Chicken and Broccoli Casserole with Quinoa Crumble

Are you looking for a dish that just screams comfort food that is not 100% naughty? Then get in your kitchen, grab your apron and start cooking, cause this dreamy casserole is for you.

I am totally not a fan of winter; nothing brings a bigger frown to my face than the horrid weather that comes along with this time of the year. Down here in little Auckland our winter is filled with a combination of frozen noses from polar blasts, drenched clothes from the days of heavy rain and bones chilled from the wild winds. YUCK!! And as I sit here today, with a billion layers on writing this post, I am dreaming of the return of what felt like the never ending summer, that was abruptly taken away from me just a couple of weeks ago.

There are only two upsides to being forced into the depths of winter by Mother Nature; one is getting to spend the whole day in bed cuddled up with the dogs and the second is the ultra comforting food that I can justify eating. Like this casserole with its tender strips of roasted free-range chicken and crisp broccoli, swimming in a mustardy cream sauce that has been tucked in under a blanket of my Parmesan infused quinoa crumble. This is the ultimate comfort food, with a healthy twist that you have just got to try.

You are going to love the contrast in the texture between the crisp broccoli florets with the moist and tender free-range chicken strips. I used thigh meat for this casserole, as it is more flavorful and tender than chicken breast meat. You are going to adore the creamy sauce that these two ingredients get to swim in. Made from a combination of chicken stock and cream then injected with Dijon mustard for a fantastic tangy flavor.

And you are going to be hooked on the thick layer of my nutty quinoa crumble. I came up with this crumble as a healthy alternative to the usual breadcrumb version that most dishes like this have. It consists of a mixture of cooked quinoa, grated Parmesan cheese and ground almonds and creates the perfect topping for this casserole. The under part of the layer goes all soft as it soaks up some of the creamy sauce while the top becomes a crunchy crust, adding another great contrast in textures.

Ticking all the right boxes, rich, creamy and dreamy, this casserole dish is the perfect solution for the winter blues…… In fact I think I might just go make myself another one right now.
Enjoy.