Southwest Chicken Lasagna

This is one of the recipes that triggered colormyfood, I’ve had so many requests for it. The combination of black bean, corn and cilantro give this lasagna a southwestern twist.

Variations:

  • Vegetarian: Eliminate the chicken
  • Spicy: Add 1 – 2 chopped jalapeños
Southwest Chicken Lasagna
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Southwest Chicken Lasagna
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Ingredients
Adjust servings:
Units:
Instructions
  1. Mix chicken, black beans, corn and cilantro into marinara sauce.
  2. In a separate bowl mix ricotta, Parmesan and mozzarella
  3. Place just enough marinara sauce on the bottom of Pyrex so pasta won’t stick.
  4. Place a layer of uncooked lasagna noodles
  5. Spoon think layer sauce to cover lasagna noodles
  6. Place a layer of the mixed cheese over the sauce (about half of the cheese mix)
  7. Repeat: lasagna noodles, sauce and cheese
  8. Cover with aluminum foil
  9. Put in oven preheated to 375 for 45 minutes
  10. Remove aluminum foil, reduce oven to 350 and bake another 30 – 40 minutes until cheese is golden.
  11. Remove lasagna from oven and let sit for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
Recipe Notes

This recipe makes two lasagna dishes. I make one with chicken and one vegetarian when hosting dinner for omnivores and vegetarians. Or I freeze the second one for another time.

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Baked Huminta

A traditional corn dish from my hometown of Cochabamba.

To make it spicy, add an additional 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes.

Baked Huminta
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Servings Prep Time
8 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
1 hour
Servings Prep Time
8 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
1 hour
Baked Huminta
Print Recipe
Servings Prep Time
8 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
1 hour
Servings Prep Time
8 people 15 minutes
Cook Time
1 hour
Ingredients
Adjust servings: people
Units:
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375. Butter a 9 x 12 baking dish.
  2. Place four cups of corn with melted butter in food processor (or blender) and puree.
  3. Pour into a bowl and repeat. This time add the anise seeds, salt and red pepper flakes. Pour into bowl with first batch of corn and mix well. Add cheese and mix well.
  4. Pour into buttered baking dish and bake for 45 - 50 minutes until corn is set.
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A Hearty Wild Rice Dish

I like the texture and colors of a wild rice blend, but also use brown rice instead.

The chicken broth enhances the flavor (and nutrients); use vegetable broth instead for vegan guests, or even simply use water.

As a side dish it also pairs nicely with grilled chicken, broiled fish brushed with extra-virgin olive oil and crushed garlic, or roasted pork tenderloin.

It is even robust and nutritious enough to be a main entrée, try one of the below variations. It easily dresses up for guests served on a bed of spinach or baby kale tossed in lime vinaigrette. Serve it with crusty bread with a pesto dip. And for dessert, the Mango Yogurt Mousse.

Variations:

  1. Add 1 chopped avocado, 1 chopped mango and 1/2 cup chopped parsley
  2. Add a 1 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes and 1/2 cup chopped basil
  3. Add 1 cup of black beans, and 1/2 cup of chopped cilantro.
  4. Add 1 chopped cucumber and 1/2 cup chopped mint
Wild Rice, Quinoa and Corn
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Servings
8
Servings
8
Wild Rice, Quinoa and Corn
Print Recipe
Servings
8
Servings
8
Ingredients
Adjust servings:
Units:
Instructions
  1. Place the wild rice in a saucepan and toast it over medium heat until the translucent grains of the white rice look white. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce the heat to simmer and cook approximately 45 minutes or until rice is tender.
  2. In another saucepan, toast the quinoa. When it begins to make little popping sounds, add the water, bring it to a boil. Immediately turn heat down to simmer and cover the quinoa. Cook 25 minutes. Do NOT salt the quinoa until after it cooks or the seeds (technically they are seeds rather than grains) will not pop open.
  3. Mix the wild rice with the quinoa, add the corn and green onion and mix.
  4. Season with salt and pepper, drizzle with 1–2 tablespoons olive oil and mix one more time.
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