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Chicken, duck & turkey Lunch / Dinner Side Dishes Snacks

Apple and chicken salad

Published: 09.01.2021 » Last updated: 05.17.2022

Inspired by Waldorf salad which was originally a meatless dish, this apple and chicken salad includes celery and walnuts. Toss with mayo, chill and sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.

Waldorf-inspired apple and chicken salad

It’s sweetish with a subtle tang (the apple cubes are tossed with a little lemon juice to minimize discoloration and to add a layer of flavor), salty (the chicken is cooked with a generous amount of salt), crunchy (that’s what the nuts and celery provide) and just absolutely wonderful.

Cutting peeled apple into cubes

What apple is best for this salad? Dessert apple, as opposed to cooking apple, is ideal. We used Fuji apples but Gala or Red Delicious will be just as good.

Chopped roasted walnuts and boiled chicken

Walnuts were used here but you may substitute your preferred nut. Whatever nut you choose, remember to roast them before chopping. Roasting heightens the nutty flavor and aroma.

As for the cooked chicken… it may be boiled, poached, roasted, grilled, smoked… So long as the chicken is fully cooked, it can be added to this salad. Note, however, that how the chicken was cooked will affect the flavor of the salad. Boiled or poached chicken will have a milder flavor while grilled or smoked chicken will have a bolder taste.

Sliced celery / Ingredients of chicken apple salad in mixing bowl

I understand that not everyone is a fan of celery but this vegetable gives this salad a brightness that not many vegetables can provide. Carrot would be a second choice, it will add crunch to the salad too, but the aroma of the salad will not be as great.

Adding mayo to apple chicken salad

The dressing is nothing but mayo. We’re partial to Japanese mayo at home. It’s thicker and richer, and full of umami delight. Use regular mayo only if Japanese mayo is unavailable.

Full recipe below

Apple chicken salad

Connie Veneracion
It's a side dish. It's a snack. Served generously, it can even be a full meal.
Waldorf-inspired apple and chicken salad in green stoneware bowl
Print
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 0 mins
Total Time 10 mins
Course Salad, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

  • 2 dessert apples - we used Fuji
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ½ cup roasted walnuts - loosely packed
  • 200 grams cooked chicken meat - meat from the thighs is recommended
  • 1 rib celery
  • 6 tablespoons Japanese mayo - you may need more
  • salt
  • pepper

Instructions
 

  • Peel the apples and cut into half-inch cubes.
  • Place the apple cubes in a mixing bowl and toss with the lemon juice.
  • Roughly chop the walnuts and chicken.
  • Cut the celery into slices about a quarter inch thick.
  • Add the walnuts, chicken and celery into the bowl with the apples.
  • Sprinkle in half a teaspoon of salt and quarter teapsoon of pepper.
  • Add the mayo and toss thoroughly.
  • If the salad appears too dry, add more mayo, no more than two tablespoonfuls at a time, and tossing after each addition.
  • Taste and add more salt or pepper, or both, as needed.
  • Chill the apple chicken salad for a few hours before serving.
Print
Keyword apples, Chicken, Chicken Salad, Salad

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Connie Veneracion, Chiang Mai, 2020

Hi, I’m Connie!

Welcome to Umami Days, a blog that advocates innovative home cooking for pleasurable everyday dining. No trendy diets, no food fads and definitely no ludicrous recipe names like crustless quiche, noodleless pho or chocolate lasagna.

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