Chicken and Apple Salad

The Chicken and Apple Salad is a fresh and delicious dish, perfect for a light lunch or a summer dinner. Here’s the recipe with an Italian twist.

Ingredients

• 2 cooked chicken breasts, cubed
• 2 apples, preferably of a crunchy variety (e.g., Granny Smith or Fuji), cubed
• 100 g of mixed greens (e.g., lettuce, rocket, baby spinach)
• 50 g of walnuts or pine nuts, toasted if you prefer
• 50 g of parmesan flakes
• Salt and pepper to taste
• For the dressing:
  • 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon of honey
  • 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard

Preparation

1. Start by lightly toasting the walnuts or pine nuts in a pan without oil until they are golden brown, then let them cool.
2. In a large bowl, combine the cubed cooked chicken and apples.
3. Add the mixed greens to the bowl with the chicken and apples.
4. Also add the toasted walnuts (or pine nuts) and parmesan flakes to the bowl.
5. In a small jar with a lid, put all the ingredients for the dressing: extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, and Dijon mustard. Close the jar and shake well to emulsify everything.
6. Dress the salad with the prepared dressing, adjusting salt and pepper to taste.
7. Gently mix to blend all the ingredients and serve immediately.

Curiosity

The addition of fruit to salads is a habit found in many international cuisines and serves to add a touch of freshness and originality to dishes. The apple, in particular, pairs very well with both white meats like chicken and aged cheeses like parmesan, creating a contrast of flavors that awakens the palate. The Dijon mustard in the dressing adds a slight spicy touch that balances the sweetness of the apple and honey, creating a delicious harmony of tastes.