Golden Door BBQ Chicken

Chef Michel Stroot, author of the best-selling Golden Door Cookbook, uses Golden Door’s own four-acre organic garden for his mostly vegetarian dishes, and he adorns the menu with classic summer fare, like this low-fat recipe for Golden Door BBQ Chicken that he calls “an outstanding example of a simple American favorite.”

Golden Door Spa BBQ Chicken

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Prep Time: 40 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Soak Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes

Course: Entrees

Cuisine: Healthy Spa Cuisine

Keyword: Chicken, Golden Door

Servings: 4

Calories: 306kcal

Courtesy Of: Golden Door Spa

Chef Michel Stroot, author of the best-selling Golden Door Cookbook, uses Golden Door’s own four-acre organic garden for his mostly vegetarian dishes, and he adorns the menu with classic summer fare, like this low-fat recipe that he calls “an outstanding example of a simple American favorite.”

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 teaspoons canola oil
• ▢ ½ cup diced onions
• ▢ 1 tablespoon garlic finely minced
• ▢ ¼ cup cider vinegar
• ▢ ¼ cup Splenda Brown Sugar Blend (or Brown Sugar)
• ▢ 1-3/4 cups tomato puree - canned or fresh
• ▢ ¾ cup freshly brewed strong coffee
• ▢ ½ cup vegetable broth - or water
• ▢ ⅓ cup dark molasses
• ▢ 1 dried chili - such as ancho, softened in water, drained and chopped
• ▢ 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary - chopped
• ▢ ¼ cinnamon stick
• ▢ 1 whole clove
• ▢ 1 bay leaf
• ▢ 4 4 ounce chicken breasts - skinless, boneless, and trimmed of fat
• ▢ 1 to 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice - or lemon juice, if you prefer
• ▢ Pinch freshly ground black pepper
• ▢ 1 pinch Chives or Scallions - per person

Instructions

• The ancho chiles should be stemmed and seeded, then soaked in hot water for about 15 minutes. Longer soaking time will drain the anchos of their flavor; less time won't soften them enough.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Prepare a charcoal or gas grill or preheat a stove-top grill.
• In a small saucepan, heat 1 teaspoon of the oil over medium heat. Saute the onions and garlic for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring until the onions are translucent. Add the vinegar and brown sugar and simmer, stirring, for 5 minutes, until the sugar dissolves.
• Stir in the tomato puree, coffee, broth, molasses, chili, rosemary, cinnamon stick, clove, and bay leaf. Simmer for about 20 minutes, or until slightly thickened.
• Strain and set aside. Reserve to use immediately or cover and refrigerate.
• Spray the grill with vegetable-oil spray.
• Rub the chicken breasts with the remaining teaspoon of oil and the lime juice and sprinkle with the pepper. Grill the chicken breasts just long enough so that diamond or square grill marks appear, about 5 minutes on each side.   We'll be finishing these in the oven!
• Transfer to a shallow baking pan just large enough to contain the breasts. Bake for about 5 minutes, or until the juices run clear.
• Place a chicken breast on each plate. Serve the sauce on the side, with fresh lemon or lime to squeeze. Sprinkle with chives or scallions.

Spa Index Kitchen Notes

The breast is the leanest portion of chicken, which is why it's being served here. Of course you can use your favorite pieces of chicken, but they will require additional baking time and won't be as lean.

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Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 306 kcal (15%) | Carbohydrates: 37 g (12%) | Protein: 26 g (52%) | Fat: 5 g (8%) | Cholesterol: 83 mg (28%) | Sodium: 151 mg (7%) | Potassium: 23 mg (1%) | Fiber: 1.5 g (6%) | Sugar: 33 g (37%) | Vitamin A: 800 IU (16%) | Vitamin C: 9.1 mg (11%) | Calcium: 90 mg (9%) | Iron: 2.9 mg (16%)

ABOUT:

The Golden Door is a unique sanctuary modeled after ancient Japanese Honjin inns with koi ponds, lush gardens, and miles of scenic hiking trails, enhanced by the latest fitness techniques, ancient relaxation therapies, and personalized counseling to promote a healthy lifestyle and inner peace.   Here in this peaceful northern pocket of San Diego County, founder Deborah Szekely in 1958 developed a unique philosophy of personal health and fitness inspired by ancient Japanese Honjin inns – and the spa industry grew its first roots.  Through its program of fitness training and refined nourishment coupled with indulgent, caring spa treatments, the dedicated staff work with guests to treat their bodies with the respect and care they deserve.