chicken salad
What is your favorite chicken salad recipe? I have a lot of left over chicken breast that we grilled, and are very tender. Mayo based?, curry ? (unlike Sandra Lee, I like curry)! Vinegar based? I'm new to this site, so I hope I am not repeating.
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26 Comments:
@stacemace - lol on the SLop reminder. I find a dressing of 50-50 mayo and creme fraiche with 50-50 chopped chives and shallots, with whatever the other herbs I have on hand (read - in the mood for) works well. I usually add toasted walnuts and sliced grapes, S&P. I adore curry also, but this seems to appeal to DH. I personally am not a fan of vinegar with chicken. Just saying.
Since you are new, there are no repeats. Welcome. Hope you buckled your seatbelt. You are in for the ride of your life here! These folks are AMAZING, that's right, AMAZING!!
izatryt at 9:28PM on 06/15/08
I make a mayo based one. A small amount of minced onion. Celery and green pepper, salt and pepper and finally...the key is a pinch of garlic powder.
smile at 10:35PM on 06/15/08
I have three "main" chicken salad varieties (I prefer small dice for all three):
The first one has hard boiled eggs (I know, it sounds funny, but it's good), cornichons/gherkins, celery, red onion, dill, smoked paprika, s & p and Dijon-mayo dressing (usually, the mayo is home-made).
The second one has diced kalamata olives and sauteed mushrooms with onions and a little garlic - this one is actually quite good warm, dressed just with olive oil, salt, freshly ground black pepper and a touch of sherry that I add to the mushrooms when they are being sauteed. It's lovely when it's cold as well.
The third one is mayo based again (I fancy using walnut or hazelnut oil when making mayo for this one), and it has shallots, a green apple or green grapes and walnuts or pine nuts - depending on what I have at the moment:-). And of course, salt and freshly ground black pepper.
brooke29 at 12:03AM on 06/16/08
I rarely have enough for chicken salad because I love chicken, mayo & cranberry sauce sandwiches, but if I am making chicken salad, it's also mayo (with added lemon juice) based, with lots of celery and sweet halved grapes, and either chopped shallots, scallions or red onion (just a bit - not overpowering) and s&p. I have also added apple - Granny Smith or Fuji. I'm not a big fan of nuts in chicken salad, but I do like sweet and crunchy. If it's lacking flavor, I've added pickle juice (from Claussen Kosher Dills). Just a tablespoon or so adds a kick.
@brooke29......you've inspired me to try something different!
PerkyMac at 12:35AM on 06/16/08
@stacemace..........forgot to say Welcome! Also wanted to add that I actually have something in common with Shamdra - I can't stand curry. Must go sit in a corner now, hang my head and think about my shame. Sniff.
PerkyMac at 12:38AM on 06/16/08
oops- forgot a key ingredient in my chicken salad. Celery seed.
PerkyMac at 12:44AM on 06/16/08
@Perky - yay!
Oh, and by the way - I'll be joining you in that can't-stand-curry corner, and I come from the land of curry!:-) But to ease your pain - it doesn't seem like it's something we truly have in common with Aunt Sandy. Since I clearly remembered her using curry on Semi-Ho, I did a quick search on the FN site and there they were - 7 "recipes" of hers that use curry (one of which is her "signature dish", as I recall), all from different episodes. Oh well.
brooke29 at 2:58AM on 06/16/08
Funnily enough, I made a chicken salad dressing this evening from a Narsai David recipe, You start by gently warming coriander and curry powder, adding Dijon mustard and honey and then a little chicken stock. Let it cool and stir in mayonnaise. I cut the amounts of coriander and curry it called for and was happy that I did as it was quite authoritative with the smaller amounts.
I found it on the web under the CBS kitchen/Narsai David recipes listing.
I took some classes from him a long time ago and remembered a chutney cheddar cheese appetizer he made and was looking for that. It's more than worth the effort to make it.
I've been working on a project gathering all the uses for a grocery store roasted chicken. This dressing was great with slivered roast chicken, torn butter lettuce and cooked, but still crisp. cauliflower and broccoli in the mix
suegsf at 6:17AM on 06/16/08
at work we make chicken salad with (yuk) miracle whip, yogurt dressing and use a small dice chicken, celery, hard boiled eggs and pecans. Personally I wont touch the stuff but it sells out fast. Personally I like chicken salad with celery seed, toasted, no eggs, and lots of pickels if I'm making a mayo based. But lately I've made one up with just celery seed, sliced waterchestnuts and a thai peanut sauce, I was bored one day and started "experimenting" Surprisingly it was pretty good, now SO even likes it. Good luck and welcome to the site, And I agree Izatryt these folks are amazing!
huneybumper at 7:37AM on 06/16/08
Roasted chicken, (that makes a HUGE difference) celery, REAL mayonnaise (preferably Hellman's or Best Foods), salt and pepper.
That's it. No grapes, no walnuts and for God's sake no damn curry!!! I personally prefer smaller chunks of chicken but that's just me. Also I use mostly white meat but throw some thigh meat in the mix also.
RichardCrystal at 9:06AM on 06/16/08
Here is something different:
Toast up some cumin
Add it to some good yogurt like Faze
Mince up some garlic
Add some lemon juice and a little olive oil
add fresh cilantro (if you like it)
Salt and pepper
a dash of cayenne
Stir that up with your chicken - thats a great chicken salad. And lower fat. Kind of a curry theme but more middle eastern I guess.
If you wanted to get really wild you could add a little zatar or sumac to that.
Mischiefdish at 9:44AM on 06/16/08
I make mine mayo-based with lots of green onions and a spoonful of horseradish, s&p (strong flavors? who me?). I agree that roasting the chicken makes it taste even better.
I love curry, by the way, but I don't usually want it in my chicken salad.
wellred at 10:33AM on 06/16/08
@brooke29...........let me get this straight. Are you saying that Aunt Shamdra doesn't even like her own messipes? I clearly heard her say she doesn't like curry. WOW! The implications are mind blowing and earth shattering. It's like Bobby Flay saying he doesn't like hot peppers, Mario saying he hated pasta, or Ina not cooking chicken for her Jeffrey. I'm flabbergasted (and happy to have company in the shame corner).
PerkyMac at 11:10AM on 06/16/08
@stacemace, there are also lots of recipes online for Vietnamese chicken salads -- one of my favorite foods. They are extra good in really hot weather. No mayo. Very refreshing. Welcome and good luck.
Blue Iris at 11:25AM on 06/16/08
Soo Simple Summer Chicken Salad
This is so delish, yet simple. The colors and smells scream SUMMER... You will love it, enjoy!!!
Ingredients
2 C. white chichen meat, canned is fine
3/4 C. grapes, cut in halves
1/4 C. walnuts, chopped
1/4 C. celery, chopped
2 Tbs. shallots
1 Tbs. fresh mint
Sea salt and pepper to taste
3/4 C. favorite mayo
Directions
Mix all ingredients together. Serve with flour tortillas.
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 11:51AM on 06/16/08
My favorite chicken salad is mayo based as well. I add celery, green onion, dried cranberries and cashews. I like the tang of the cranberries and the crunch of the cashews. It makes a wonderful, light, summertime dinner.
Teresa1067 at 2:01PM on 06/16/08
Oh, You are all wonderful and truly AMAZING. I have never felt more welcomed! Thanks for all the GREAT tips. StaceMace
stacemace at 8:27PM on 06/16/08
You can use canned chicken or if you have leftover chicken , pass it in your food processor until it is very fine. Take it out of processor, add mayo ,pickle relish,( I add sweet and dill,) salt, red pepper,little onion powder and if I have it a dash of celery seed. Stir well and enjoy as a sandwich or with crackers. You can also add this to the center of a bed of lettuce. This is the best I have ever had. Hope you enjoy it too. My self I prefere it after it is put in the fridge for a while to chill. YUM
granny at 1:32PM on 06/17/08
Mine's pretty basic, too, but I'll add to the welcome thread! I use half mayo and half greek yogurt (so it's healthier, and it has a nice tang), diced shallot or red onion, a little finely diced celery, some diced tart apple, and chopped pecans.
I like mine crunchy, if you couldn't tell. And with big chunks of chicken - whatever's left on the carcass after we eat a roasted chicken (which I have to admit usually comes from the grocery store).
cyberroo at 4:55PM on 06/17/08
My chicken salad includes mayo, hardboiled egg, a very little grated onion, celery (if I have it), chopped pickle or relish (sweet, dill, bread&butter depending on mood and contents of fridge), celery seed and either dill or tarragon. Sometimes I add a little pickle juice. Salt and pepper, of course. Makes me hungry thinking about it!
NoPunyNerd at 11:18AM on 06/18/08
I like the mayo, grapes, toasted walnut, chives version similar to "chew on that" above, but I add some mango chutney to the mix. Delish!
SavtaShayna
SavtaShayna at 12:33PM on 06/18/08
My recipe is kind of purist. Hellman's mayo, diced green pepper and salt and pepper to taste. The trick is to shred the chicken (all wite meat), not dice it and to add the mayo when the chicken is still very warm. This way, the chicken sucks up the mayo instead of floating in it. Also, resist the urge to boil the chicken. Try roasting bone-in breasts with the skin on (ala Ina Garten). The result is much juicier chicken.
Josdean at 9:37PM on 06/18/08
you are all forgetting one of the best (and now very trendy) chicken salads; Bacon-Ranch chicken salad, (we use Nueske's bacon), also some celery, onion, and a 2:1 ranch:mayo blend....we sell lots of this in my deli both in sandwiches and by the pound
Food Guy in Maine at 10:35AM on 06/23/08
Red Grape, blueberry and almond chicken salad.
http://expatriateskitchen.blogspot.com/2007/04/taute-cusine-red-grape-blueberry-and.html
ExpatChef at 11:32AM on 06/23/08
http://nujoikitchendiary.blogspot.com/2007/12/looking-forward-to-turkey-salad.html
NuJoi at 10:09PM on 06/28/08
I depends on what I have around the house and my mood. I LOVE chicken salad period!! But my usual is (of course) chicken diced, mayo, white pepper, lemon juice, lemon pepper, tarragon, diced celery, onion (green or purple) and sometimes I will add cashews or other times curry powder. But my favorite all time chicken salad is from a restaurant chain called Breugger's Bagels, they have the best chicken salad I have ever eaten. Now for the sad part (sniff sniff) they pulled all the Breugger's out of the Pac. Northwest, so I can't have it anymore. Anyone live near a Breugger's? hint hint........
pjracz10 at 9:52AM on 07/29/08