Chicken salad

Chicken salad

25 min
A favourite salad that you can easily make with ready grilled chicken. Serve with a creamy dressing with avocado and sour cream.
https://www.arlafoods.co.uk/recipes/chicken-salad12/

Instructions

  • Debone the chicken and cut the meat into pieces. Halve the tomatoes. Cut the cucumber in half lengthwise and slice it.
  • Mix the chicken and vegetables in a bowl or on a platter. Sprinkle with croutons.
  • Peel, core and mash the avocado. Mix with the lemon juice and sour cream. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the sauce with the salad.
Enjoy!

Chicken salad

How do you keep chicken salad from getting watery?
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.
Why does my chicken salad taste bland?
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.
What do I do if my chicken salad is too salty?
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

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.