my favorite chicken salad
Craig Claiborne, via NYT cooking
This is my favorite chicken salad recipe. I have tried a few others, including this one from seriouseats and this one from Pioneer Valley Woman. They are also good, but Craig Claieborne's, linked above, is the winner in my book. His take on chicken salad is decidedly salty and savory. No sweetness from fruit or chutney. Brine-iness from the capers and the dill pickle garnish. Brightness from the dressing, which is a mix of mayo, yogurt, and red wine vinegar. The final product is creamy, yet never overly heavy. I like to eat it atop a bed of greens for a refreshing, satisfying lunch.
Recipes for chicken salad are super flexible, so you can always tinker with the amounts and ingredients, depending on what you like and what you have. I appreciate the fresh flavor of homemade mayo in chicken salad, but store bought will also work great.
Overall, whatever your favorite chicken salad may be, it's the perfect time of year to have a big fat tub of it on hand in the fridge. Then you can come home to a delicious cool snack after an afternoon under the scorching sun.