Mexican Pulled Chicken Bowl

Try this recipe for a delicious, healthy Mexican Pulled Chicken Bowl.

Laken Charmaine Chinyande’s love for cooking began at a very young age and, as early as she can remember, she has been fascinated and intrigued by the process of creating something delicious from simple ingredients.

“Watching family members cook, experimenting in the kitchen, and the joy of sharing food with loved ones have all fuelled my passion for cooking,” she says.

Now, 27-years-old, and living in Midrand, Chinyande is the proud owner of Lakie’s Bites, a healthy meal prep and private catering company that she started after the lockdown to help people stay on track with their health goals.

Chinyande or, as she prefers to be known, Chef Lakie, graduated from Capsicum Culinary Studio’s Pretoria campus in 2020 with a Professional Chef Qualification.

So how did Lakie’s Bites come about?

“The idea came to life when I noticed a gap in the market for healthy and convenient meal preps. This realisation hit home when my brother and his colleagues began asking me to prepare healthy lunches they could take to work, avoiding the need to order unhealthy options.”

Since then, Lakie’s Bites has grown into one of Gauteng’s top healthy meal prepping companies, offering customised meal plans to suit any dietary needs.

“We collaborate with dietitians to ensure our clients receive the right nutrition tailored to their specific requirements. Our primary goal is to bring convenience to our clients’ lives with ready-made meals, which has been a lifesaver for busy professionals, gym enthusiasts, moms and families.

In addition to meal prepping, our private catering services are designed to not only be delicious, but to also to add a touch of class and elegance to any event. We take pride in presenting aesthetically pleasing dishes that enhance the overall experience of any occasion.”

Lakie’s Bites also offers cooking classes for individuals, groups, and corporate team-building events, helping participants hone their cooking skills or learn new techniques.

Here’s her recipe for a delicious healthy Mexican Pulled Chicken Bowl.

Mexican Pulled Chicken Bowl

Laken Charmaine Chinyande

Ingredients

For the pulled chicken

• 3 chicken breasts, skinned

• ¼ cup oil

• 3 tsp smoked paprika

• 1 tsp ground cumin

• 1 tsp cayenne pepper

• 1 tsp salt chicken spice (optional)

• black pepper

• zest of 1 lime

• 1 cup chicken stock

• oil for frying

• lime zest for garnish

• coriander for garnish

For the Mexican rice

• 1 cup cooked rice

• 1 cup canned kidney beans or black beans

• ½ red pepper, chopped

• ½ red onion, chopped

• 1 tsp paprika

• ½ tsp ground cumin

• chilli (optional)

• 1 tsp lime zest

• handful coriander

• salt and pepper

• oil for cooking 

• ½ cup cooked sweetcorn

• 6 rosa tomatoes, halved

• 1 avocado, chopped into bite-size pieces

• ½ cucumber, diced

• rocket leaves
  

Method

Pulled chicken

1. In a bowl, mix the oil, spices and lime zest. Add the chicken breasts and coat fully. Cover the chicken and refrigerate for 20-30mins.

2. Heat oil in a non-stick pan. Fry the chicken breasts on low heat for 3-5 mins on both sides.

3. Add the chicken stock, then cover and cook for 10-12 mins till the stock is reduced and the chicken is fully cooked. Avoid overcooking the chicken as it will get tough.

4. Once cooked, transfer the chicken breasts to a bowl and let them rest for 5-8 minutes. Get two forks and shred the chicken breasts then add lime zest and chopped coriander.
   

Mexican rice

1. Fry the onion, red pepper, paprika, cumin and chilli if using. Add the beans. Add rice, coriander, lime zest and season well.  Cook for 3-5 mins.

2. To assemble, lay the rocket leaves in a bowl. Add the rice then add sweet corn, halved rosa tomatoes, avocado, and cucumber. Top with the pulled chicken.

3. Serve and enjoy!

lakiesbites.com