Blackened Chicken & Creole Lentils

Ingredients

8 skinless chicken breasts or thighs

¼ cup (60 mL) Cajun spice blend (or use recipe below)

2 Tbsp (30 mL) canola oil

Lentils

2 Tbsp (30 mL) canola oil

1 cup (250 mL) thinly sliced onion

2 cups (500 mL) thinly sliced mushrooms

1 Tbsp (15 mL) tomato paste

2 tsp (10 mL) Cajun spice blend (or use recipe below)

1 cup (250 mL) chicken stock

2 cups (500 mL) cooked or canned green lentils, drained and rinsed

1 Tbsp (15 mL) unsalted butter

1 Tbsp (15 mL) lemon juice

3 Tbsp (45 mL) chopped parsley

salt & ground black pepper, to taste

Cajun Spice Mix

4 tsp (20 mL) dried oregano

4 tsp (20 mL) dried thyme

4 tsp (20 mL) garlic powder

2 tsp (10 mL) onion powder

2 tsp (10 mL) ground black pepper

2 tsp (10 mL) ground white pepper

2 tsp (10 mL) ground paprika

1 tsp (10 mL) kosher or coarse salt

½ tsp (5 mL) ground cayenne pepper