Summer Layered Chicken Salad Food

SUMMER LAYERED SALAD WITH GRILLED CHICKEN AND TOMATO VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill to medium heat. Roughly chop 2 of the tomatoes, and put into a blender, along with the lemon juice, mayonnaise, vinegar, honey, cayenne and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Blend until smooth.
• Toss the chicken with 3 tablespoons of the tomato dressing and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl.
• Lay the bread, corn and zucchini out on a rimmed baking sheet. Brush everything all over with 2 tablespoons of the tomato dressing, and sprinkle with about 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Keep the baking sheet near your grill to transfer the grilled ingredients to when they're ready.
• Grill the chicken until it is nicely marked on the outside and registers 160 degrees F in the thickest part on a meat thermometer, 8 to 10 minutes per side. Remove and let cool (it will finish cooking as it cools). Grill the zucchini until grill marks appear and it's slightly tender, 4 to 6 minutes per side. Grill the corn, turning as needed, until charred on all sides, 8 to 10 minutes. Grill the bread until nicely charred, about 2 minutes per side.
• Keeping all the individual ingredients separate, shave the corn kernels off the cobs, and cut the chicken, bread and zucchini into bite-size pieces.
• Using a straight-sided 3-quart tall glass bowl for 1 large salad or four 16-ounce wide-mouth glass jars with lids for 4 individual salads, make a first layer with half the romaine, then add the following in separate layers: half the basil, the chicken, the zucchini, the feta, the corn, the remaining romaine, the remaining basil, and the bread. Cut the 2 remaining tomatoes into thin wedges, and arrange on top. Sprinkle with more basil leaves for garnish. The salad can be put together, covered and refrigerated for up to 2 hours before serving.
• If making 1 salad, just before serving, transfer it to a large bowl, toss with the remaining dressing and season with salt and pepper. If making 4 salads, add dressing to each jar, season with salt and pepper, cover with the lid and shake to coat.

LAYERED CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• In very large (5-quart) glass bowl, place about half of the lettuce. Layer with onion, chicken, zucchini, cheese, salami, remaining lettuce and the tomatoes.
• In small bowl, mix mayonnaise, mustard and horseradish; spread over tomatoes, spreading to edge of bowl.
• Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours but no longer than 24 hours. Garnish with additional cherry tomatoes and parsley or watercress if desired.

OVERNIGHT LAYERED CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Spread lettuce evenly in a wide 4-quart glass serving bowl.
• Top with a layer each of bean sprouts, water chestnuts, onions, cucumber and chicken.
• Pat pea pods dry and arrange on top.
• In a small bowl, stir together mayonnaise, curry powder, sugar and ginger.
• Spread mayonnaise mixture evenly over pea pods.
• Cover and refrigerate for several hours or until the next day.
• Just before serving, garnish with nuts and tomato halves.
• To serve, use a spoon and fork to lift out servings, scooping down to the bottom of the dish to include all layers.

LAYERED CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Combine rice and peas.
• In 3 1/2 quart clear glass salad bowl, layer as follows: lettuce, peas and rice mixture, 1/2 of the dressing, chopped hard boiled egg, tomatoes, chicken, cucumbers, remaining dressing.
• Cover and chill for several hours but overnight is best.

LAYERED CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• In a 3-qt. glass bowl, layer 1-1/2 cups chicken and the lettuce. Combine rice, peas and parsley; spoon over lettuce. Layer with tomatoes, cucumber, peppers and remaining chicken. Combine the first 10 dressing ingredients; spoon over salad. Garnish with red pepper and parsley if desired. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hour or overnight. Toss before serving.

LAYERED SUMMER SALAD

Steps:

• Layer spinach, 1 cup of the cheese, the mushrooms, onions, tomatoes and peas in 3-qt.serving bowl.
• Mix mayo, sour cream and basil.
• Spread over salad, completely covering top of salad (gently spread the mayonnaise mixture over the entire salad, sealing to the edges to lock in the taste).
• Cover.
• Refrigerate at least 5 hours.
• Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and the bacon just before serving.

SUMMER LAYERED CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• In deep 3-quart salad bowl, place half of the lettuce. Layer with chicken, cheese, pecan halves, remaining lettuce and strawberries.
• In small bowl or glass measuring cup, mix dressing ingredients with wire whisk until well blended. Just before serving, pour dressing over salad.