Food / 7 April, 2019 / My Baba

Chicken Breast with Haricot Beans, Tomatoes and Pesto Dressing

Pulses such as haricot beans are good for the health of the gut. They contain complex carbohydrates called oligosaccharides and resistant starch that are broken down by bacteria in the gut to produce nutrients which help to keep the gut wall and other systems in the body healthy. They also contain protein and dietary fibre which help you to feel fuller for longer.

Preparation and cooking time: 30 minutes

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 4 skinless chicken breasts
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 150g green beans, trimmed
• 400g canned haricot beans, drained
• 1 small salad onion, sliced thinly
• 12 cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• ½ lemon, juiced
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• Small bunch of fresh basil, torn
• 4 tbsp ready made fresh pesto

Method

1. Pour a little olive oil into a large non-stick frying pan and heat gently. Add the chicken breasts and cook each side for five minutes on a medium heat until golden brown.
2. Check the chicken is cooked by piercing the flesh with a skewer. The juices should run clear with no sign of blood and the skin should be golden. Remove the chicken from the pan and cover with foil until you are ready to assemble the dish.
3. While the chicken is cooking, boil/steam green beans for five minutes until tender.
4. Place the haricot beans into a bowl with the tomatoes cooked green beans, salad onion and torn basil leaves.
5. Add the extra virgin olive oil, a squeeze of lemon and season to taste.
6. Slice the chicken breast and place on the beans, and drizzle with the pesto dressing.

Cooks’ tip: To make a low FODMAP pesto take the leaves from a small bunch of basil, 2 tbsp finely grated Parmesan cheese, 2 tbsp pine nuts, 5 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp garlic oil and blitz in a liquidiser or food processor. Season to taste.

If you have IBS and are following the FODMAP diet you may wish to reduce the beans in this dish by half. Make up the difference with very thinly sliced potatoes that can be placed under the chicken while it is cooking in the oven. You could also use garlic oil rather than onions and garlic to flavour the dish.

Recipe by Dr Joan Ransley for Love Your Gut