Description
Creamy chicken salad blends tender chicken with crisp apples and sweet grapes for a delightful lunch. Mediterranean-inspired ingredients and fresh herbs elevate this classic dish, promising a refreshing meal you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups (710 ml) chicken, shredded or diced
- 1 cup (150 g) grapes, red or green, halved
- 1 medium apple, diced (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith)
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- ½ cup (120 ml) mayonnaise
- ¼ cup (60 ml) Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup (30 g) pecans or walnuts, chopped (optional)
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) parsley, fresh, chopped (optional)
- 1 tsp (5 ml) honey (optional)
- ¼ tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Dressing Preparation: Whisk mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until smooth and fully incorporated.
- Protein and Produce Preparation: Dice cooked chicken into uniform cubes, halve grapes, core and chop apples into small pieces, and finely mince celery to create a diverse textural landscape.
- Nutty and Herbal Enhancement: Roughly chop pecans and parsley to introduce rich, earthy undertones and a vibrant, fresh dimension to the salad.
- Flavor Melding: Gently fold all prepared ingredients together, ensuring even distribution without compromising the delicate texture of each component.
- Dressing Integration: Drizzle prepared dressing over the mixture, using a light folding technique to coat every ingredient while maintaining structural integrity.
- Flavor Development: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify, creating a harmonious and sophisticated culinary experience.
- Serving: Present the chilled salad, showcasing a refreshing blend of textures and flavors that delight the palate.
Notes
- Prevent Browning Apples: Toss chopped apple pieces in lemon juice to maintain their crisp, white appearance and prevent oxidation.
- Customize Protein Options: Swap chicken with turkey, tofu, or canned chickpeas for diverse dietary preferences and protein alternatives.
- Manage Dressing Consistency: Adjust yogurt and mayonnaise ratio to create lighter or richer dressing based on personal taste preferences.
- Enhance Texture Balance: Toast pecans briefly to intensify nutty flavor and create extra crunchiness before incorporating into the salad.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 330 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg