VENEZUELAN AVOCADO CHICKEN SALAD

Everyone’s always looking for a good no-mayo chicken salad, right?  Well, no one I know, but surely someone is.  And for that person, I offer this recipe for Venezuelan Avocado Chicken Salad.  It uses avocado in place of mayonnaise, and is sort of like chicken guacamole.  Sounds great, right?  Actually, it’s pretty tasty, and one bite will instantly transport you to Venezuela, which looks a lot like my dirty kitchen and hurricane-ravaged street.  (This, by the way, is one of my most hated blogger phrases — “you will be instantly transported” — who are we kidding?). One caveat — do not make this until you’re ready to eat it, otherwise the avocado will turn a most unappealing shade of brown and you’ll no longer want to be instantly transported to Venezuela.

VENEZUELAN AVOCADO CHICKEN SALAD
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Ingredients
  • 2-1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast (rotisserie chicken is great)
  • 2 ripe avocados, pitted and peeled
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
  • ½ red bell pepper, seeds and ribs removed, diced
  • 3 tablespoons minced onion
  • 3 tablespoons minced cilantro
  • ½ jalapeno pepper, seeds and ribs removed, minced
  • 2 medium cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
  1. Place avocados and lime juice in a large bowl and mash together. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve. (Note: this is best eaten the day it is made -- the avocado will discolor after that, and although it will still taste good, it will not look good.)

Get ready to rumba

TARRAGON CHICKEN SALAD WITH CRANBERRIES AND PECANS

Chicken salad is perfect this time of year, especially if you start with a rotisserie chicken.  According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, rotisserie chickens “emerged as a supermarket staple in the 1990s, paving the way for the array of prepared foods that grocery stores sell today.”  I buy one at least once a week, and it’s an easy shortcut to a tasty meal.

This chicken salad is a favorite of ours, with lots of textures and flavors to keep it interesting.  We don’t like it too mayonnaise-y, but you may wish to add extra mayo for a creamier chicken salad.

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TARRAGON CHICKEN SALAD WITH CRANBERRIES AND PECANS
Author: 
 
Ingredients
  • 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken breast
  • ¼ cup chopped pecans
  • ¼ cup chopped dried sweetened cranberries
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
  • 2 tablespoons fresh tarragon or 2 teaspoons dried
  • ½ cup mayo (more, if desired)
  • 1 tablespoon champagne or rice wine vinegar
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix until thoroughly combined. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve.