Chicken Apple New Years Salad (Print)

Bright salad blending chicken, apples, black-eyed peas, and mixed greens with a honey-mustard dressing.

# Ingredients:

→ Protein & Legumes

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
02 - 1 1/2 cups cooked black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed

→ Produce

03 - 2 medium apples (Fuji or Honeycrisp), cored and diced
04 - 1 cup celery, finely sliced
05 - 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 4 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, baby kale)
07 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ Dressing

08 - 3 tbsp olive oil
09 - 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
10 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
11 - 1 tbsp honey
12 - 1/2 tsp salt
13 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Optional Garnishes

14 - 1/4 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
15 - 2 tbsp crumbled feta cheese (optional)

# Instructions:

01 - Whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until emulsified. Set aside.
02 - In a large salad bowl, mix cooked chicken, black-eyed peas, diced apples, celery, red onion, and parsley until evenly distributed.
03 - Add mixed salad greens to the bowl and toss gently to incorporate.
04 - Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad and toss lightly until all ingredients are coated.
05 - Top with toasted pecans or walnuts and crumbled feta cheese if desired. Serve immediately.

# Pro Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes fresh and light but still feels like real food, not just rabbit leaves in a bowl.
  • Black-eyed peas are supposed to bring good fortune, so you're eating luck whether you believe in it or not.
  • Everything comes together in 35 minutes, which means you can actually enjoy your guests instead of hiding in the kitchen.
02 -
  • If you dress this more than 30 minutes ahead, the greens will wilt and the apples will brown—prepare the components separately and toss together just before serving.
  • Toasting your own nuts changes everything, and it takes about five minutes in a dry skillet over medium heat until they smell incredible.
03 -
  • Warm your salad bowl with hot water and dry it before tossing everything together—it keeps the greens from wilting and makes the whole salad taste fresher.
  • Buy a small container of pomegranate seeds and toss them in at the last second for color, crunch, and a little burst of sweetness that makes people notice.
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