Homemade Chicken Salad Using Dark Meat Food

MIDNIGHT CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Combine the carrots with the olive oil and 2 teaspoons vinegar in a small bowl. Salt to taste and set aside.
• Whisk the mayonnaise, mustard, tarragon, hot sauce, Worcestershire and the remaining 2 tablespoons vinegar in a large bowl. Season to taste and set aside for at least 15 minutes to allow the tarragon to bloom in the mayonnaise. Add the celery to the mayonnaise mixture and stir to combine.
• Mix the chicken and a pinch of salt and pepper into the mayonnaise mixture and stir gently to coat the meat. Just before eating, stir in half the carrots. Season to taste and plate. Top with the remaining carrots and the toasted almonds. Serve with crackers, vegetables, or as a sandwich!

OPEN-FACED CHICKEN SALAD MELT

Steps:

• Add the vinegar, sugar, 2 teaspoons of kosher salt and 1 cup water to a small saucepan and cook over medium-high heat until the liquid simmers and the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes.
• Put the thinly sliced red onion in a medium bowl, add the pickling liquid and set aside.
• Shred the white and dark meat of the rotisserie chicken using two forks.
• Put the shredded chicken in a food processor and pulse until ground.
• Combine the mayonnaise, garlic powder and onion powder in a large bowl. Squeeze the juice from the 1/2 lemon into the mixture and season with salt and pepper.
• Stir in the ground chicken and diced celery. Trust your taste buds and add more spices, salt, pepper or lemon juice, if needed.
• Preheat the broiler.
• Halve the ciabatta rolls with a serrated knife and put them on a baking sheet. Brush both sides of the bread with the olive oil and cook until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Remove the ciabatta rolls from the broiler.
• Evenly divide the chicken salad between the rolls. Top with the grated Cheddar cheese and bake until the cheese melts, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Top the sandwiches with the pickled onions and serve.
• Enjoy.

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.

HOMEMADE CHICKEN SALAD (USING DARK MEAT)

Steps:

• Typically I roast a whole chicken in a crockpot to slow cook; seasoned with salt, pepper, cumin, garlic, & a chopped onion. Once chicken cools, debone & skin, remove all visible fat & inedible pieces, separating the dark from white meat, which I save for other recipes and sandwiches.
• On a good size roasting hen, the dark meat is about 12 oz., give or take an ounce or two; chop into bite-size pieces.
• Diced all fresh veggies: celery hearts, red bell pepper, purple onion; stir into chicken.
• Add yogurt, lemon and stir into chicken salad.
• Season to your taste.
• Chill and enjoy alone, served on a bed of mixed greens, or with whole grain crackers or bread. Delicious!