Opa!

Some of my favorite type of food to eat is definitely Mediterranean. The fresh and clean flavors of lemon, olive oil and garlic and lots of fresh seafood. Simplicity that disguises itself as complex. 

This week's recipe uses simple and relatively inexpensive ingredients to make a meal that is satisfying and makes you feel like you should be on the island of Mykonos sipping chilled white wine while looking at the crystal clear and blue water. Sounds nice, right? 

Greek Chicken 

2 Tbsp olive oil

1 red onion, peeled and thinly sliced

1 lemon

1/3 C kalamata olives, pitted 

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 Tbsp Greek seasoning (1/2 Tbsp salt, 1/2 Tbsp oregano) 

5 cloves garlic, peeled and whole

1 Tbsp paprika 

1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes 

1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar 

Salt and pepper to taste 

Crumbled feta cheese, for serving

Pita bread, for serving 

Preheat oven to 450. 

Slice onion in thick slices and place in bottom of an oven-safe dish. Zest one lemon over the top of the slices and drizzle with olive oil. Add in whole PITTED  kalamata olives, believe me you don't want to sit down to eat this beautiful feast and break a tooth on an olive pit. Toss everything together. 

Cut chicken into 1 inch chunks and season with salt, pepper and Greek Seasoning. Arrange over top of onions. Tuck whole garlic cloves under the chicken breast to keep them from burning. Cook in oven for 15 minutes. 

After 15 minutes, line the outside of your dish with tomatoes and drizzle with vinegar and cook for another 15-20 minutes (or until chicken is cooked through). 

Serve on a pita, top with feta cheese and a squeeze of lemon and prepare for your tummy to be transported to Greece.

The onions get so sweet and soft and succulent I'd almost like to eat them just on their own (but everything else is great too). 

In search of a perfect wine toaccompany this fantastic meal, Nate and I decided to go wine tasting at the Don Quixote Distillery located at 236 Rio Bravo, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544. This distillery and winery have been featured in multiple publications such as Travel Channel and the Huffington Post and offer several types of wine and spirits. Most notable is their Blue Corn Vodka and Blue Corn Bourbon. Being a vodka drinker, I decided to try it as part of my tasting selection (5 tastes of wine and/or spirits for $5). 

The vodka smelled slightly sweet and the flavor was so smooth and clean! Normally I don't make it a habit of drinking vodka straight (I prefer mine with vermouth and olives) but this vodka was truly delicious! I will be buying a bottle and will savor every drop. 

After sampling ports, dessert wines, reds and whites we decided the best wine to pair with our meal would be their "Manhattan Project" (cuz they're in Los Alamos, get it?) which is a Sauvignon Blanc. This slightly dry and tart wine was the perfect compliment to the sharp feta, sweet onions and juicy chicken. 

We also took home a bottle of their Mon Cherie port wine, now I know what you're thinking, ports are super sweet and almost syrup-y. Believe me, I agree with you but this port is made with 100% cherry juice and honest to God, tastes like eating a handful of cherries. Tart and slightly bitter with a hint of sweetness. The bartender suggested pairing the port with something dark chocolate because it would resemble a cherry cordial, I was (and am) salivating at the thought. 

Enjoy this delicious meal and I really encourage you to try this recipe and prepare to be wowed! And also check out the Don Quixote Distillery for some truly unique wines and spirits.