The bright flavors and aromas of lemon and mint come together with hazelnut chicken to bring you a healthy and delicious dinner recipe. Paleo and gluten-free, this chicken is not lacking in flavor and so easy to prepare!
October’s Theme – A Nutty Nut Day: We had to take advantage of the fact that National Nut Day (October 22nd) falls on one of our ReDux monthly theme post days – so we can all go nuts! Share a healthy nut-filled recipe: Think whole nuts, chopped nuts, ground nuts, nut butter and/or nut flour. And Happy Nut Day!
I think this has been one of the nuttiest week's on the blog! Well, maybe legume/nut if we want to be real here! Pumpkin Peanut Butter Layer Brownies and then Peanut Allergies, and now HAZELNUTS!
Nuts are one of my favorite food groups. My #1 favorite of course is the lovely cashew. Pretty much eat them every day and never get sick of them! Pistachios, almonds, pecans, hazelnuts....I don't discriminate! Hazelnuts are the "nutella" nut, however they're really good eaten raw, roasted, and ground into a nut flour! People are pretty obsessed with almond flour, but I think hazelnut flour may be taking the show a lot more soon! Hazelnut meal or flour, or whatever you want to call it, has a lovely slightly sweet, but nutty taste. The perfect coating for some bland chicken! Although, there are many great ways to coat chicken!
But I still feel hazelnuts are one of the more under-used nuts out there. Also known as filberts, besides great protein and fat, these babies are an awesome source of dietary fiber, folate, vitamin E, iron, and manganese! They also always remind me of a very festive nut. The name hazelnut sounds so celebratory to me! Christmas, if you will. With the holidays coming upon us faster than a speeding bullet, they seemed like the perfect nut to sure here.
To enhance that sweet hazelnut flavor and complement it with some "zest", I chose to use the fresh flavors of lemon and mint! Mint is such a strong herb, but when used well, it can really deepen and work with a dish instead of being too overpowering. The lemon ties all the flavors together though. It's the perfect bright "zip" to keep your palate guessing and interested in each bite you take! And the pinkish bits you see, those are shallots! Shallots are a milder onion, small, and what I think of has the fancy onion. Come to think of it, I think this entire dish is fancy. Hazelnut, mint, lemon, and shallots! Wooh boy! Fancy flavor explosion!
Lemon & Mint Hazelnut Chicken
Lemon & Mint Hazelnut Chicken
The bright flavors and aromas of lemon and mint come together with hazelnut chicken to bring you a healthy and delicious dinner recipe. Paleo and gluten-free, this chicken is not lacking in flavor and so easy to prepare!
- Yield: 3-4 1x
- Category: Main Dish, Chicken
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 lb Chicken Breast Strips (or tenders)
- 1 Large Lemon
- 2 TB Fresh Chopped Mint Leaves
- 1 Tsp Dried Thyme
- ½ Tsp Minced Garlic
- 1 Shallot (peeled and chopped)
- 1 Cup Hazelnut Meal/Flour
Instructions
- In a large plastic bag, combine the zest and juice of the lemon, mint, thyme, garlic, and shallot. Add the chicken strips and marinate in the fridge for 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
- On a plate, pour out 1 cup of hazelnut meal. Set a greased baking pan next to the plate.
- Now take each chicken strip and fully coat in the hazelnut, then place in the baking pan.
- Bake the chicken for 20-25 minutes, until fully cooked, remove and serve! (with ketchup)
It does make me sad to think that I grew up really only knowing the peanut. Never a big nut person or family for that matter. My dad loved his roasted cashews and my grandparents would always have out mixed nuts on holidays, but I never really ate nuts besides some Skippy or Jiff! Haha! My, how the times have changed and I am making up for that lost time with no shame! This month shall fully be celebrated in all it's nuttiness! Now go devour some raw nuts, some of this chicken, maybe a random scoop from that favorite nut butter jar of yours 😉
So tell me:
+ 1, 2, 3....FAVORITE NUT? Cashews!!!!
+ Hazelnut meal or almond meal?
*Recipe linking up for the week! Allergy Free Wednesdays, #RecipeOfTheWeek,#StrangeButGood, Real Food Friday, Gluten-Free Fridays, Tasty Tuesdays, Savoring Saturdays, Tasty Tuesdays, Lena’s Tasty Tuesdays, Waste Not Want Not!*
Amberjane
Another gorgeous looking and sound recipe Rebecca.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Mary, Living a Sunshine Life
I love hazelnut, but what really caught my interest with this is the mint. I really think I need to try this. That's a new flavor combination for me.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Go for it then! Thanks!
Honest mum
This looks delicious. I can't eat nuts but my husband would enjoy this.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Easy Peasy Life Matters
Lemon and mint together sounds amazing!! With chicken and hazelnut too! Yum! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Mishael Witty
Saw this on the Tasty Tuesdays linky and had to check it out. Just the other day, I had a craving for hazelnut coffee, and my house has smelled like it for days. This would be the perfect accompaniment - except I might just try to grind my own hazelnuts. It'll give my Ninja Master Prep a workout. I love that thing! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
O yes! It's so easy to make your own nut meals and flours!! (I just didn't have that many expensive hazelnuts!)
Alison
There is a National Nut day? Loving the look of this chicken, yum
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
There is a national everything day 😛
John Adams
National Nut Day?? How did I not know about this? Looks like a great recipe that I am very tempted to try.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well I hope you do!
Stef
Yummy this chicken sounds super delicious!!! I love the whole idea and your photos looks amazing! xx
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you, thank you!
Steph @ Steph in Thyme
That hazelnut crust looks so crispy and light, and I love your combination of lemon and mint! So refreshing and flavorful.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks Stephanie!
Indira
Hi Rebecca! Thanks for such a wonderful recipe. I'm totally an almond meal girl although hazelnut meal feels more luxurious to me somehow. I love that you added mint and lemon as well - an unusual combination but when I think about it, it sounds like it would be fantastic. Happy Weekend!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Luxurious! That's the word I wanted to describe it! Haha! Thanks!
Miz Helen
What a great Chicken recipe, it looks delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Emma
What a great alternative to breading your chicken and another lovely flavour combination.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
I'm always looking for delicious and quick to prepare oven baked chicken recipes like this Rebecca.
Absolutely lovely. Thank you. Pinned!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much Neil!
Farrah
I love how unique the flavor combo for this is! 😀 Hazelnuts are awesome!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They are! Thank you!
Amanda
I have been seeing these all over twitter the past couple of days! I am going to have to try them out!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well I guess that's a good sign! Super easy too!
Amanda | The Chunky Chef
Wow I can just imagine how much flavor this chicken has!! Looks beautiful too 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you! 😉
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish
This sounds like such a yummy meal! Love that crust and all of the ingredients.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Denise
I bet this smells fantastic!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It does!
Liz
Looks delicious! Think I would skip the ketchup though. Great idea and pretty pictures.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
No way!
Annmarie
I LOVE the combo of lemon and mint! I really need to give this a try!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Do it! It's so refreshing!
Anne|Craving Something Healthy
Love this recipe, and I'm sad to say I've never tried either almond or hazelnut meal. I need to get on that ASAP!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Go with the hazelnut first!
Natalie
I love the combination of mint and lemon. Add in the hazelnuts and this sounds amazing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Rachel @ Delicious Balance
Perfect idea for a breading! Favorite nut for snacking: almonds, versatility: cashews, nut butter: peanuts (never gets old to me!)
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Good choices 😉 Cashews are the most versatile (and the best all around!)
EA-The Spicy RD
All I've been eating today are my Nutty Caramel Energy Bites....This SAVORY Lemon Mint Hazelnut Chicken looks delicious!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That's the great thing about nuts 😉 Sweet, savory, and everything in between!
Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living
I love hazelnuts but haven't used hazelnut flour yet. Love the mint in these chicken tenders.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It's so flavorful! Thanks Jeanette!
Angie Scheie
That combination sounds lovely! Definitely pinning now!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
All that's Jas
Hazelnut is my absolutely fav nut (beside my husband, lol).
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahahahaha 😉
Allison
This recipe looks wonderful! My nana used to make something similar but with almond flour lol, but we all know that hazelnut is superior. 😉
Also, I highly recommend trying Tiger Nuts if you can find them! They're just becoming more common in the USA and are to die for.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I know all about Tiger Nuts! Love them and the flour!
Catie: An imperfect mum
I absolutely love the sound and look of this. I love nuts and chicken. I have never seen hazelnut flour in holland though so I'm going to have to investigate. I think that even I could manage this recipe! Thanks for sharing x
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You could finely ground your own! That's the great thing about nut meals!
Nutmeg Nanny
Wow what a great looking chicken dish! I love that nutty crust...yum!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much!!
Elaine Hodges
Looks yummy!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It sure is!
The Vegan 8
I love lemon and mint so much! I make a loaf bread with those ingredients and it's so dang good!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They're both such bright refreshing flavors!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan
Happy Nut Day Rebecca! 🙂
This combo sounds amazing - I've used almonds and pecans and peanuts to coat chicken before - but never thought to use hazelnuts - combining them with thyme and lemon and mint makes for some fabulous chicken!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yay nuts! Any but goes so well with chicken! The perfect healthy coating!
Alanna
Nuts are simply the best. Hazelnut flour sounds incredible and now I must try it! I've been getting tired of almond meal lately so I think it's time for a change 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hazelnut > almond 😉 I never really use almond myself!
Kaitie
You know, I would never think to put those ingredients together for chicken but I can imagine it would result in a fresh and bright flavour with the hazelnut balancing it out a bit.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That's exactly it! Chicken is my blank slate for everything!
Aggie | Aggie's Kitchen
Hazelnuts sound amazing!! I have a hard time picking a favorite nut, I really do! Pistachios and hazelnuts and cashews are my most favorite but not everyday nut - they are such a treat. I love walnuts or pecans in salad, and sliced almonds are my favorite in yogurt or oatmeal.
Your recipe looks incredible!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I know, I love them all! Cashews, pistachios, and pecans I think are my top 3 for just eating raw!
Corina
I love hazelnuts and it's a shame they are so underused! I've never tried hazelnut flour before but it sounds like it makes a great coating for the chicken here.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I know! We must start hazelnut awareness! Haha!
Sabrina @ Dinner, then Dessert
I love a good breaded chicken! I've never tried one with mint before!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
"laugh out load", thanks.
rachel @ Athletic Avocado
i usually do almond crusted chicken but this would be a great change up! i love all nuts but I've been digging pecans lately! i usually work with almond flour but I love also working with hazelnut flour, especially in my nutella fudge bars 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Girl, I feel like it's pecan season too! Pecans and hazelnuts! (I've been known to have my hand in the pecan jar a lot this week!)
sue
Would not have thought of the hazlenut in this combination.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It's great!
Brianna @Flippin' Delicious
Using ground hazelnuts is super creative! And lemon+mint are a great combo.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks Brianna!
Harriet Emily
Lemon, mint and hazelnut sounds like such a delicious flavour combination!! Yum!!! What a beautiful chicken recipe, Rebecca!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much!
Sandi (@sandigtweets)
I am so intrigued by the added mint in your recipe. Can't wait to give it a try. It sounds amazing.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Liora (Allthingsloveli)
This flavor combinations here sound so fresh and uplifting! I have never baked with hazelnut meal.. I tend to stick to almond meal but now I am wanting to get a little more adventurous 🙂 While we're on the topic of favorite nuts- I have to say chocolate covered almonds are my favorite indulgence!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Hahahaha 😉 Chocolate covered will always make things good 😉
Hazelnut meal is great! Give it a try!
Susie @ SuzLyfe
You know that I love me some interesting flavor combos, but I don't know if I ever would have thought this up! I need to work with mint more.
And YES to hazelnuts 😀
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Sometimes I get this weird craving for fresh mint!! So bam, I just went with it 😉
Rachel @ Simple Seasonal
What an awesome combination of flavors. I've recently been messing around with hazelnut flour, but I haven't breaded chicken with it yet. I'm going to have to give it a try. Thanks for the inspiration!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Go for it!!!
Amber @ Awakened Nutrition
This recipe sounds amazing!! I would have not thought to use ground hazelnut for a batter but it sounds perfect! Thanks for this yummy recipe!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It was a great coating!
Jenna @ A Savory Feast
Mmmm! This flavor combination sounds really good. We eat chicken all the time, so I'm always looking for new ways to prepare it.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Same here, haha, that's why I'm always cooking up a new flavor option!
Elly Leavitt
Lemon chicken is one of my faves! And my favourite nut is definitely peanut... Though I love me some hazelnut too 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well peanuts are legumes 😉
Sam @ PancakeWarriors
Yum I bet these would be delish as fish sticks too (my kind of meal). Love the mint and lemon paired with the hazelnut. And I agree, I think hazelnuts don't get enough attention - besides nutella that is!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I've never made homemade fish sticks...but I kinda really miss that childhood favorite!
Vicky
Ooh...this sounds fabulous! I love using nuts as a coating for chicken! I LOVE hazelnut and I've used crushed hazelnuts to coat chicken, but not the meal, so I definitely want to give this a try...thanks for sharing this!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
The meal just sticks so well! But yea, I love coating chicken in nuts!! So much flavor!
Lauren
This sounds wonderful! Lemon and mint sure go great together!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Very fresh, I'd say!