cranberry-walnut chicken salad
I often read comments and emails from people who talk about liking or wanting to make a dish but they can’t “because my significant other doesn’t like [insert ingredient]!” I have to admit, I am often perplexed. If they want to eat it, why don’t they just make it anyway?
But then I look at my own cooking repertoire, and I get it. It’s enough of a pain to make one dish some nights after a long day of work, but to make one only one of you wants to eat? There’s no logic in it. So, I shy away from Things Alex Thinks He Doesn’t Like, such as coconut (sigh), tofu (sigh) and well, this.
There is only one chicken salad in the entire world that I like, and my other half? He hates it. Doesn’t like the cranberries, doesn’t like the walnuts and doesn’t know why anyone in their right mind would add such things to an innocent chicken salad. I made it one time three years ago, loved it and had yet to make it since.
But I drew the line last Thursday. At a table full of food I don’t like (lox, whitefish salad, please, just don’t get me started) I insisted that there be one thing I eat. And that it was made the way I think chicken salad should taste–crunchy, sweet and salty, juicy and tangy with no curry or tumeric or any of those ghastly things other people put in theirs. (See, I am as picky as my other half. It’s just that I get the final published word. Ha!)
So, if your ideal salad sounds like my ideal salad, come, pull up a chair, sit down next to me. I made more than enough to go around.
Two years ago: Winter Squash Soup with Gruyere Croutons
Deb and Alex went to Paris and all I got was this lousy chicken salad! Yes, it’s true. Alex and I have flown the coop this week and are (hopefully) wandering around ancient cobblestone streets in a wine and butter-induced haze. Comment responses will be slow–if at all–this week, but I have fortunately been cooking up enough of a storm that you should never be left without your smitten kitchen fix! We’ll be back before you know it.
Cranberry-Walnut Chicken Salad
Adapted quite loosely from Gourmet
Makes 4 to 6 servings.
4 cups cubed (1/2 inch) cooked chicken (about 1 3/4 lb) (I like to brine mine first, then poach it in water for 15 to 20 minutes because I am completely neurotic about chicken getting dried out in any way.)
1 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped
1 celery rib, diced into small bits (1 cup)
2 or more tablespoons finely chopped shallot
1 cup dried cranberries
2/3 to 3/4 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons tarragon vinegar, if you have it, or champagne or white wine vinegar works well, too
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh tarragon or herb or your choice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Really complicated directions: Toss together all ingredients in a large bowl until combined well.
I like to eat mine on top of chopped Romaine lettuce, or with toasted pocketless pita wedges.
Variations: Are almost endless, but this is particularly good with leftover Thanksgiving turkey and chopped pecans.
YUM…this is exactly the way I like it!
I love, love, love chicken salad. The more various and sundry bits of goodness the better. I feel just like you do about the sweet and the salty, the crunchy and the chewy. My husband is like your husband. He thinks the above mentioned things should never be mixed. I feel your pain.
I am excited to try this recipe, and will eat it all myself!
I really don’t understand the “I don’t like fruit in my salad” which I’ve heard many too many times. This looks amazing. Have fun in France. I’m sure you’ll be thinking of us the whole time.
I’ve just been wondering about cranberries, and then you posted this, so you get lucky enough to get the question: do dried cranberries always come sweetened? Is this because they are inedible without a little extra sugar? Or have I just been missing out?
I say if you like something, make it and eat it. There must be plenty of times when your significant other or picky eater kids or whomever is/are not around… make sure you enjoy what you eat on those days at least….
This looks oh-so-good! I love crunchy nuts tossed together in a salad. Especially with the cranberries. On most days, I add currents into my food for the added sweetness.
Hey neat, I made this recipe (well, kind of) this summer! Used halved grapes as in the original recipe, no walnuts, and substituted chopped water chestnut for the celery. It was completely delicious, the tarragon really makes it sing. (Even though I fretted about it, due to my I-hate-all-things-to-do-with-licorice stance.) For the tarragon vinegar, I just soaked a few pinches of dried tarragon in rice wine vinegar (mildest kind I had) for a while, and it worked a treat. Must try it with nuts soon!
I think the cranberries and walnuts sound great, but I HATE mayonaise. Like the smell alone makes me gag, and so does the thought of eating something that consistency. On the rare occasions I make chicken salad, I use really good quality ranch dressing, with celery and and carrots. To me chicken salad needs crunch.
I would totally eat that.
I wonder, what does Alex adore that you hate? And do you prepare it for him anyway?
I am always searching for a good chicken salad. This looks super yummy!
@Libitina, cranberries are available in the fall and winter in the produce department, fresh and unsweetened. They are EXTREMELY tart. However, if you want to use them, you can buy a bunch of bags and freeze them. They keep really well frozen, right in the bag they came in. @Deb, why not make up a big batch, and take out some for Alex before you put in the things he doesn’t like? That would call for only one extra container and maybe make him happy too. Your salad sounds really good as is, but I love most chicken salads except those made with the nasty-sweet, faux-mayonnaise salad dressing (you know what I mean).
Since the cafeteria at work is closed, I try to prepare my lunch (and my colleagues’) so I’m always looking for new salad recipes. This one looks really good, I’m sure I will try it before next week!
Thanks Deb
And I hope you’re having a great time in Paris, even with today’s rain…
I have been reading your blog since I saw you on Martha Stewart and I have to say I really love it!
I know what your saying about making food only you will eat. I really hate to throw food away so it was great when my son was back home for a little while because I never threw it out! Grumpy and I have very different tastes and he doesn’t like mexican food but I love it!
This is almost exactly like what I call my ‘Waldorf Chicken Salad’ that I always make with leftover roast chicken. Just sub raisins for the cranberries and add a bit of chopped apple and maybe some wholegrain mustard instead of some of the vinegar for some zing.
I too am paranoid about having too-dry chicken. I’ve taken a hint from Ina and started roasting bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts (or whatever parts you like) for salads if I’m not using leftovers.
Lucky me - my “other half” likes pretty much everything I ever cook. The only ingredients he refuses to eat are fennel and brussels sprouts - I think I can live with that ;-). But even if he were more picky, I think I would never stop cooking my favourite things… Anyways, your chicken salad looks really yummy!
I am completely fed up with trying to cater for my veggie husband - so I cook my dinner and he cooks his! We’re most usually eating at separate times anyway but if I do a fry up or something similar on a Sunday morning he has to put up with the fact that there’s bacon in the pan with his veggie sausages, or he can cook it himself!
that sounds like my husband! It’s hard when you both like such different things! This still looks fantastic though!
Congrats and have some Paris for me!
What a delicious “autumn filled” chicken salad. The cranberries and walnuts add such a nice seasonal touch. Perhaps, your other half needs to try again. Tastes change you know…
My husband hates mushrooms and I LOVE them *sigh* I rarely buy them anymore…the mere sight of them makes him cringe.
Say bonjour to Paris for me.
funny, but i make my chicken salad almost exactly the same way, except that i always add a little onion — and it is the only way that i really like my chicken salad too! I hear you, though if i was anywhere near a plate of lox or whitefish, I’d be in sheer heaven.
I loveee chicken salad!! Especially when it has lots of fun stuff in it. I might have to make this for lunch…and maybe add grapes too, though that might be too much sweetness. Your pictures are sooo pretty :)
I make a similar chicken salad, but am not a cranberry or craisin fan…..
I use red grapes, halved.
LOVE IT!!!!
My husband feels exactly the same way regarding chicken salad, but hardly ever eats with me anyway, so I get to make whatever I want most of the time! I’ve got a killer recipe with celery, sliced almonds, halved grapes, scallion, mayo and vanilla yogurt. Yum Yum Yum. I will try this one out because I love the idea of the tart/sweet cranberries!
Isn’t chicken salad great? It’s so adaptable. I like mine with grapes and sliced snow peas… and I have leftover chicken in the fridge… this is starting to sound like a plan!
I agree with your husband, though I WANT to like it like this.
This is close to the only way I’ll eat chicken, at all. YUM!
My hubs calls this “chick food”…suitable only for a ladies tea. Clod.
Definitely a common theme in my house too!
My other half would recoil at having a salad (just a salad?) for dinner. He also doesn’t like risotto or blue cheese. !!!
I LOVE this chicken salad. And so does my boyfriend and so do many of his friends (men). We actually just had this for lunch on Sunday and dinner last night. It is our go-to chicken salad, most others are just too bland. We also add grapes if we have them in the house. Delicious!
Ugh. What is it with picky men. My boyfriend hates fruit in salad too. The way I see it, that constitutes an uninvitation to dinner.
Hilarious - I’m going through EXACTLY the same thing with my partner right now, and one of his aversions is also tofu!! I don’t believe that he doesn’t like ANY tofu, I think he’s just convinced himself of that…so I’m doing a “Tofu Tribunal” to beg/trick/force him into eating tofu until I can find at least one dish that he likes. So far: not going well.
It is frustrating though, isn’t it? Because of him I get no squid, soy, seafood, smoked anything….sigh….
Wow, this looks fabulous! I may try it (with Morningstar Farms strips) in place of my standby not-so-chicken salad recipe. This is a little more fall-like; the one I usually do involves celery, halved purple grapes, and sliced almonds.
You say I can substitute leftover turkey and pecans after Thanksgiving. I tell you I WILL be doing exactly that. This looks delicious. Thanks.
The Boy does not eat beef or pork (I can live with that, mostly); lobster (and he’s from Maine!); beets (I mourn the chiogga ones especially); or zucchini. This last one especially gets me because I adore zucchini. One of the upsides of being a freelancer, though, is that you can make for yourself for lunch what your co-diner won’t eat for dinner!
Oh, that sounds wonderful. I’d join you for chicken salad in a heartbeat!
Yum! This is very much like my mom’s recipe, except she does apples instead of cranberries - I may have to try this variation! Hope you are having a fabulous time in Paris!
I knew I bought Craisins for a reason last week! My Farmer won’t eat chicken salad but he’s been asking for tuna salad, so maybe this week we’ll have individual “salad sandwiches.”
Loving your blog!
An absolute classic and one of my favorites as well. I have the opposite problem. My husband will eat lots of things, but the few things he refuses are sort of cornerstone things: no eggs (there goes half of brunch) and no lunch meats (hello tuna and chicken salad). so thanks to his taste preferences for lunch, I have found myself experimenting with more variations on the chicken salad than I can even count. I like it with grapes and herbs. I like it with walnuts and cranberries. Thyme and curry is one of my favorites.
Ooh yummy! My husband likes almost everything except asparagus (he’ll eat the very tip) and artichokes, but a few times a year he’ll eat them for my sake. I totally agree that chicken salad must have sweet/salty/crunchy/creamy going on to be good, but I’ll eat just about any combo and so will the hubby after the initial “you mixed WHAT together??” He thought I was weird for putting apple slices on a smoked turkey and brie sandwich but his half was gone in about 5 minutes so I guess it wasn’t that bad ha ha
HoneyB, are you saying your Significan’t Other doesn’t like Mexican food?
Where I’m from, that’s grounds for divorce!!
I have a recipe almost identical, except it uses rosemary and grapes (and vinegar is optional). It’s awesome. Chicken salad with fruit and nuts is the only way to go.
This is one of my favorite autumn lunches. I’ll have to try out your recipe–I love cranberries in meals, but never raisins!
That looks delicious and I, like you, also like both salty and sweet things with my chicken salad. My own personal favorite style of this is a pesto, green grape and toasted pine nut chicken salad. It has a lot of the same elements as this one, but perhaps the flavor of it won’t be so repulsive to your other half?
WOW - You read my mind - This is the exact way I love my chicken salad! As I sit here in my office starring at your picture… I am starving. This is excellent.
Oh I am jealous.
Great Post
How long will it keep in the refrigerator? I ask because, having no significant other, I cook primarily for myself. And it’s hard to justify something large unless I can freeze portions of it. Somehow, this doesn’t seem freeze-friendly.
This looks yummy! But don’t poach your chicken, roast it! I know you like Ina Garten, and this is how she does it. Bone-in, skin-on breasts, roasted in the oven with olive oil, salt and pepper until they’re *just* cooked. Plenty moist, and more flavorful than poached!
Hope you’re enjoying Paris!
Ooh I love chicken salad! I totally agree with roasting the chicken :) In fact, that’s what roast chicken leftovers were meant for! I like the idea of cranberries in it, kind of reminds me of Thanksgiving.
I hate hate hate mayo… So I use greek yogurt instead.
As of late, I used left over chicken from my weekly roast with grapes. Delish!
I have this problem EVERYDAY no matter what I make as I have the pickiest husband alive. That is why I dine alone and cook for myself and blog all about it.
This looks so incredibly good, I will be making this for me and loving it :)
Thanks for the great recipe.
Deb, your NY-Eastern European-Jewish-style foods are soo appreciated! My parents grew up in NY, but moved to Dallas when I was born. Your chicken salad and so many other dishes are foods that I found only in my mom’s kitchen. Thank you so much. Hope France is fab!
I am so lucky…my hubby is a very smart man. Even though there are a number of things he says he dislikes, he will eat anything I put in front of him. He loves a salad meal, and I try to include some kind of fruit any time I can. Married to him for 40 years, my philosophy is, try not to include too many things he doesn’t like in a single meal, and let him pick out anything he doesn’t want to eat. It’s amazing how many things he likes now, and how many others he’s just too lazy to pick out!
This looks DELICIOUS. I am totally going to make this next time I have leftover rotisserie chicken or turkey!!
Yum.
Oh, I feel your pain. And then some. My significant other is the pickiest eater - not only does he not like tofu (one of my favorite foods) he likes only 1 or 2 vegetables, and won’t go anywhere near some of my favorites, like squash, tomatoes, or spinach; dislikes beans (such as, black, pinto, etc.) and is allergic to most fruits. We eat a lot of meat and potatoes! I’ve learned to make what I like and eat it for lunch for an entire week, or stick to things that freeze well.
This is perfect in my eyes too although I am one of those weirdos who actually likes a little curry in my chicken, with big fat grapes and some toasted cashews. I could, however, eat chicken salad almost anyway unless it’s so saturated in mayo that you can’t tell what it is.
I don’t often skip making something because someone won’t eat it; I’m not that selective. If I want it, I’ll make it. If no one else likes it that’s their problem.
I thought I was lucky in the partners taste department (except for the peanut allergy, but let’s not go there), until wandering through the fruit shop I realised that there are alot of items that we just don’t eat. So, on a whim I bought some radishes, much to his disgust, then turned them into a salad (with apple and coriander) which he grudgingly ate, only to later admit that, you know maybe he did like radishes after all.
Le sigh…. :) I am jealous but happy for you :)
That chicken salad looks fab and right up my alley. I have to admit I’m lucky. My husband will eat anything (ANYTHING!) as long as I cook it :)
Enjoy your week.
April
I do not like dry chicken either. I like to use the Silver Palete method…baked in heavy cream. Ok, it probably runs up the calories, but O! that chicken is so tender & juicy - perfect for chicken salads.
This has NOTHING to do with chicken salad…
Will you please make crepes? I’ve been making them for years, but would like to see/hear what you have to say about them.
Yum! This looks like a great version of chicken salad! I love when chicken salad has walnuts in it.
This is the Erin talking about crepes again…just found your crepe cake. Disregard previous message. I am not the Erin commenting on chicken salad (I hate mayo with all my heart…can’t eat chicken salad.)
Hope you are having a great vacation! I love Paris. Took my honeymoon there and ate my way across the city!
Yum! This looks delicious and seems like a perfect go-to recipe.
Well, I finally figured it out. I think. If I want to eat something that I like, I would make something that he likes two days before, but with an extra portion that can be kept in the fridge. Like lasagne or beef pot pie without baking the top yet. Then I get to cook my stuff in peace and grace! Think this would work for you too?
I tend to cook things and freeze them, if my partner doesn’t like it. Then I can always reheat myself some dinner - and he can make his own! :P
This is my kind of chicken salad! And as far as making certain foods, I tell my family that they will learn to like it. I know I have good taste! (No one on my husband’s side of the family will eat nuts…. it makes me crazy!).
Hi! I’m a long-time lurker, first-time commenter, and I adore your site. My beloved fiance has a wide range of increasingly bizarre food aversions. (For instance: anything with mayonnaise, anything with cream, and (get this) cold foods. Seriously.) Suffice it to say there is a wide range of dishes I can only cook for myself. My solution is to make them for lunch and schlep them to work in a tupperware. I have found there to be little in life to rival the selfish, solitary pleasure of eating exactly what I want for lunch.
Oh, and one other thing: I thought I hated spices in chicken salads too, but only because they’re usually plunked in raw. After reading Elise’s tip (http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/001553chicken_curry_salad.php) to cook the curry powder first, I’ve never looked back.
This salad is indeed a winner…
Enjoy Texas, I still have my t-shirt from my grandfather’s trip to San Antonio over 25 years ago. “Pop Pop went to Texas and all he got me was this damn t-shirt”
Okay I really need my coffee, why in the world did I think I read Texas although there is a Paris,Texas. I’m so jealous…enjoy all that the city of lights has to offer.
OH MY YUMMY GOODNESS!!!! Thank you for posting this! I can’t wait to make it!!! Plus your photos always impress me…. amazing! Love your site!
Oh, this looks heavenly! I can’t wait to try it. I’m always struggling with a good chicken salad. I had a friend who made it with chicken thighs, sweetened coconut, chunked pineapple, almonds, Miracle Whip, and some other ingredients. I adored it but have lost touch with the friend and the recipe.
I say make the new stuff for you, and let darling hubby eat leftovers! I do that with my family all of the time. If I’m the one cooking,I feel it’s important to put myself first sometimes. I would LOVE it if somebody would think of ME and make me something that they know is my favorite, I guess that is what going out to dinner is for…
Oh yeah, with 4 others in the family, I give them each one veto to use during the week for a meal. They then eat leftovers, and I know for at least 6 more days, they will try to eat everything else I make. Compromise, my way! They then figure out if it is something they truly abhor, or something they just don’t prefer.
Wow! This looks so yummy! It’s making so hungry for lunch! Thanks for giving me new ideas for lunch and dinners!
I LOVE chicken salads. My husbands thinks NO fruit should go with anything savory. How he’s missing out!
I hate onions. He loves them. I will NOT cook with them, he has learned to live with my delicious food without onions!
This chiciken salad looks SO good!
I agree with you on the “crunchy, sweet and salty, juicy and tangy,” but I hate dried cranberries and celery. Celery is the bane of my chicken-salad eating existence–restaurants always add it. I’m a big fan of apple and/or grapes in my chicken salad. Walnuts are good, but I like almonds more. I’ve never tried dried cherries in it, but your addition of cranberries makes me consider doing it.
Alex needs to give coconut a chance. I think everyone who says they don’t like coconut has just never had good coconut, or real coconut, or doesn’t like the texture, and they just think they don’t like coconut. I refuse to believe anyone can legitimately dislike coconut!
I never make things that my husband doesn’t like for fear that I will eat the entire batch of whatever it is! Cooking for one is just hard - which is the problem a lot of my single girlfriends have.
My family is the same way. I make myself those foods they do not like, for lunch. They get to eat whatever left-overs are around.
Oh, no! DH doesn’t like tarragon! Fuhgetaboutit!
I love this! Thank you Deb! I do want to say, though, that recently I’ve converted to shredding the chicken instead of cubing it. I know it takes forever, but it really gives you more yield and a greater surface area for the ingredients.
My hubby is exactly the same! If we order chicken salad at a restaurant he goes through a laundry list of ingredients to be sure it is how he likes it! He got all pouty one day b/c I added carrots. I love picky eaters. ;)
I learned long ago while my husband was in the Navy to cook just for me.He was often away or had duty. I like to try new recipes and he likes meat & potatoes.
I love anything with chicken. I can’t wait to try this one. I find combining fruit and chicken is especially delicious.
:::waving hands::::: Oh I have one of those hubbys’ too. I make a lot of gourmet stuff and hubby would rather eat a Big Mac every night :::sigh:::
Most of the sweets I make I give away to friends. Hubby will eat the basic of basic things.
I make a ton of chicken salad (just for me). I love the flavor it up by adding curry. Your version looks amazing.
Be thankful your hubby eats most of what you make…..
Looks incredible. Yum.
I just made this.
The poached chicken came out extremely moist. I’m saving the “broth” for something else, it’s really good too.
As far as the salad, the flavors are delicious, but it’s too much mayo for me (and I only used 2/3 cup). I guess I have to acknowledge I only like mayo in VERY small quantities.
Any suggestions for how to substitute for the mayo, with something besides dairy?
Thanks.
Looks great!!! My thought…pick out what you don’t like. :-)
I picked up a recipe very similar to this from a friend at work with halved red grapes and toasted sliced almonds. Soooo good! And hey, this stuff keeps great, so make yourself a batch and enjoy it for lunch when the other half’s not around!
I so agree. I hear all too often that even their favorite dish is never made due to the mates preferences. Life is too short to go through it without things that we love.
This salad looks very good. I can’t wait to try it.
I happen to be the pickiest and most allergic member of the family, but I typically manage to find substitutes or omit ingredients that are going to cause problems. I would have used dried cherries or ordinary grapes instead of the cranberries in this salad (cranberries are a migraine trigger for me). Isn’t a recipie really more of a suggestion than a rule?
Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve made fish, of any kind, just for that very reason? 1 hubby, 3 kids who already want different meals. Try as I may not to be a short order cook I often cook two different meals and neither of them suited just for me. As you say…Le sigh…
my mother is in paris this week too!
Huh. I’m afraid you just called me out… and interestingly enough, I’ve always wanted to try cranberries in my chicken salad but my husband says no. Of course, this isn’t the ONLY thing I want to try that he vetos… but I think you’re right. I shall try it (without walnuts).
~Cat
you are amazing..
I am intrigued reading about the “my spouse won’t eat x” issue so many bloggers and commenters have. I think I’ll have to blog about this! Good looking chicken salad, too. :)
I went through an anti-mayonnaise phase in my youth, and to make up for it, I’m now NUTS for anything with mayo in it! I am therefore a chicken salad freak, and promptly made this recipe last night, and just had it for lunch. YUM! My new favorite recipe. I added parsley, because I didn’t have taragon, and loved it.
Delicious! I made it yesterday. If you like moist chicken, here is another way to try it - poach a whole chicken in the crockpot. Put a salt and peppered whole chicken on low and cook for 6 hours (no need to add any water or stock). Soooooo moist plus you get a TON of chicken, dark and light meat, drippings, and bones for stock. I made a big bunch of chicken salad and I think I will make a chicken chili with the drippings and the other half of the chicken. Stock next weekend :)
Jackie.
LOVELOVE this salad! This is so much like my own, but I add some finely chopped sweet onions and substitute dill for the tarragon! I’m the only one in the house that likes it, but I still make it and bring it to work. There’s plenty of people there who will finish it up for me!
So good! And my husband who doesn’t like my (earlier attempts at) chicken salad LOVED it!
I made this tonight, without the walnuts because I don’t like them…because I’m a baby. Awesome recipe! Simply deliciosa!
what a great recipe. i never ever have chicken salad but this is probably one of the best out there. i used dried cherries instead but who cares? i think any fruit would be good in this. thanks so much!
This is wonderful! I really think that toasting the walnuts adds so much to the flavor, also. It’s an important step that I’ve never tried before. It really makes all the difference.
I made this for the second time yesterday and it was decreed “the best chicken salad ever” by a chicken salad devotee. Thanks for keeping me on a great cooking streak!