Basil Walnut Chicken Salad Food

THIN-SLICED VEGETABLE SALAD WITH WALNUTS, CHICKEN, AND BASIL BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Season the chicken with salt; place the broth (or water) and chicken in a small stockpot. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, cover, and cook until chicken is just done, about 10 minutes. Remove breasts; cool, shred, and set aside. Reserve broth for future use.
• Place basil, vinegar, garlic, oil, and salt to taste in blender. Blend until smooth and set aside.
• In a large bowl, toss arugula, radicchio, lettuce, fennel, red pepper, onion, walnuts, 1/2 cup salad dressing, and salt and pepper to taste. Place three endive leaves in a three-pointed star with tips facing out on four individual dinner plates or wide shallow bowls. Place equal mounds of salad in center. Arrange chicken on top.

CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Rinse chicken thoroughly and place in a large pot of water. Turn on the heat and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat and simmer until chicken is done (about 45 minutes to an hour). When you are ready, remove the chicken from the pot and place on a plate. With your fingers or a fork, pull all of the meat off the bones, chop into bite-sized chunks and set aside.
• Chop all of your fruits and veggies and place them in a bowl with the chicken.
• In another bowl mix mayonnaise, yogurt (or sour cream), lemon juice, brown sugar and salt and pepper to taste.
• Add the dill (or oregano or cilantro...whatever makes your skirt fly up) and if you're feeling a bit brazen throw in a dash of cayenne pepper!
• When the dressing tastes just right (you must taste test for appropriate saltiness especially), pour it over the chicken/veggie/fruit mixture and stir gently until everything is thoroughly mixed. Stir in the almonds. If you are feeling naughty, add a sprinkling of bacon bits.
• Allow the salad to chill for several hours (or even overnight). Serve on a bed of lettuce or in a sandwich or heck, eat it straight out of the bowl with a serving spoon. Try it soon-you'll love it!

BASIC CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Place almonds in a frying pan. Toast over medium-high heat, shaking frequently. Watch carefully, as they burn easily.
• In a medium bowl, mix together mayonnaise, lemon juice, and pepper. Toss with chicken, almonds, and celery.

CHICKEN SALAD CONTESSA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the chicken breasts, skin side up, on a baking sheet and rub them with olive oil. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Set aside until cool.
• When the chicken is cool, remove meat from the bones and discard the skin and bones. Cut the chicken into a 3/4-inch dice.
• Meanwhile, place the pecans and walnuts on a separate sheet pan and toast in the oven for 7 to 8 minutes until golden. Set aside to cool.
• For the dressing, mix together the mayonnaise, sour cream, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Fold in half the chopped tarragon leaves.
• Place the diced chicken in a bowl, add the pecans, walnuts and grapes. Pour the dressing over the chicken and toss well. Sprinkle the remaining chopped tarragon leaves on top, and serve on a bed of lettuce leaves.

CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Toss together the chicken, celery, scallions, dill and parsley in a large bowl.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard, salt and pepper to taste. Add to the chicken and mix gently until combined. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Put the parsley, thyme, onion, carrot, celery, and chicken breasts in a medium saucepan. Cover with the broth, and bring just to a boil. Lower the heat to very low and cover. Poach the chicken until firm to the touch, about 20 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, uncover and cool the chicken in the liquid for 30 minutes.
• Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and reserve the liquid. Bone and skin the chicken and roughly chop the meat into about 1-inch pieces. Discard the bones and skin.
• Strain the broth and store, covered, in the refrigerator for 3 days or freeze for later use. Remove any fat from the surface of the broth before using.

CHICKEN, BROCCOLI & BEETROOT SALAD WITH AVOCADO PESTO

Steps:

• Bring a large pan of water to the boil, add the broccoli and cook for 2 mins. Drain, then refresh under cold water. Heat a griddle pan, toss the broccoli in 1⁄2 tsp of the rapeseed oil and griddle for 2-3 mins, turning, until a little charred. Set aside to cool. Brush the chicken with the remaining oil and season. Griddle for 3-4 mins each side or until cooked through. Leave to cool, then slice or shred into chunky pieces.
• Next, make the pesto. Pick the leaves from the basil and set aside a handful to top the salad. Put the rest in the small bowl of a food processor. Scoop the flesh from the avocado and add to the food processor with the garlic, walnuts, oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 2-3 tbsp cold water and some seasoning. Blitz until smooth, then transfer to a small serving dish. Pour the remaining lemon juice over the sliced onions and leave for a few mins.
• Pile the watercress onto a large platter. Toss through the broccoli and onion, along with the lemon juice they were soaked in. Top with the beetroot, but don't mix it in, and the chicken. Scatter over the reserved basil leaves, the lemon zest and nigella seeds, then serve with the avocado pesto.

WALNUT CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine chicken through relish; mix well.
• In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, sugar, salt and pepper.
• Pour creamy dressing mixture into chicken salad mixture and mix everything together well.
• Serve on lettuce or croissants/rolls.

APPLE WALNUT CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, gently stir together chicken, celery, apple, walnuts, and raisins.
• Pour the dressing over the mixture and toss gently to coat.
• Serve on a bed of Bibb lettuce.

BASIL CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Combine first 5 ingredients and stir well.
• Combine chicken, celery, green onions and basil in a medium bowl.
• Add the mayonnaise mixture and toss gently.
• Place 1 cup spinach on each of 6 salad plates.
• Spoon chicken mixture evenly over each plate.
• Sprinkle with pine nuts.

BEST CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Choose a heavy pot or Dutch oven with a tightfitting lid. It should be large enough to hold the chicken snugly, but not much bigger. Fill pot about 2/3 full with cold water, but don't put the chicken in yet. Boil some extra water in a teakettle.
• Add scallions and peppercorns to water, cover and bring to a rolling boil. Turn off heat and slip chicken pieces into the hot water. If needed, add boiling water from the kettle to cover chicken with water by 2 inches. Replace the lid and let chicken rest in the hot water for about 2 hours. Do not turn the flame back on: The pot will retain enough heat to cook chicken thoroughly and safely. (To test, cut into 1 piece of chicken and check the meat near the bone. If it is still pink, return the pot to low heat, bring the water to a simmer and simmer 10 minutes more.)
• Lift chicken out of the pot. Remove and discard bones, skin and fat. Pat the meat dry with paper towels, then cut or shred into small bite-size pieces and transfer to a bowl. (Meanwhile, simmer cooking liquid until tasty, strain and refrigerate or freeze to use as chicken stock.)
• In a bowl, whisk together juice of 1/2 lemon, mayonnaise and sour cream. If using, whisk in mustard or brine. Taste and adjust the seasonings and thickness to your liking. Pour over chicken, scraping the bowl clean with a rubber spatula.
• Add celery, onion if using, nuts, herbs and salt and pepper. Toss gently but thoroughly. Refrigerate, covered, at least 4 hours. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Sprinkle with herbs before serving.