Perfect What Goes With Chicken Salad Sandwiches Combinations
Whether enjoying at home or taking on a picnic, chicken salad sandwiches need proper accompaniments to complete the meal. Here are the most practical pairing suggestions.
What to serve with chicken salad sandwiches?
Suggestions for Crunchy Foods
Pickled vegetables are highly recommended. Shred purple cabbage into fine strips and marinate it for 20 minutes with white vinegar and honey in a 1:1 ratio. The sweet, sour, and crispy texture can cut through the greasiness of mayonnaise. Another great option is baked sweet potato chips. Slice sweet potatoes thinly, brush a layer of olive oil on them, bake in the oven at 200 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes, and sprinkle sea salt when the edges turn crispy.
Cold - Hot Combinations
In summer, you can pair it with chilled cucumber yogurt soup. Juice half a cucumber and mix it with unsweetened yogurt, then add a little chopped mint leaves. In winter, a hot corn chowder is recommended. However, instead of using cream, use mashed potatoes to thicken it to avoid a doubly soft texture.
Beverage Options
Lemon and ginger sparkling water is the top choice. Mash two slices of fresh ginger to get the juice, add ice cubes and lemon slices, then pour in sparkling water. Avoid pairing it with coffee or red wine. Among teas, jasmine tea is recommended as its fresh fragrance can enhance the umami of the chicken.
Pairings to Avoid
Don't repeat the vegetable element with a lettuce salad. Instead, switch to grilled vegetable skewers (colored peppers + mushrooms). Greasy foods like French fries can increase the feeling of fullness. You can substitute them with roasted chickpeas: drain the canned chickpeas, add chili powder and garlic powder, and bake in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius for 25 minutes. They are crispy, fragrant, and not greasy.
Can I serve a salad with chicken salad sandwiches?
A salad with chicken salad sandwiches is definitely a wise choice!
Although the sandwich already contains chicken salad, pairing it with a fresh vegetable salad can make the whole meal healthier and more delicious.
I especially like to pair it with a simple vegetable salad made with lettuce, spinach, cherry tomatoes, and shredded carrots, and dressed with a light vinaigrette. It has a fresh and crispy taste.
If you want to try a different flavor, you can go for a fruit salad. Cubed apples, grapes, and oranges, along with some chopped walnuts, dressed with honey - lemon juice, are not only appetizing but also nutritious. Such a combination can make lunch more diverse.
The key is to choose a light salad dressing because the sandwich itself is already rich enough. A fresh salad can not only cut through the greasiness but also make the whole meal more balanced.
Is fruit a good side for chicken salad sandwiches?
When paired with chicken salad sandwiches, fruit is indeed a smart choice - provided that you choose the right varieties and ways of eating them. Master these three tricks for the perfect pairing:
Tart - sweet fruits are the safest bet.
Slice green apples and soak them in saline for 5 minutes to prevent oxidation. Pair them with crushed walnuts to add layers of texture. Cut crisp, juicy Asian pears into pieces and drizzle with a little honey - lemon juice to offset the greasiness of the mayonnaise in the sandwich.
Note that the portion of berries should be controlled. 6 - 8 blueberries or raspberries are sufficient, as too much juice will soak the bread.
Tropical fruits need some processing.
Fresh pineapples or mangoes can taste bitter when paired directly. It is recommended to dry - fry them in a pan for 1 minute. After high - temperature caramelization, the fruit acid content is reduced, and the aroma becomes stronger. Cut them into cubes, mix with chopped mint leaves, and use toothpicks to stick them beside the sandwich for decoration and eating.
Avoid fruits with high water content.
Fruits with high water content such as watermelons and melons can damage the structure of the sandwich. If you must use them, make a fruit salad: scoop out balls of honeydew melons and mix them with vinaigrette and basil leaves, and serve them in a separate small bowl.
In winter, roasted orange segments are recommended. Roast them at 180°C for 8 minutes until the skin is slightly wrinkled. The warm pulp creates an interesting contrast with the cold sandwich.
Can chicken salad sandwiches be made ahead?
They can be made in advance! Let me share my method:
On Sunday night, mix the chicken salad and put it in a sealed container. It can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. Make sure to wrap the bread slices tightly with aluminum foil and freeze them separately. Take them out the next day and bake them directly. They will be crispier than freshly baked ones. Keep the lettuce leaves and apple slices separately and assemble just before eating.
Key points for preventing moisture:
Use less liquid dressing when mixing the salad. Reduce the amount of mayonnaise by 10%.
After taking the bread out of the freezer, spread a thin layer of butter on it while it's still hot to form a waterproof layer.
Put crunchy toppings (nuts/bacon bits) in small bags and carry them with you.
Techniques for salvaging overnight sandwiches:
If you assembled the sandwich in advance, before eating, toast it in a pan over low heat without oil for 15 seconds on each side. It will immediately regain its crispness. If it has been refrigerated for more than 8 hours, pick out the soggy vegetables and replace them with fresh lettuce leaves as a base.
Ingredients that must never be added in advance:
Cucumber slices and tomato slices will release water and make the bread soggy. They must be sliced on the same day. Keep hard - boiled eggs whole and chop them up and mix them in just before eating. I've tried this countless times. Using this method, the chicken in the sandwich will still be flavorful and the edges of the bread will still be crunchy when having it for lunch the next day!
How to pack chicken salad sandwiches for lunch?
Try my method for preventing moisture and keeping freshness:
Core of packing: Isolate first, then seal.
Brush a thin layer of honey mustard sauce on the inside of the bread (more moisture - proof than butter). When laying the lettuce, stand the leaves up to form a circle, and then fill in the chicken salad. I've tried this countless times, and this structure can block the penetration of the sauce. Wrap it tightly with baking paper, then put it in a plastic storage bag (leave 1/3 open for ventilation), and place a frozen wet paper towel at the bottom when putting it into the lunch box to lower the temperature.
Techniques for separate packaging of ingredients:
Put the crispy bacon bits into a small medicine bottle. Seal the nuts with a straw: Cut a section of the straw and seal both ends by burning. You can just cut it open with scissors before eating. Pack wet ingredients (cucumbers/pickled vegetables) separately in a silicone ice cube tray and freeze them. Before setting off, put them in a corner of the lunch box as a temporary ice pack.
Magic items for keeping crisp:
Put a few crispy crackers or baked wonton skins in the lunch box. They will actively absorb moisture. Once, when I forgot to bring an ice pack, I put two frozen banana slices on both sides of the lunch box. The effect was unexpectedly good, and they can also be used as a dessert after the meal.
What comes with a classic chicken sandwich?
Let me share the pairings for a classic chicken sandwich!
The most essential elements definitely include lettuce slices and tomato slices. They are crisp, delicious and appetizing. Adding a few slices of pickled cucumbers makes the taste of the whole sandwich more diverse.
When it comes to sauces, mayonnaise is my top choice. Adding a little mustard sauce is particularly appetizing. Some of my friends like to add a slice of butter, which can really make the sandwich more fragrant and delicious.
In terms of side dishes, French fries are a popular choice, but I think corn salad is also great. Regarding beverages, a glass of iced lemonade in summer or a cup of hot coffee in winter are both perfect.
These are the most classic pairings, simple yet delicious. Of course, you can also adjust according to your own taste. However, it is recommended that you try this combination for the first time!
