Chicken Salad For An Endless Summer Food

SUMMER CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• For the salad: Put the chicken breasts into a large plastic storage bag. Pound with a mallet or rolling pin to flatten to 1/4-inch uniform thickness. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper.
• Heat a grill and drizzle with the olive oil. Grill the chicken on both sides until done, about 7 minutes per side. (Rotate halfway during grilling each side to ensure pretty grill marks.) Set aside to cool.
• Grill the corn for a few minutes, until still crunchy but colored. With a very sharp knife, shave the kernels off each corn cob. Combine with the dill, celery and onions in a large bowl. Set aside.
• For the dressing: Mix together the feta, half-and-half, mayonnaise and sour cream in a bowl. Stir in the sugar, lemon juice and some salt and pepper. Stir, and then taste. Add more salt if necessary; do not undersalt!
• Slice the chicken on the bias to create flat, randomly shaped pieces. Throw into the bowl with the celery, onions and corn. Stir to combine. Pour half of the dressing over the ingredients and toss gently. Add more as desired, but don't overcoat the salad; it should be light! At the end, toss in the blueberries to lightly coat them in the dressing.
• Spoon the salad into butter lettuce cups and then sprinkle individual helpings with feta and extra dill.

SUMMER SPLASH CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix the first five ingredients until blended. Add chicken, grapes, mango and watermelon; toss gently to combine., Divide lettuce among four plates; top with chicken mixture. Sprinkle with pistachios.

CHICKEN THIGHS WITH CRUNCHY SUMMER VEG

Steps:

• Heat a medium heavy skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium.
• Meanwhile, place chicken thighs, skin side down, on a work surface. Using a paring knife and working one at a time, cut a 1/2"-deep slash along both sides of thigh bone. This will help the thighs cook a little more quickly and evenly. Add oil to pan.
• Season chicken on both sides with salt, then sprinkle all over with mustard seeds and fennel seeds, patting to adhere. Place chicken in skillet skin side down, and cook, undisturbed, until skin is very deeply browned and crisp and chicken is about 75 percent cooked through, 18-20 minutes. Some seeds will end up in the pan, which is fine as they will flavor the oil. Spoon out any that are burning. Turn chicken and cook on second side until just cooked through, about 4 minutes longer. Transfer to a platter and let rest 10 minutes.
• While the chicken rests, toss cucumbers, watermelon radish, red radishes, scallions, vinegar, and a pinch of salt in a large bowl.
• Cut chicken off the bone, then slice crosswise into 1 1/2"-2" pieces.
• Gently toss chicken and pita chips into salad. Taste and season with more vinegar and/or salt if needed.

SUMMER CHICKEN SALAD WITH RASPBERRIES

Steps:

• Preheat your BBQ to medium-high. Mix the BBQ sauce, honey, and salt in a medium-sized bowl then add the chicken breasts and coat them in the marinade. Let them marinate while you chop the veggies and prepare the dressing.
• Put the salad dressing ingredients in a blender and blend on high until smooth. If needed, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dressing is pourable.
• Pile all of the salad ingredients into a large salad bowl.
• When your grill is hot, put on the chicken breasts. Let them cook for 6 minutes then baste them with some of the marinade and flip them over to cook for another 6-8 minutes on the other side, or until they are no longer pink inside and reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Remove the chicken from the grill and let it rest for 5 minutes. Drizzle half of the raspberry vinaigrette over the salad then top with the chicken. Optional: slice the chicken breasts into strips before adding them to the salad.

JEFF'S FAMOUS CHICKEN SALAD CROISSANT

Steps:

• In a large Dutch oven or pot, stir 1 tablespoon salt into 6 cups cold water. Add the chicken and heat over medium heat until the water hits a temperature of 170 degrees F. Take the pot off the heat, cover, and let the chicken sit in the warm water until its internal temperature hits 165 degrees F, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer the chicken to paper towels to dry. Once cool enough to handle, pull the chicken apart with your hands or forks until shredded but still chunky.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix the celery, scallions, cherries, mustard, sugar and salt and pepper to taste. Let this mixture sit for at least 10 minutes or up to 1 hour to extract all that flavor. Add the mayo and mix until incorporated. Adjust the seasoning if necessary.
• Add the shredded chicken and walnuts to the mayo mixture. Adjust the seasonings. Let it sit in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving, overnight preferred.
• Place a piece of lettuce on the bottom half of a croissant followed by a scoop of chicken salad, one or two tomato slices, a spoonful of hot cherry pepper relish or giardiniera and a little drizzle of balsamic glaze. Close the top of the croissant. Assemble 3 more sandwiches. Cut the sandwiches in half and eat!

CHICKEN SALAD FOR AN ENDLESS SUMMER

Steps:

• Tear the cooled chicken breasts into bite sized pieces and place in a good sized bowl.
• Add celery, pineapple and grapes.
• Toss.
• Add the peas, green onion and cashews.
• Toss.
• In a small bowl mix together the mayo and 1/4 c reserved pineapple liquid until smooth and creamy.
• Add the mayo mixture and fresh chives to the chicken mixture and fold gently.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Refrigerate for at least an hour to blend the flavors.
• To serve, place romaine leaves on a serving platter (or use 4 individual plates) and top with the salad mixture.
• Sprinkle with chow mein noodles for garnish.

ORIENTAL CHICKEN SUMMER SALAD

Steps:

• Combine all salad ingredients.
• Drizzle with dressing & serve.

SUMMER CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the chicken, celery, grapes and raisins. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, salt and pepper. Add to chicken mixture; toss to coat. Stir in pecans. Serve on lettuce. Garnish with tomato if desired.

CHICKEN SALAD SUMMER ROLLS

Steps:

• Mix chicken, red onion, celery, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, cumin, and mayonnaise until well blended. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, at least 30 minutes.
• Dip a rice paper into cold water and let soak just until it starts to become flexible. Shake off most of the excess water and lay on a work surface. Place 2 slices of avocado in the center of the wrapper, about 1 inch in from the edge closest to you. Layer with bell pepper, cucumber, and carrot, spread about 1/4 cup chicken salad over top, and cover with lettuce.
• Grab the end of the wrapper closest to you and roll it up, gently stretching the flexible rice paper while tucking in the sides. Wet a second wrapper and wrap it around the first. Wrap the summer roll in barely damp paper towels and cover with plastic while you make the remaining 5 rolls.
• Mix mayonnaise, lemon juice, tarragon, basil, garlic, salt, and pepper together for dipping sauce.
• Serve summer rolls with dipping sauce on the side.