Okay! So, you are pregnant and it is time for all those unpredictable cravings! That crucial period leads you to the dilemma between satisfying your cravings and taking care of your health.
You may even have cravings for the foods you used to hate before. On the other hand, you may have to leave the foods for a few days for the sake of your vulnerable health.
In short, it is a period of fun, enjoyment, and concern. Eating chicken during pregnancy is one of the most crucial concerns for would-be mums.
Out of concern, innumerable questions come to a pregnant woman’s mind. Among them, one of the most popular questions is “Is it safe for me to eat chicken while pregnant?”.
So, what is the answer? Let us tell you that eating chicken during pregnancy causes no harm, only if it is cooked properly. Let’s learn together on why uncooked or semi-cooked chicken is not recommended for pregnant ladies.
Eating Chicken during Pregnancy: Cook It Before Consuming
Raw chicken or even semi-cooked chicken may contain harmful bacteria called listeria. And it leads to listeriosis, an infectious disease.
Since pregnancy is a time of vulnerability, women are susceptible to infections and diseases more than on regular days. There is a risk of being affected with listeriosis and other similar diseases. So, it is best to avoid uncooked meat these days.
Also, there are some sauces and add-ons prepared with raw meat. Make sure you avoid consuming them during your pregnancy days.
After all, you do not want to accidentally harm your little one in the womb by any chance, right? So, ignore any raw meat recipes while eating during pregnancy.
Needless to say, chicken is a good source of lean protein. Along with that, it comprises different sorts of vitamins, minerals, and fibre. Hence, ignoring it is not justified.
Eating chicken during pregnancy is essential for the growth and development of the child inside the womb. So, we are here today with 7 delicious chicken recipes for you to try in your pregnancy days.
Learn the detailed steps of these pregnancy-friendly recipes below.
Healthy Orange Chicken with Gravy
When it comes to eating chicken during pregnancy, different people would suggest many different recipes. But how healthy are they for would-be-mums and their unborn babies? After all, you cannot eat too spicy these days when you are carrying a baby inside you. But at the same time, this vulnerable phase of life also asks for some good taste to satisfy pregnancy cravings. With that said, here's a delicious chicken recipe for your pregnancy days you may try out.
Servings 2 people
Calories 445kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 tbsp orange juice
- 1/2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
- 1 and 1/2 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp orange zest grated
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 inch ginger roots minced
- 1/2 tsp garlic minced
- 1 tbsp green onion chopped
- 1 and 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsp water
- 400 gms chicken breasts boneless, skinless
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- salt as per taste
- black pepper powder as per taste
Instructions
- Pour water, lemon juice, orange juice, and rice vinegar, and soy sauce into a saucepan.
- Heat the ingredients over a medium flame.
- Now, add orange zest along with brown sugar, ginger, garlic, and chopped onion.
- Stir well and bring it to a boil.
- Once it becomes a thick sauce, turn off the flame.
- Let it cool for 15 minutes.
- Now, wash the chicken breasts well. Cut into small pieces.
- Place the chicken into a large bowl and pour half of the sauce into it.
- Mix it well and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- In another bowl, mix the flour, salt, and black pepper powder.
- Take out the marinated chicken from the refrigerator and coat them with the flour mix.
- Heat olive oil in a pan.
- Keep the heat on a medium flame. Place the flour-coated chicken pieces in the oil.
- Fry them until they are brown on both sides.
- Take them out on paper towels to soak the extra oil.
- Now, pour the remaining sauce into a pan and add cornstarch.
- Add water as per your desired consistency.
- Stir well. Add salt and black pepper as per your taste.
- After stirring for 5-10 minutes. add the chicken pieces to the sauce.
- Reduce the heat to a low flame and cook for 10 minutes.
- Turn off the flame and close the lid. Keep it aside for 5-10 minutes.
- Serve with orange zest dressings.
Nutrition
Calories: 445kcal
Roasted Chicken and Vegetables with Lemon Dressing
Do chicken and veggies go together? Yes! These nutritious dishes are great options for pregnancy meals. Especially if you are in the first trimester, such chicken recipes are highly recommended. Here we share a delicious, easy recipe. It includes the wholesome nutrition of chicken and vegetables.
Servings 2 people
Calories 328kcal
Ingredients
- 400 gms chicken pieces large-sized
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp coriander ground
- 1 tbsp cumin ground
- 2 tbsp sweet paprika
- 1/2 tbsp lemon zest grated
- salt as needed
- black pepper freshly ground
- 150 gms butternut squash cut into small pieces
- 2 potatoes medium-sized, cut into small pieces
- 100 gms beans cut into small pieces
- 50 gms carrots grated
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the coriander, paprika, cumin, and lemon zest.
- Add half of the spice mix to the chicken.
- Pre-heat the oven at 450°F.
- Prepare the baking sheet and place the chicken on it.
- Add salt and black pepper to the chicken.
- Next, place the vegetables in the same bowl.
- Add olive oil and remaining spices to it.
- Now, roast the chicken and vegetables for 25 minutes.
- Once it is cooked, serve hot with your preferred sauce. Garnish with lemon dressing.
Nutrition
Calories: 328kcal
Tomato Chicken with Cauliflower Rice
If you are worried about gaining weight in your pregnancy days, you should follow a low-carb diet. Tomato chicken and cauliflower rice are a delicious combination that you can add to your low-carb diet meal plans. It is one of the most popular dishes in Malaysia. However, we have tweaked the ingredients and style of cooking a bit to make it pregnancy-friendly. Here is the recipe below.
Servings 2 people
Calories 380kcal
Ingredients
For tomato chicken
- 500 gms chicken breasts boneless, skinless, cut into pieces
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 onion medium-sized, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 inch fresh ginger minced
- 2 tsp coriander powder
- 1 and 1/2 cup tomato smashed
- 3 tbsp light coconut milk
- salt as needed
- pepper as needed
- 2 tsp lemon zest grated
For cauliflower rice
- 400 gms cauliflower cut into florets
- 1 egg large, beaten
- 1 stalk spring onion cut into small pieces
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 inch ginger grated
- 1 carrot medium-sized, cut into thin pieces
- 50 gms green peas
- 25 gms corns
- 1/2 tbsp black sesame seeds roasted
- 2 tbsp coriander leaves chopped
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
- salt as per taste
- black pepper as per taste
Instructions
To prepare tomato chicken
- Heat oil in a large pan at a medium flame.
- Add chicken to it.
- Stir fry them until they turn golden brown.
- Next, keep them aside and add more oil to the pan.
- Fry onion, garlic, ginger on the pan until they become soft.
- Insert the smashed tomato and coconut milk to the pan.
- Add a little water and cook it until it boils.
- Now, add salt and black pepper as required.
- Add the stir-fried chicken into the tomato mix.
- If the gravy seems too dry, add some more water to it.
- Close the lid and cook for 10 minutes.
- Finally, lower the heat and cook for 15 minutes more.
- Once it is cooked, turn off the flame and keep it aside.
To prepare cauliflower rice
- Grind the cauliflower florets into a food processor. Make it coarse.
- Mix egg, salt, and pepper. Whisk well and make it slightly frothy.
- Then, heat oil in a pan.
- Pour the egg mixture into the pan and cook it.
- Fry both sides of the egg omelette well.
- Keep it aside.
- Saute the ginger and garlic in oil.
- Next, top up some oil in the pan and add the cauliflower florets.
- Combine the peas, corns, and carrots to it.
- Mix all of the ingredients well and fry.
- Now, sprinkle spring onions on the dish.
- Add soy sauce, rice vinegar, salt, and black pepper.
- Stir all of the ingredients for 5-6 minutes.
- Once everything is cooked thoroughly, sprinkle sesame seeds on it and stir. Finally, remove it from heat.
- Garnish with chopped coriander leaves.
- Serve with omelette placed by its side.
- Thus, enjoy your cauliflower rice served with tangy-spicy tomato chicken!
Nutrition
Calories: 380kcal
Healthy and Tasty Pumpkin Chicken Curry
Pumpkin may not have been on your list of favourites till now. But it is your pregnancy days, after all. It asks for more care and attention towards yourself than before. So, you cannot just ignore such a nutritious vegetable like pumpkins. To start with, it is filled with carbohydrates, vitamins, iron and calcium. Having enough pumpkin helps your baby to grow well, too. Hence, we are here with a delicious yet healthy recipe with pumpkin. You will get the nutrition of both chicken and pumpkin in it. Perfect!
Servings 2 people
Calories 357kcal
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion medium-sized, sliced
- 400 gms chicken breast cut into pieces
- 2 inches ginger minced
- 200 gms pumpkin peeled and cut into slices
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 200 ml coconut milk light
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- salt as per taste
- 2 tbsp coriander leaves chopped
- yoghurt optional, to thicken it
Instructions
- Heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Throw in the onion and ginger. Fry them until the onion slices become transparent.
- Add garlic and stir well.
- Now, pour the chicken into it and stir for 5-6 minutes.
- Then, add pumpkin pieces to it.
- Pour in coconut milk and water.
- Cover it with a lid and cook on a medium flame until the chicken softens.
- Add lime juice and stir well.
- Sprinkle salt to it.
- Next, mix in yoghurt to thicken the gravy. This step is optional.
- Cook for another 15 minutes.
- Make sure the chicken and pumpkin are cooked properly.
- Once they are cooked, serve hot.
Nutrition
Calories: 357kcal
Healthy Chicken Rendang
Rendang ayam or chicken rendang! A mouth-watering delicacy for all Malaysians out there! But is it good enough for pregnant women? The spicy nature may not be suitable for you when you are in your pre-motherhood days. So, does that mean you have to compromise with your craving for it? Not at all! We understand how much Malaysian mummies love our traditional foods, and we will help you have it even in your pregnancy days. Thus, here's a healthy recipe for chicken rendang for you to try. You can have it in your second trimester days.
Servings 2 people
Calories 380kcal
Ingredients
- 400 gms chicken breasts cut into pieces
- 1 onion medium-sized, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 chillies
- 1 inch ginger minced
- 1 stalk lemongrass
- 1 inch galangal
- turmeric powder freshly ground
- 1 piece turmeric leaf 15 cm. approx
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 pieces kaffir lime leaves 5 cm. approx
Instructions
- Heat oil in a pan.
- Insert all of the ingredients except chicken, and fry for 10-15 minutes.
- Add chicken to it.
- Mix water into it.
- Cook at a medium flame. Add required salt.
- Once the chicken is tender, lower the flame.
- Cook on simmer for 5-10 minutes.
- Once the gravy is thick as per your desired consistency, add lime leaves and turmeric leaf to it.
- Continue simmering for 15 minutes more.
- Serve hot with rice.
Notes
We avoid using coconut milk here as too much coconut milk can make it spicier. Also, we have avoided giving any extra oil. Excessive spicy food is not good for pregnant ladies.
Nutrition
Calories: 380kcal
Easy Mushroom Chicken with Creamy Gravy
If you want a delicious protein-packed dish in your pregnancy days, this is the best option for you. Both chicken and mushrooms are storehouses of protein. No matter if you are in your first trimester or third trimester, you can add this dish to your lunch or dinner menu. So, here goes the recipe for a lip-smacking mushroom-chicken gravy.
Servings 2 people
Calories 280kcal
Ingredients
- 400 gms chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- salt and black pepper as per requirement
- 2 cloves garlic
- 200 gms mushrooms cremini mushrooms, sliced
- 1 green onion medium-sized, chopped
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 3 tbsp Greek yoghurt
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a pan.
- Sprinkle salt and black pepper on the chicken.
- Pour chicken into oil and cook.
- Fry them until they turn brown.
- Once it is cooked, remove them from the pan.
- Now, add some more oil to the pan.
- Fry green onion, mushrooms, and garlic.
- Once the mushrooms are slightly brown, add the fried chicken to them.
- Cook for 8-10 minutes.
- Now, add chicken broth to it.
- Let the mix boil and add yoghurt.
- Thus, a thick sauce-like gravy is created.
- Add some more salt if required.
- Your mushroom chicken with gravy is ready to be served.
Notes
Make sure to only take the type of mushrooms that are safe during pregnancy.
Nutrition
Calories: 280kcal
Asian-Styled Shredded Chicken Salad
It is easy to get mood swings during pregnancy days. You may not feel like eating your regular chicken meals. But protein is a must, after all. So, here we have something interesting for you. Find a healthy and tasty recipe for chicken salad. And guess what! It is our very own Asian-style chicken salad. All of the components added here are nutritious. Try it as a substitute for your regular chicken stew or chicken curry.
Servings 2 people
Calories 612kcal
Ingredients
- 3 cup boiled chicken shredded
- 1 cup cabbage and tomato chopped
- 1/2 cup carrot grated
- 1 green onion cut into thin slices
- 1 cup roasted peanuts chopped
- 2 tbsp coriander leaves chopped
- salt as per taste
- black pepper as per taste
For sauce
- 2 tbsp peanut butter
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp peanut oil
- 1 and 1/2 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp sambal
- 1/2 tbsp ginger grated
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- lime juice as per taste
- salt and black pepper as per taste
Instructions
- Boil carrots and cabbage first. Fry the tomato slightly.
- Next, mix chicken, cabbage, carrots, and green onions in a large bowl.
- Sprinkle salt and black pepper in it.
- Add the roasted peanuts to it and mix well.
To prepare sauce
- Mix all of the ingredients except lime juice into a bowl and whisk until it becomes a uniform sauce.
- Add lime juice to it.
- Now, finally, pour the sauce slowly into the chicken-vegetable mix.
- Toss well and mix the ingredients.
- Sprinkle chopped coriander leaves on it.
- Serve immediately or keep it in the freezer for 30-40 minutes.
Notes
Try not to eat raw veggies in the salad. Boil or fry before consumption.
Nutrition
Calories: 612kcal
The Takeaway
Voila! We have reached the end of our discussion and the sharing of our special pregnancy-friendly chicken recipes for the day. If you are concerned about eating chicken during pregnancy, try these recipes.
From traditional chicken curry to light chicken salad, the list includes all. We hope it will add variety to your pregnancy day meals meeting your nutrition requirement.
Enjoy your meals! Have a safe and happy pregnancy!
Stay tuned to Motherhood story for more fun recipes and exciting stories!