How to Make a Delicious Chicken Salad with a Twist
In the culinary world, salpicão is a favorite dish, particularly during festive occasions. It’s a chicken salad that can easily become a centerpiece of your holiday menu or family gatherings. I’m Chef Guisela Leme, and today I will guide you through my unique recipe for salpicão de frango (chicken salad), which features an exciting twist: the addition of smoked chicken.
Salpicão is not only versatile but also simple and cost-effective to prepare. This dish works perfectly as an accompaniment at family reunions, barbecues, or Sunday lunches. One of the best aspects of salpicão is how adaptable it is—you can modify ingredients based on your taste preferences. For instance, if you’re not fond of raisins—a topic that generates much debate—you can omit them or replace them with peas or even corn.
Essential Ingredients
To start, let’s gather our ingredients. The uniqueness of my salpicão lies in two key secrets:
Smoked Chicken: In addition to regular boiled chicken breast, I incorporate smoked chicken. This adds a deeper flavor profile to the salad.
Creamy Dressing: I prefer a lighter dressing by mixing mayonnaise with a bit of cream or crème fraîche. The recommended ratio is about half mayonnaise and half cream, which enhances the overall taste.
The Cooking Process
Now, let’s move on to the preparation steps:
Cook the Chicken: Begin by boiling regular chicken breast in water seasoned with salt, celery, and onion. The resultant broth can be reserved for later uses, creating a flavorful base for soups or sauces.
Shred the Chicken: To make shredding the chicken a breeze, you can use a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. The paddles will pull apart the chicken without turning it into mush. If using a hand mixer, exercise caution as it can shred too much. Alternatively, you can shred the chicken with forks or shake it in a sealed pressure cooker for a faster approach.
Mix the Ingredients: Once the chicken is shredded, it’s time to combine everything. In a large bowl, add about 1 kg of shredded chicken, chopped apples (soaked in lemon water to prevent browning), a can of corn, and optionally, raisins for added texture. You can also add grated carrots and finely chopped herbs like parsley or green onions for freshness.
For the dressing, mix together the mayonnaise, cream, and a splash of lemon juice to brighten the flavors. Be sure to add some salt to taste. The goal is to create a well-balanced dressing that enhances without overpowering the salad.
Final Touches
When all the components are combined, take care to mix gently to keep the ingredients intact and presentable. As a finishing touch, add crispy potato sticks just before serving to maintain their crunchiness. This can create an attractive presentation.
Serve and Enjoy
Once the salad is assembled, it can go straight onto a serving dish. I prefer to keep the presentation loose and natural instead of smoothing everything over for a uniform look. A rustic appearance emphasizes the various ingredients while keeping the dish appealing.
For an extra touch of visual appeal, dress the plate with a ring of potato sticks around the salad.
If you enjoyed this recipe, don’t forget to like this video, subscribe to my channel, and share it with friends or family—perhaps for their upcoming holiday meals. Happy cooking, and remember to enjoy every tasty bite of your homemade chicken salpicão!
Part 1/6:
How to Make a Delicious Chicken Salad with a Twist
In the culinary world, salpicão is a favorite dish, particularly during festive occasions. It’s a chicken salad that can easily become a centerpiece of your holiday menu or family gatherings. I’m Chef Guisela Leme, and today I will guide you through my unique recipe for salpicão de frango (chicken salad), which features an exciting twist: the addition of smoked chicken.
The Perfect Dish for Any Occasion
Part 2/6:
Salpicão is not only versatile but also simple and cost-effective to prepare. This dish works perfectly as an accompaniment at family reunions, barbecues, or Sunday lunches. One of the best aspects of salpicão is how adaptable it is—you can modify ingredients based on your taste preferences. For instance, if you’re not fond of raisins—a topic that generates much debate—you can omit them or replace them with peas or even corn.
Essential Ingredients
To start, let’s gather our ingredients. The uniqueness of my salpicão lies in two key secrets:
Part 3/6:
The Cooking Process
Now, let’s move on to the preparation steps:
Part 4/6:
Shred the Chicken: To make shredding the chicken a breeze, you can use a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. The paddles will pull apart the chicken without turning it into mush. If using a hand mixer, exercise caution as it can shred too much. Alternatively, you can shred the chicken with forks or shake it in a sealed pressure cooker for a faster approach.
Mix the Ingredients: Once the chicken is shredded, it’s time to combine everything. In a large bowl, add about 1 kg of shredded chicken, chopped apples (soaked in lemon water to prevent browning), a can of corn, and optionally, raisins for added texture. You can also add grated carrots and finely chopped herbs like parsley or green onions for freshness.
The Dressing
Part 5/6:
For the dressing, mix together the mayonnaise, cream, and a splash of lemon juice to brighten the flavors. Be sure to add some salt to taste. The goal is to create a well-balanced dressing that enhances without overpowering the salad.
Final Touches
When all the components are combined, take care to mix gently to keep the ingredients intact and presentable. As a finishing touch, add crispy potato sticks just before serving to maintain their crunchiness. This can create an attractive presentation.
Serve and Enjoy
Once the salad is assembled, it can go straight onto a serving dish. I prefer to keep the presentation loose and natural instead of smoothing everything over for a uniform look. A rustic appearance emphasizes the various ingredients while keeping the dish appealing.
Part 6/6:
For an extra touch of visual appeal, dress the plate with a ring of potato sticks around the salad.
If you enjoyed this recipe, don’t forget to like this video, subscribe to my channel, and share it with friends or family—perhaps for their upcoming holiday meals. Happy cooking, and remember to enjoy every tasty bite of your homemade chicken salpicão!