The Best Chicken Salad Recipe: My Absolute Favorite! (2024)

For the Chicken:

• ¼ of a Red Onion
• 5 Garlic Cloves, smashed
• 3 to 4 Fresh Thyme Sprigs
• 14 Peppercorns (do not count them 😉)
• 2 Chicken Breasts, 6 to 8 ounces each
• Salt to taste
• Chicken Stock, or water, enough to cover the Chicken

For the Dressing:

• 1 whole Egg
• 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
• 3 to 4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
• 2 tablespoon Fresh Dill
• 2 tablespoon Fresh Italian Parsley
• 1 tsp Red Chili Pepper, deseeded and finely chopped
• ¾ cup Olive Oil (preferably Garlic Olive Oil)
• 2 tablespoon Sour Cream
• 1 pinch ground Cumin or to taste
• 1 teaspoon Sherry Vinegar, to taste
• Lemon Juice, to taste
• Salt and Pepper to taste

For the Salad:

• ¼ cup Dried Cherries, chopped
• ¼ cup Sliced Almonds
• ¼ cup White Raisins
• 1 teaspoon (add more for spiciness) Red Chili Pepper, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon Shallots finely diced
• ½ cup Celery, diced into ¼ inch pieces
• 2 tablespoon Carrots shredded
• ½ cup Fennel, very finely chopped
• Black Pepper, to taste

Poach the Chicken:

• In a pot large enough to hold the 2 breasts side by side, add the onion, garlic, thyme, chicken breasts and cover with chicken stock (or water). Bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn off the heat, cover the pot, and leave for about 12-15 minutes, ensuring the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 155°F to 160°F (68°C to 71°C).

• Remove the chicken from the stock, let it cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for a few hours until cold. Dice the chicken into small cubes and store in the fridge.

• NOTE: Strain and save the stock for future recipes if desired.

Prepare the Dressing:

• In a blender, combine egg, mustard, garlic, dill, Italian parsley, chili pepper, and blend until smooth.

• Slowly stream in the olive oil until emulsified to a mayonnaise-like consistency.

• Add sour cream, cumin, sherry vinegar and lemon juice. Adjust seasoning as needed.

Prepare the Salad:

• In a large mixing bowl, add half of the dressing. Combine with chicken cubes, dried cherries, almonds, white raisins, chili pepper, shallots, celery, carrots, black pepper, and fennel. Adjust dressing consistency and quantity to your taste.

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