Description
Ina Garten’s curry chicken salad blends tender roasted chicken with a creamy, spice-laden dressing. Refreshing grapes, crunchy almonds, and aromatic curry powder create a Mediterranean-inspired lunch that delights you with complex, balanced flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 3 whole (6 splits) chicken breasts, bone-in, skin-on
Spices and Flavoring:
- 3 tablespoons curry powder
- ¼ cup chutney (recommended: Major Grey’s)
- ⅓ cup dry white wine
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Binding and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups mayonnaise (recommended: Hellman’s)
- 1 cup medium-diced celery (2 large stalks)
- ¼ cup chopped scallions, white and green parts (2 scallions)
- ¼ cup raisins
- 1 cup whole roasted, salted cashews
- Olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare the chicken by placing chicken breasts on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and generously season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Roast the chicken for 35-40 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), ensuring complete and safe cooking.
- Allow the roasted chicken to cool for 10-15 minutes at room temperature, making it easier to handle.
- Remove the chicken meat from the bones, discard the skin, and carefully dice into uniform bite-sized cubes approximately 1/2 inch (1.27 centimeters) in size.
- Create the creamy dressing by combining mayonnaise, white wine, mango chutney, curry powder, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of kosher salt in a food processor.
- Blend the dressing ingredients until smooth and well-incorporated, creating a uniform, golden-hued sauce.
- Gently fold the diced chicken into the prepared dressing, ensuring each piece is evenly coated.
- Cover the salad and refrigerate for 2-3 hours to allow the flavors to meld and intensify.
- Just before serving, sprinkle freshly chopped cashews over the top for added crunch and texture.
- Serve the chicken salad at room temperature, garnished with additional cashews if desired.
Notes
- Refrigerate the salad to allow spices and ingredients to meld, creating deeper, more intense flavors.
- Serve at room temperature to unlock the full aromatic potential of curry and spices.
- Roast chicken breasts bone-in for a richer, more complex taste that elevates the entire dish.
- Dice chicken into generous bite-sized pieces for a more satisfying and enjoyable eating experience.
- Toss cashews into the mix for a delightful crunch and nutty undertone that adds textural complexity.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 636 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 656 mg
- Fat: 47 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 29 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 102 mg