I love sweet cherries.  My heart seriously skips a beat when I start seeing sweet cherries in the grocery stores and fresh fruit stands.  I can just sit and snack on them all day.  I decided to hit Pinterest up for some different uses of this awesome fruit and I found this gem.  Since sweet cherries are usually found in sweet recipes, I thought it would be worth a try to use them in a savory type of way.  Besides, I’m also always looking for more low-calorie ways to dress up chicken.

I was NOT disappointed with the outcome of this recipe at all!  This took a boring piece of grilled chicken to an exciting piece of chicken that bursts with flavor.  The sauce is slightly spicy, but also leaves a trace of sweetness behind.  Besides the fact that it’s yummy, isn’t it pretty?  I would totally serve this to guests on a summer evening.  It would be so perfect.

Grilled Chicken With Sweet and Spicy Cherry Sauce
Recipe Adapted From  Health.com

cooking spray
1 cup chopped & pitted sweet cherries
1/4 cup red cooking wine (I used Sherry)
1 garlic clove, minced
1/8 teaspoon cumin
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 tablespoon fruit preserves (I used Strawberry)
4 (4-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Prepare your grill to a medium heat.  Then lightly spray the grill rack with cooking spray (sometimes this creates flames, so I often times take a paper towel sprayed with cooking spray and wipe it on the grill rack).

Lightly crush cherries in a small saucepan.  Add the cooking wine and the next 6 ingredients (through preserves).  Bring the mixture to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes.

Grill chicken, covered, for 4 minutes on each side or until it is cooked through (if you have a thermometer, I cook mine until the temperature reaches 165 degrees).  Serve topped with cherry sauce.

Serves 4.

Nutritional Information (Per Serving)
Calories:  189
Protein:  27g
Carbs:  9g
Fat:  3g (1g = Sat.)
Fiber:  1g