into 70g blocks in a silicone tray, then bag and label them. It keeps for 3 months.
- Reheat
- Microwave 3 blocks, covered, for 1 minute, stir, then heat for another 1 to 2 minutes until piping hot all the way through. Or warm them in a pan with a splash of water. Never refreeze thawed blocks.
- A portion
- 3 blocks (210g) make a dinner for one adult: about 309 kcal and 24.6g protein before rice, bread or potatoes.
Marry Me Chicken questions
What if I can't find white miso?
Any miso works, but darker ones are saltier and stronger, so start with about half and taste. Without miso, the sauce needs a little extra salt and will be less savoury.
Why whisk the miso into a ladle of sauce first?
Miso is a thick paste that clumps when it goes straight into a pan. Loosening it in a little hot sauce first means it blends in smoothly.
Can I use light coconut milk?
Light coconut milk works, but the sauce will be thinner and less rich. Simmer it for a few extra minutes before adding the cornflour so it still coats the chicken.
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Updated . Nutrition, costs and yields are estimates.