Savory Chicken Salad with Pecans
Course: ChickenDifficulty: EasyServings
4
servingsPrep time
30
minutesCooking time
30
minutesGo nuts for chicken salad with pecans! Great summertime sandwich recipe…
No family get together is complete without chicken salad at the table. This dish is one of the most varied dishes around, as it can contain any number of ingredients depending on what you and the people you’re cooking for prefer.
Chicken salad can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. When having over a number of family and friends with different tastes and palates, it’s recommended that you serve chicken salad that is a bit more on the simplistic side, yet still something that you would be proud to serve.
Of course, the chicken is the most important ingredient of the dish. However, there are a wide range of other exciting ingredients that help to bring flavor out in unexpected ways. One of the greatest aspects about chicken salad is that it can be made for any situation. Whether you’re gathering for a birthday celebration or are simply making dinner on a Friday for your immediate family, this dish compliments anything. Scoop out a small bowlful and it works perfectly as a side dish to a juicy New York strip. Dish out a plateful and it can be the meal itself. The pecans and celery add a wonderful crunch to the mix, while the mayonnaise, sour cream and mustard make for a combination of flavors that mix exquisitely with the cooked chicken.
No family get together is complete without chicken salad at the table. This dish is one of the most varied dishes around, as it can contain any number of ingredients depending on what you and the people you’re cooking for prefer.
Chicken salad can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be. When having over a number of family and friends with different tastes and palates, it’s recommended that you serve chicken salad that is a bit more on the simplistic side, yet still something that you would be proud to serve.
Of course, the chicken is the most important ingredient of the dish. However, there are a wide range of other exciting ingredients that help to bring flavor out in unexpected ways. One of the greatest aspects about chicken salad is that it can be made for any situation. Whether you’re gathering for a birthday celebration or are simply making dinner on a Friday for your immediate family, this dish compliments anything. Scoop out a small bowlful and it works perfectly as a side dish to a juicy New York strip. Dish out a plateful and it can be the meal itself. The pecans and celery add a wonderful crunch to the mix, while the mayonnaise, sour cream and mustard make for a combination of flavors that mix exquisitely with the cooked chicken.
Ingredients
1 kg (2 pounds) skinless and boneless chicken
3/4 cup diced celery
2 bay leaves
1 head garlic
1 tablespoon salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp. mustard
1 tsp. sour cream
2 tablespoons parsley
3/4 cup whole or diced pecans
Directions
- Fill a sauté pan with water up to about 3/4. Bring the water to a boil and then let it simmer. Add the garlic head, bay leaves, salt and black pepper to the water. The water will need to be brought to a simmer again.
- Turn your attention to the 2 pounds of chicken. Rinse and then dry the chicken with paper towels. Add a bit of salt and pepper to the chicken for seasoning.
- Place the chicken into the liquid, put a cover on top and cook the chicken until the internal temperature has been raised to 75 C (170 degrees Fahrenheit). This process should take around 20 minutes. Remove the chicken to cool.
- During the cooking time for the chicken, combine the diced celery, minced garlic, sour cream, mustard, mayonnaise and parsley into a large bowl and mix them well.
- Once the chicken has cooled, cut it into small squares measuring at 1/2 inch.
- Place the chicken, followed by the pecans, into the mustard and mayonnaise mixture and stir well. You can then serve the salad at room temperature or cool it first in the refrigerator.
