Chicken Gumbo

Chicken Gumbo

The majority of Kirby’s meals are homemade so I like to change it up to give him a variety of foods. This one has a lot of ingredients for their different healthy benefits but it’s so easy to make. Granted it’s not very pretty but the aroma while it’s cooking is divine. Even out of the freezer, once thawed it has such a fresh smell. I barely warm it in the microwave for roughly 20 seconds. Kirby scarfs this one down every time so I’m placing it on his monthly list of meals.

Ingredients

4 lbs chicken breasts
2 ½ cups chicken broth*
16 oz bag frozen green beans, chopped
2 cups yellow squash, chopped
1 – 19 oz can lentils, rinsed
1 cup blueberries
1 cup cottage cheese
¼ cup ground flaxseed
1/4 cup parsley
2 tablespoons rosemary
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp sea salt
1 tsp ground eggshell**
1 cup barley, soaked***

Preparation Instructions

1. Boil the chicken breasts in water until cooked. Once cooled, discard the skin and bones. Save 2 1/2 cups of the chicken broth. Shred or chop the meat and set aside.

2. Place the remaining ingredients in a large dutch oven or pot and cover with the reserved chicken broth. Heat over medium heat just until it begins to boil, then simmer covered on low heat for 2 to 3 hours until the veggies are soft.

3. Thoroughly mix in the shredded chicken.

4. Let cool and serve.

*This is the broth, or juices, left from boiling the chicken. If you want to make this with leftover chicken use a dog safe chicken stock. (Make your own following the directions found in my Tips & Tricks section)

**This can be omitted. The majority of Kirby’s meals are home made so even though he takes a daily multi-vitamin he still needs the added calcium this provides.

*** Dogs have a harder time digesting grains which provide needed carbs so I soak the grains in water for at least several hours but preferably overnight. For this recipe I measured 1 cup barley into a large glass container with lid. Then I added roughly 3 cups water and placed the lid on. It does not need to be refrigerated. Drain the water when ready to use. You can leave the barley out of the recipe if you want a grain free meal.

This made 14 – 1 cup servings which I froze in individual serving containers. It should last in the refrigerator for a week and the freezer for several months.

Originally appeared on Entirely Pets Blog 9/12/13