Description
Paula Deen’s chicken salad blends Southern comfort with creamy elegance. Crisp celery, tender chicken, and mayonnaise mingle in a classic recipe that beckons you to savor each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (3 lb / 1.36 kg) roasted chicken, skin removed, meat picked
- 2 cups red grapes, halved, seedless
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup almonds, roasted and salted, chopped
- 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
- 2 tbsps red onion, finely chopped
- 2 tsps curry powder
- ½ lemon, juiced
- kosher salt, to taste
- black pepper, to taste
- optional: lettuce
- optional: tomato, sliced
- optional: whole wheat bread
Instructions
- Dressing Preparation: Whisk mayonnaise, lemon juice, curry powder, kosher salt, and black pepper in a large mixing bowl until a smooth, uniform consistency is achieved.
- Ingredient Integration: Gently fold diced cooked chicken, halved red grapes, chopped celery, minced red onion, and toasted almonds into the curry-infused dressing, ensuring even coating without crushing delicate ingredients.
- Flavor Refinement: Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper, creating a harmonious balance that highlights the unique flavor profile of the chicken salad.
- Serving Suggestions: Elevate the dish by assembling as a classic sandwich with whole wheat bread, crisp lettuce, and tomato slices, or serve chilled over a vibrant mixed green salad for a lighter presentation.
- Chilling and Serving: Refrigerate for 30-45 minutes to allow flavors to meld and intensify, or serve immediately while maintaining optimal temperature and freshness.
Notes
- Chill for Maximum Flavor: Refrigerate the chicken salad for 30-45 minutes to allow the curry dressing to infuse deeply into the ingredients, creating a more complex and harmonious taste profile.
- Toast Almonds Carefully: Lightly toast almonds in a dry skillet to enhance their nutty flavor and add a delightful crunch, being careful not to burn them for the perfect textural contrast.
- Customize Grape Selection: Choose sweet, firm red grapes for a burst of natural sweetness that complements the savory curry dressing and adds a refreshing element to the chicken salad.
- Adjust Seasoning Gradually: Taste and season incrementally, adding salt and pepper in small amounts to achieve a perfectly balanced flavor without overwhelming the delicate ingredients.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg