Chicken salad
Instructions
Chicken salad
Hold back on those ingredients that are high in water content like tomato, celery, or grapes, especially if you’re preparing the salad ahead of time. Simply chop and store these ingredients separately, drain any excess liquid, and add right before serving. The same goes for the dressing, keep it separate and only incorporate as the last step of the recipe.
The beauty of this salad is that bland can very easily become a flavour sensation by incorporating a few extra ingredients. First check that you have added enough salt, the universal flavour enhancer that, if used too sparingly, leads to many a lacklustre dish. Another addition that will instantly brighten up your dish is any form of acidity like lemon, lime or even pickle juice.
Acidity or fat will, to some extent at least, neutralize an overly salty dish. For this recipe, we recommend lemon or lime juice for acidity, and toasted nuts like pecans, almonds or walnuts as healthy fats that will not only help with the saltiness but add an extra depth of flavour as well.
Ingredients
|
Grilled chicken
|
1 |
|---|---|
|
Cherry tomatoes
|
250 g |
|
Cucumber
|
1 |
|
Mixed green salads
|
148 g |
|
Croutons
|
25 g |
For the dressing:
|
Ripe avocado
|
1 |
|---|---|
|
Squeezed lemon juice
|
1 tsp |
|
Sour cream
|
300 ml |
|
Salt
|
½ tsp |
|
Black pepper to taste
|
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A classic salad for all the right reasons
Like a Jane Austen novel, blue suede shoes or a vintage Corvette, everyone appreciates a good classic. In the world of food, this will always include the chicken salad: a versatile and fresh favourite for many. This recipe ticks all the right boxes, from crunchy vegetables and roasted chicken to a decadent dressing of avocado and sour cream.
Chicken salad – a quick and easy lunch idea
When it comes to lunchboxes, chicken salad is a longstanding go-to. Packed with flavour, it can be made the night before (remember to store in an airtight container) and eaten on-the-go for those extra busy days.
How to spruce up your salad
This recipe’s popularity is partly due to its versatility where you can create a completely new experience by simply adding a few ingredients or alternating the dressing. Nuts will add an extra crunch and depth of flavour with our top picks including pecans, almonds, or pine nuts. Fruit and chicken are also old friends, from the fresh (think grapes, apple, or pineapple) to the dried (popular options are cranberries, apricots, or figs).
How to keep the chicken from getting dry
Using a whole chicken and incorporating both dryer white (the breast and wings) and succulent brown (drumsticks and thighs) meat will create a good balance. Storing in an airtight container will also help to prevent the meat from drying out.