with Roasted Zucchini, Smoky Crema & Toasted Pepitas

Yield: 2 Servings

Capture the bold, zesty flavors of Southwestern cuisine. Tender spiced chicken is served alongside buttery cumin-infused jasmine rice studded with crunchy toasted pepitas, plus succulent, garlicky roasted zucchini. Drizzle the chicken with a tangy, smoky red pepper crema just before serving to bring it all home for a hearty meal to remember.
Pepitas – Meaning “little squash seeds,” pepitas are shell-less seeds from certain varieties of pumpkin.
It’s normal for pumpkin seeds to snap, crackle, and sometimes pop right out of the pan! Cover with a lid if you’ve got a wild bunch.
Prep: 10, Cook: 35

• 1zucchini
• ½cup jasmine rice
• 10oz chicken cutlets
• 1½TBS sour cream
• 1clove garlic
• ¼oz cilantro
• 1tsp cumin
• ½oz pepitas
• 1TBS southwest spice blend
• 2TBS smoky red pepper crema
• salt & pepper
• 4tsp cooking oil
• 1TBS butter

Prep:
Adjust racks to middle and top positions and preheat oven to 450°F. Wash and dry produce.
Peel and mince or grate garlic. Trim and halve zucchini lengthwise, cut crosswise into ½-inch-thick half moons. Roughly chop cilantro.

Cook rice:
Heat a drizzle of oil in a small pot over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30-60 seconds.
Stir in rice, cumin, and ¾ cup water, bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover and reduce to a low simmer. Cook until rice is tender, 15-18 minutes.
Keep covered off heat until ready to serve.

Roast zucchini:

While rice cooks, toss zucchini on a baking sheet with a drizzle of oil, salt, and pepper. Roast on middle rack, tossing halfway through, 14-16 minutes.

Toast pepitas:

Meanwhile, heat a large dry pan over medium-high heat. Add pepitas and toast, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and browned, 2- to 3-minutes. Transfer to a plate.

Cook chicken:

Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season all over with Southwest Spice Blend, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle with cilantro.

Heat a large drizzle of oil in pan used for pepitas over medium-high heat. Add chicken and sear until browned, 1- to 3-minutes per side. Turn off heat.

Transfer chicken to a second baking sheet.

Tip: For easy cleanup, line baking sheet with aluminum foil first. Roast on top rack until cooked through, 6- to 8-minutes.

Make sauce & finish rice:

While chicken and zucchini roast, in a small bowl, combine red pepper crema and sour cream.

Fluff rice with a fork, stir in toasted pepitas and 1 TBS butter. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve:

Slice chicken crosswise.

Divide rice, chicken, and roasted zucchini between plates. Drizzle chicken with smoky crema and serve.

Southwest Spice Blend

4          parts garlic powder        1 TBS
2          parts cumin                     1½ tsp
2          parts chili powder           1½ tsp