Chicken is one of the most versatile of foods; it can easily be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. Gourmet chicken salad is a great way to serve chicken for any occasion. This meal idea has the benefit of using up chicken leftovers or you can cook chicken to be used specifically for this purpose. There are a variety of exotic ways to prepare chicken salad.
Grilled or breaded chicken pairs well with a Spinach salad. Using walnuts, strawberries, and chicken makes for a low-calorie but gourmet salad experience. A light salad dressing, such as raspberry vinaigrette, will keep this dish healthy and zestful. You can also create a Mexican style salad by combining grilled corn, lettuce, tortilla strips and a spicy salad dressing with the chicken. If you have chicken, lettuce, eggs and any type of lunch meant or cheeses you can easily create a chicken Cobb salad. Since chicken is so versatile, almost any items in your pantry or fridge can be used to create a tasty salad. Featuring seasonal fruits and vegetables are an economical way to create these salads too. Feel free to experiment and you will be sure to create variations that your friends and family ask for!
Chicken can also be used to create sandwiches. In keeping with the theme of the salad ideas above, many different ingredients can be used in a chicken salad sandwich. A traditional chicken salad sandwich is often served on a croissant roll. Diced chicken is combined with mayonnaise, walnuts, celery and grapes. You can substitute ingredients you have on hand or go in a completely different direction to come up with your own signature sandwich. A Greek inspired variation can be made with flat bread, olives, and Greek yogurt. Tortillas can be used to make chicken salad sandwich wraps.
If you have a favorite gourmet chicken from a restaurant you can usually re-create this at home and even improve on it. Pay attention to what types of flavors and ingredients are paired together in recipes and you will be able to come up with endless, but tasty, gourmet chicken salad recipes.
