Meal Ideas: What to Eat Chicken Salad With

Looking to enhance your chicken salad experience? These classic pairing suggestions can elevate your meal to the next level.

What are the best side dishes and accompaniments for chicken salad?

I will give priority to fresh and crispy ingredients. Here are some of the combination ideas that I highly recommend:

Base of Crispy Fruits and Vegetables

The combination of thinly sliced celery and diced apples is a classic. The former has a strong fibrous texture that can balance the heaviness of the salad dressing, and the latter's sweet and crispy taste can exactly bring out the umami of the chicken. Try tearing romaine lettuce into palm - sized leaves and laying them at the bottom of the plate. It not only looks good but also prevents the salad from getting soggy due to the penetration of the sauce.

Fermented Ingredients

Pickles and pickled red onions are often overlooked but are a perfect supporting role. When chopped and added to the salad, they bring a tangy acidity, which is especially suitable for pairing with smoked chicken. If using Greek yogurt sauce, adding a spoonful of the pickling brine and stirring will make the overall flavor more three - dimensional.

Balancing with Warm Elements

Thinly sliced garlic - flavored baguettes toasted until slightly charred or warm quinoa rice are great choices in winter. The alternating cold and warm textures can keep the taste buds sensitive. It is recommended to place staple - food side dishes separately and combine them just before eating to avoid affecting the crispness.

The Rule of Adding Aroma with Chopped Nuts

Roast chopped walnuts in a skillet to bring out their aroma, and then mix them with dried cranberries in a 3:1 ratio. This sprinkle not only adds chewing pleasure but also the oil in the nuts and the sugar in the dried fruits can soften the astringency of raw vegetables. Note that you should sprinkle this mixture after the salad is plated to maintain the crispness.

What to serve with Chinese chicken salad?

Crispy Snacks for Enhanced Flavor

Give shrimp chips or deep - fried wonton skins a try. Their crispy texture can balance the softness of the salad. Dip them in a bit of the salad dressing when eating. The combination of savory, salty notes with a touch of sweetness and sourness is especially appetizing. If you don't want to do deep - frying, toasted rice paper rolls in the oven can be a substitute.

Some Warm Soup

Seaweed and egg drop soup or corn pudding are both great choices. Pairing warm soup with a cold salad is more comfortable for the stomach, and the flavor of the soup won't overpower the salad. The key is to keep it light. Don't use too many seasonings; simply sprinkle a little scallions.

Chewy Staple Foods

I often recommend cold noodles or brown rice. You can drizzle a bit of sesame paste on cold noodles and mix a little sesame oil into brown rice. Eating them together with the salad adds more flavor layers. If you find it too troublesome, you can directly buy ready - made sesame seed cakes, break them into small pieces and sprinkle them on the salad. They will become more flavorful after soaking up the sauce.

Must - have Refreshing Side Dishes

Side dishes with a sweet and sour taste like pickled radish slices or sweet and sour lotus root cubes can refresh your palate at any time. Especially when the salad dressing is relatively rich, taking a few bites of the crispy lotus root cubes can instantly balance the taste and make the whole meal less monotonous.

Is chicken salad better shredded or chopped?

I personally think both methods are great, but I prefer shredding.

I've found that shredded chicken is especially easy to season, especially when paired with some leafy greens. Every time I make a salad, shredding the chicken feels particularly convenient. Wrapping the shredded chicken in lemon yogurt sauce and pairing it with lettuce and red cabbage creates a particularly harmonious texture.

However, sometimes I also choose to dice the chicken, especially when I want to make a more substantial salad.

For example, when adding roasted potato cubes or avocado dices, diced chicken goes better at this time. Marinated with olive oil and herbs and then pan - fried until the surface is slightly crispy, it's extremely delicious.

Is chicken salad meant to be eaten cold?

Eating it cold is indeed the most common way, but temperature isn't really the key. It mainly depends on the combinations.

After being refrigerated, the chicken becomes firmer. Paired with crispy vegetables, it's especially appetizing, especially when flavored with sesame paste or a spicy and sour sauce.

Looking at it from a different perspective, a warm version is also great.

Shred the chicken drumstick while it's still warm, pair it with blanched wood ear mushrooms or lotus root slices, and pour on a dressing of garlic chili oil. The aroma is really enticing. But remember to add leafy greens like lettuce at the very end so that their texture won't be affected.

Can you eat chicken salad by itself?

Chicken salad can definitely be eaten on its own. However, I adjust the portion size and the way of combining ingredients according to the occasion:

Sufficient proportion of chicken: For a single - person serving, it is recommended to use about 150 grams of chicken breast or chicken drumstick. Cook and shred the chicken. Pair it with filling vegetables like lettuce and red cabbage. Then add a small handful of nuts or half an avocado to supply good fats. This way, you won't get hungry easily after eating.

Don't use too thin a dressing: Use thick sesame paste or Greek yogurt for mixing. This can coat the ingredients better and make them more flavorful. If you think it's too plain, add a spoonful of crushed cooked chickpeas or quinoa. This makes the texture more substantial and can also provide protein.

Pay attention to ingredient diversity: Besides the basic cucumber and carrot, try adding diced mango or roasted pumpkin pieces. The sweetness can balance the saltiness and savoriness. Sprinkle crispy fried onion bits or roasted coconut flakes on top. Eating it alone won't be boring.

If taking it out, it is advisable to pack it separately: Drain the vegetables in advance. Put the dressing in a small box separately and mix them just before eating to prevent the salad from going soft after being stored for a long time. Add an ice pack for freshness in summer. The chilled taste is even more refreshing.

Is chicken salad good in a wrap?

Chicken salad is especially suitable for making wraps. As long as you handle the moisture of the ingredients well, it's definitely a portable and delicious combination.

Choose a tough rather than a crispy wrap

Whole wheat tortillas or Vietnamese rice paper are more suitable than crispy corn tortillas. Microwave the former for 5 seconds to make it softer and easier to wrap. Soak the latter in warm water for 3 seconds and flatten it. It can hold moist ingredients and is not easy to break.

Key steps to lock in moisture and prevent leakage

Pat the vegetables dry with kitchen paper in advance. Marinate shredded cucumbers with salt for 10 minutes and then squeeze out the water. Don't mix the salad dressing directly. Spread it on the wrap and then place the ingredients. Or use avocado puree to replace part of the dressing, which not only thickens it but is also healthy.

Add ingredients to increase satisfaction

I would add two slices of fried luncheon meat or Parma ham. The saltiness can balance the blandness of the salad. When wrapping, first lay a lettuce leaf as a base. Pile the ingredients in one - third of the wrap. Fold the two sides inwards and then roll it up tightly. Cut it diagonally to prevent the filling from leaking out.