Description
Classic chicken, apple & grape salad blends crisp fruit with tender chicken in a rich, tangy dressing. Mediterranean-inspired ingredients create a balanced meal perfect for lunch or light dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (473 ml) chicken, cooked and chopped or shredded
- 1 cup (237 ml) grapes, halved (red or green)
- ½ cup (118 ml) celery, thinly sliced
- 1 medium apple (Honeycrisp or Gala), chopped
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) red onion, finely diced (optional)
- ½ cup (118 ml) mayonnaise or Greek yogurt (or mix of both)
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) lemon juice
- ¼ cup (59 ml) pecans or walnuts, chopped (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Flavor Creation: Whisk mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a mixing bowl to craft a vibrant, creamy dressing that will elevate the entire dish.
- Protein Preparation: Cut chicken into consistent, bite-sized pieces, ensuring even cooking and flavor distribution throughout the salad.
- Fruit and Vegetable Composition: Uniformly dice apples, grapes, celery, and red onion to create a harmonious texture and balanced flavor profile, while roughly chopping nuts to introduce a delightful crunch.
- Ingredient Symphony: Merge all prepared components in a spacious mixing bowl, gently folding to allow each element to interact and develop a complex taste experience.
- Dressing Infusion: Pour the crafted dressing over the mixture, carefully tossing to ensure every ingredient is luxuriously coated and seasoned.
- Flavor Maturation: Refrigerate the salad for 15-20 minutes, enabling the ingredients to meld and intensify their collective flavor nuances.
- Versatile Presentation: Serve the chilled salad nestled in crisp lettuce cups, sandwiched between soft bread, or accompanied by crackers, offering a dynamic and adaptable culinary experience.
Notes
- Chicken Prep Precision: Cut chicken into uniform, bite-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the salad.
- Fruit Freshness Hack: Choose crisp, firm apples and grapes to maintain crunch and prevent mushiness after mixing with dressing.
- Dressing Balance Technique: Whisk dressing ingredients thoroughly to create a smooth, well-integrated sauce that coats ingredients evenly without oversaturating.
- Chilling for Flavor Enhancement: Allow salad to rest in refrigerator for 15-20 minutes to let ingredients marinate and develop a more complex, harmonious taste profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg