This Chicken Salad recipe is not only quick and easy to prepare but also packed full of nutritious ingredients. Perfect for a lunch on-the-go or as a side dish for your next gathering.
Ingredients
- 1 (12.5 oz.) can chunk white chicken
- 2 c. chopped celery
- 1 small pkg. slivered almonds
- 1 c. water chestnuts
- 1 c. white grapes
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/8 tsp. pepper
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- curry powder to caste
- nonfat mayonnaise
Salad Preparation
- Combine all ingredients; chill.
Calorie: 300
Total cooking time:10 minutes
Difficulty level: Easy
The Tale of the Chicken Salad Shuffle
Let me let you in on a little secret, folks. The recipe I’m about to share with you is a part of my family’s culinary legacy. It’s as much a part of our gatherings as Aunt Edna’s relentless questions about when I’m settling down. This is the story of how I wrangle a can of **chunk white chicken** and a motley crew of other ingredients into a salad that’s tastier than it has any right to be.
The Line-Up
So, who’s on the roster for today’s cooking extravaganza? First up, we’ve got a strapping 12.5 oz can of chunk white chicken, ready and raring to be our salad’s centerpiece. Then there’s the celery, two cups of it, chopped finer than my high school haircut. We’ve got a small package of slivered **almonds** at the ready; they’ve been waiting in the pantry, eager for their time to shine.
Next, we have a cup of **water chestnuts** that are about to add a crunch that will keep your taste buds on their toes. And let’s not forget the sweet, the lovely, the delectable white grapes – a full cup of them. Our flavor enhancers are ready too, with 1/2 tsp of **salt**, 1/8 tsp of **pepper**, and 1 tsp of **lemon juice** standing by for duty. Then there’s the wildcard: curry powder. Now, you might ask, “How much curry powder?” Well, my friends, that’s to taste. The last member of this ensemble is the nonfat mayonnaise, because who said delicious can’t also be somewhat waistline friendly?
The Mix-Up
Now that we’ve got our cast, it’s time for action. You know those cooking shows where everything is perfectly measured and effortlessly combined? Yeah, this isn’t one of those times. This is the part where I wish I had eight arms like an octopus. I start by throwing everything into the bowl. The chicken, the crunchy celery, the almonds dreaming of their spotlight, the unsuspecting water chestnuts, the grapes that are about to swim in a sea of flavor. Then, in goes the salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
Now, it’s time for the curry powder. Some days, I’m feeling a little spicy, and other days, I just want a hint of that curry goodness. Either way, in it goes, taking this from a regular chicken salad to a taste-bud-tickling delight. And finally, the nonfat mayonnaise, the glue that holds this culinary masterpiece together.
The Cool-Down
Once everything is in the bowl, it’s time for the chill-out session. Into the fridge it goes, and we wait. This is when the magic happens, folks. As our salad chills, the flavors mingle, the textures settle, and what comes out is nothing short of a miracle (or a very tasty salad, at the very least).
The Pay-Off
And there you have it – my family’s chicken salad recipe. It’s chaotic, it’s messy, it’s a bit confusing, but isn’t that what cooking, and life, is all about? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to fend off Aunt Edna’s prying questions with a mouthful of delicious chicken salad. Until next time, happy cooking!
