Chicken Spinach Pesto Puree

  • Time: 5 minutes
  • Servings: 7
  • Serving Size: 2 ounces
  • Stage: 3 Post-Op (Pureed Foods)

INGREDIENTS:

  • Quinoa, cooked - 1/3 cup (61 grams)
  • Rotisserie chicken, cooked, light and dark meat combined - 7 oz (200 grams)
  • Spinach, fresh - 2 handful (80 grams)
  • Olive oil - 2 tbsp (25 grams)
  • Nutritional yeast - 1 tsp
  • Garlic clove - 1 medium (4 grams)
  • Hemp seeds - 1 tsp
  • Water - 1 tbsp (15 grams)
  • Lemon, juice only - 1/4 medium (12 grams)
  • Basil, dried leaves - 3 tsp
  • Sea salt - 1/4 tsp
  • Lemon pepper - 1/2 tsp

INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Cook the quinoa if using uncooked (we recommend cooking batches of 1/2 cup to 1 cup to always have available in the refrigerator for a quick meal).
  2. Add all the ingredients to a food processor and mix for at least 1 minute or until creamy. Make sure no there are no chunks remaining. Serve and enjoy!

*Note: Divide equally by the listed number of servings. Stays fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Mix with a spoon before eating the leftovers as some separation may occur.

NUTRITION FACTS per serving:

  • Calories 100
  • Protein 9 grams
  • Carbs 3 grams
  • Fat 6 grams
  • Fiber 1 grams
  • Sugar 0 grams
  • Iron 6% DV
  • Calcium 3% DV
  • Sodium 4% DV

DV = Daily Value, Based on diet for healthy adults

Nutritionist notes: Pestos are a great way to consume leafy greens. Basil is the classic ingredients in a pesto, which, like many other greens is high in iron. We also added spinach to this recipe, which is loaded with nutrients and is considered a superfood. We recommend making your own pesto since store-bought options often are high in sodium and calorie dense, because of the olive oil, pine nuts and parmesan cheese. If you go for a store bought pesto, make sure that you get a lower calorie and low sodium option whithout parmesan or excessive amounts of olive oil.

Tags: low-carb, dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, high-protein, gastric sleeve, vsg, bariatric, diet, recipe, chicken, spinach

*The picture is meant for illustrative purposes and may sometimes not be representative of the serving size. For a precise serving size please follow the list of ingredients carefully, using grams as the most exact measurement.