Hair Recipes · Feb 19, 2020

The Healthy-haired Chef | Grilled Chicken Couscous Salad with Peaches & Mint

For some people, the healthy-train gets derailed at dinner time. We get it. You come home from work, tired and hungry. You want a quick dinner that doesn’t take too much effort, is delicious and satisfies cheeky cravings. It’s so tempting to cave in and order a quick take-out. While sounding like an ideal situation, your body’s health would think differently.

Having recipes that take minimal time and effort to cook, or, can be prepped the weekend before, are key to staying on track with your healthy lifestyle goals. This Grilled Chicken Couscous Salad with Peaches & Mint is the perfect go-to dinner and, what’s more, is packed with a tonne of nutrients/vitamins that promote strong and radiant hair!

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Grilled Chicken Couscous Salad with Peaches & Mint

Serves 2

Ingredients:

3/4 cup wholemeal couscous

1 3/4 tsp salt

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 tsp olive oil

1 tsp salt

1/4 cup pistachios, toasted

1/4 cup red onion, minced

1/2 jalapeño, minced (use half if less heat is preferred)

1/4 cup loosely packed mint, chopped

1/2 cup crumbled feta

1 medium firm-ripe peach, pitted and sliced

2 figs, sliced

For dressing:

1 1/2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp lime juice

1 tsp honey

1/2 tsp salt

Method:

Bring 3/4 cups of water to a boil with 1/2 tsp of salt.
Stir in couscous, cover, remove from heat and let stand 5 minutes.
Fluff with a fork, and spread onto a rimmed baking sheet to cool to room temperature.
While couscous is cooling, preheat grill on medium-high. Rub chicken breasts with the olive oil and sprinkle evenly with remaining salt.
Grill over direct heat for about 10 minutes, flipping halfway once until cooked through.
Let rest for 5 minutes.
Whisk together all ingredients for the dressing.
Toss couscous with pistachios, red onion, jalapeño, mint, feta, figs and peaches.
Divide salad among 2 plates and top with sliced chicken breast.
Eat and enjoy!

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Winner, winner chicken dinner, are we right? But before you pop that apron on and get cooking, find out why this recipe is more than just a tasty meal; it’s food for your hair’s health!

Nutrient/Vitamin	Ingredient	Hair Benefit
Lean protein	Chicken and Feta	Your hair is predominately made up of its own unique protein called Keratin. So, naturally, the hair will thrive off extra protein consumed through the diet. This aids in balancing hair’s moisture and keeping the strength of your locks intact.
Vitamin C	Peaches	Vitamin C is a key component used by the body to create a protein known as collagen. Collagen’s amino acids help strengthen the skin that contains your hair roots and build hair proteins, making them essential for hair growth.
Complex Carbohydrates	Wholemeal Couscous	Carbohydrates are the hair’s preferred source of energy for growing and replacing cells. If you’re experiencing hair loss, fuelling your body with complex carbohydrates will aid in getting those beautiful locks to grow grow grow!
Vitamin B6	Pistachios	B-vitamins help create red blood cells, which carry oxygen and nutrients to the scalp and hair follicles. These processes are important for hair growth.
Iron	Figs	Iron is a key nutrient in preventing hair loss and encouraging hair growth. Iron is used by the body to transport oxygen in the blood to cells. These same cells are the cells used in the creation of new hair follicles. In reverse, a lack of iron, leading to a lack of oxygen in the cells, causes hair loss as hair follicles can no longer grow or survive.
Calcium	Feta, Figs	Sufficient levels of calcium in the body are crucial to assist the absorption of iron (refer to iron point for importance in hair health).

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Recipe adapted from FOODESS