I enjoy chicken salad from time to time so I'm looking to find a solid recipe. In addition to full recipes, I'm also curious to hear what individual ingredients people like in their chicken salad since there is a lot of room for variety and seemingly weird ingredients/combinations (e.g. is there a good "formula"). Lately, I've been trying to recreate a Bucee's version which includes pecans, poppy seeds, and dried cranberries, but variety is the spice of life.
1. For the basics, are celery or onion must-haves for you, or does it just depend on the other ingredients? I've been using red onion recently, albeit sparingly.
2. Do you do anything special for the "sauce"/dressing? Mayo only is bland to me. I've never personally used it, but I see a lot of recipes that call for something with some zip or bite to it like lemon juice or a tangy mustard.
3. What about seasoning? I've never tried fresh herbs, but they sound good depending on the recipe (dill, parsley, etc.). Seen plenty of recipes that call for dried basil, among other things.
4. Fruit of any kind initially seemed questionable to me because family recipes never included it, but I've since seen/tasted recipes with grapes, apples, pineapple, dried fruit, etc. and enjoy the punch of sweetness.
5. As for nuts, again family recipes were always very tame, but I've tried pecans and seen some recipes that call for water chestnuts. I'm sure other options like chopped walnuts would work too. I do like the texture/crunch that the nuts give.
6. Chicken chopped, sliced, or shredded?
7. Finally, what is your vehicle of choice? White bread, croissants, crackers, or something unusual? Any lettuce, tomato, or other ingredients?
1. For the basics, are celery or onion must-haves for you, or does it just depend on the other ingredients? I've been using red onion recently, albeit sparingly.
2. Do you do anything special for the "sauce"/dressing? Mayo only is bland to me. I've never personally used it, but I see a lot of recipes that call for something with some zip or bite to it like lemon juice or a tangy mustard.
3. What about seasoning? I've never tried fresh herbs, but they sound good depending on the recipe (dill, parsley, etc.). Seen plenty of recipes that call for dried basil, among other things.
4. Fruit of any kind initially seemed questionable to me because family recipes never included it, but I've since seen/tasted recipes with grapes, apples, pineapple, dried fruit, etc. and enjoy the punch of sweetness.
5. As for nuts, again family recipes were always very tame, but I've tried pecans and seen some recipes that call for water chestnuts. I'm sure other options like chopped walnuts would work too. I do like the texture/crunch that the nuts give.
6. Chicken chopped, sliced, or shredded?
7. Finally, what is your vehicle of choice? White bread, croissants, crackers, or something unusual? Any lettuce, tomato, or other ingredients?
