We’ve been celebrating a lot of minor ‘firsts’ in our new apartment. The first batch of cookies baked in our new oven were experimental and not so great, but I followed that flop with one big chocolate chip cookie and all was right with the world.
The first spill on our three-day-old rug was by me and was thankfully just water. Because knocking your water glass off the arm of the couch is entirely necessary when scrambling after a bottle of blue nail polish that bounced across the floor. A bottle that may or may not still be open. Luckily it wasn’t, but I’m sure the delivery men installing our new washer and dryer at the time appreciated the laugh.
And our first chicken dish? This curry chicken salad with cashews.
I can’t stop eating it, which is funny because I’m an unlikely champion for this dish. Typically I’m not a fan of mayo, and I have a pretty strong aversion to curry. So when Brian suggested making chicken salad, this curry chicken salad, I’ll say that I wasn’t exactly on board. But he wasn’t backing down – he was convinced that I’d love it. Since he usually knows me better than I know myself, I was in…though I did have a fleeting thought about a back-up can of soup in the cabinet.
Spoiler: the soup stayed in the cabinet. Way far back in the cabinet.
Sometimes we cook up a big batch of chicken (sometimes seasoned with Old Bay) for this dish, but it’s a great recipe for using up any leftover grilled or baked chicken. Truthfully most of the time we pick up a rotisserie chicken for extra quick preparation. Now for the flavor. The little bit of curry powder in the mix here adds a depth to the mayonnaise so it’s not just…mayonnaise-y. It’s subtle, warmly spiced, and totally makes this chicken salad. Just one-half teaspoon! I’m proud to say I’m a new curry convert.
This curry chicken salad also packs a serious crunch factor. Crunch from the celery and onion pieces are a given, but the addition of cashews adds an extra crunchy, slightly-salty, keep-packing-in-the-protein kind of layer. If you’re not a cashew fan or partial to nuts, feel free to omit or sub in your favorites.
We ate this salad for dinner right after we first made it, while the chicken was still warm from the oven. Toast the buns too and gahhh what a fab meal. I can seriously get behind warm chicken salad. And cool chicken salad on room temperature buns. And cold chicken salad forkfuls straight from the fridge late at night. 😉
I’m willing to bet this curry chicken salad may be our second chicken dish, and our third, and…
This curry chicken salad has a great spice flavor and is delicious warm or cold. It's a great way to use leftover chicken!
- 3 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (see note)
- 2/3 cup light mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp vinegar, white or apple cider
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp curry powder
- 1 cup sliced celery
- 2 tbsp diced onion
- 2/3 cup lightly-salted cashew pieces
-
Once cooked, cut chicken into approximately 1/2" cubes. Set aside.
-
In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, vinegar, salt, and curry powder. Stir in chicken, celery, onion, and cashews until chicken is fully coated by mayonnaise mixture and all ingredients are well mixed. Refrigerate if not serving right away.
*You can prepare simple baked chicken for this salad, use up leftover chicken, or shred meat from a rotisserie chicken.
This chicken salad can be eaten warm or cool from the refrigerator.
Nutritional info is estimated for this recipe to yield six servings of chicken salad. It does not include what you might serve it with (on a salad, on a bun or roll, etc.)
Consuelo - Honey & Figs says
Ohhh I’m a big fan of curry (not the biggest one of mayo though haha) so I’m pretty sure I’d be nuts for this salad. Especially if it’s stuffing those gorgeous Old Bay buns 😉 This looks like a meal I’d really enjoy! xx
Alyssa says
Haha I know what you mean, Consuelo. I’m pretty particular when it comes to mayo, though it totally works for me in this chicken salad! 🙂
Valya of valyastasteofhome.com says says
Looks delicious. I will try to make it 🙂
Alyssa says
Thank you, Valya!
Zainab says
Phewww, thank goodness that nail polish wasn’t open. I dislike cleaning up nail polish from carpet lol! This is perfect for the first chicken meal coz it looks so delicious!!
Alyssa says
Thanks, Zainab! And I so agree! I’ve been in the position of cleaning up spilled nail polish before (ugh) and it’s never a good thing! Haha
Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods says
Hallelujah, that polish wasn’t open! It sounds like you are getting settled 😀 First baking experiences in a new oven are never fun. I can’t think of one time I moved and used a new oven and had immediate success. Funny, my first baking experience here was chocolate chip cookies. They were paper thin and all melted together. Haha
Now, I wish we were neighbors. I would be in Old Bay heaven. You seriously have made me pull out my spice can and I’ve been adding it to lots of foods 😀 This chicken salad looks delicious! The flavors sound really great. Pinning
Alyssa says
Thanks! And yes!! I would have been so upset with myself for ruining the new (light-colored) rug! Haha I’m glad to hear I’m not alone regarding new ovens, Cindy! There’s definitely a learning curve with it – this one runs hot! My first batch of cookies mushed together too and seriously stuck to the pan. I had to chip them off of the baking pan with a metal spatula, and even still half of the cookies wouldn’t come off until after I soaked the pan for a good hour or so. What a mess! I’m so glad to hear I’ve inspired you to use more Old Bay! 🙂 It’s one of my favorite spices to cook with – and now baking with the rolls.
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
Getting used to a new oven can be tricky, so don’t feel too bad about the cookie flop. Good thinking making a giant chocolate chip cookie after! And I have heart attacks about spilling nail polish on the carpet! Gah! Glad it didn’t spill, water is much easier to clean up than blue nail polish.
I love curry chicken salad! Have you ever tried using greek yogurt instead of mayo? I do that for my sister who get’s super icked out by mayo, and it still tastes great! Gives it a nice tang.
Alyssa says
Haha thanks girl! There’s definitely some settling in time with a new oven. That cookie recipe is SO good though. It was just what we needed after a loooong day. And I haven’t tried greek yogurt in here but I bet it would be great! I used to be very anti-mayo, though I’m warming to it in certain recipes (this being one). Next time I will most definitely use the greek yogurt – thanks for the suggestion! Hope all is going well with your pretty new home! 🙂
Kathi @ Deliciously Yum! says
Great choice for your first chicken dish :). I love that it has a crunch – I have tried way too many chicken salads that were crunchless and super boring. Yours looks beyond amazing :). Make sure you invite me over when you make it next 🙂
Alyssa says
Thanks Kathi! And will do haha
Anna Johnston says
Oh my goodness… thank goodness the lid was on the blue nail polish. Nothing worse than that feeling of dread as you lunge/leap toward the falling object. I like the look of your chicken salad, cashews are the business, shame I can’t serve it on ‘Old Bay’ buns…. Ill be writing a letter to the Australian government about allowing into my country, I want to try! 🙂 Hope you’ve had a great weekend. Cheers, Anna
Alyssa says
Ohhh I so agree, Anna! Such a scary moment when something’s falling, though the wave of relief when there wasn’t any spillage was golden! I love cashews, too and yes! You must try Old Bay. It’s certainly worthy of changing import regulations haha Hope you had a great weekend, as well! 🙂
Terri says
Now I know what I can do with my leftovers from a COSTCO roasting chicken! YUMMY! 🙂
Alyssa says
Terri – this chicken salad is SO good! It would be perfect for those Costco chicken leftovers 🙂
Ashley says
haha oh gosh I hate that feeling when you drop something and before it spills you get that drop in your stomach like oh crap!! lol
And love the sound of this chicken salad – it’s so different from what I normally make and I especially love that you added the cashews!
Alyssa says
Haha I so know what you mean! Years ago I actually had a bad spill with blue nail polish (on my parent’s white carpet..ugh) so while this bottle was still in the air I was having major flashbacks. I’m still thanking my lucky stars I had closed it before it flew! And thanks! It’s definitely a different type of chicken salad than I’ve had, but it’s SO good. The cashews are a great addition!
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
Hahaha glad you are getting settled into your new digs… and that you have already had your first spill. Glad it was just water!!! And this chicken salad… LOVE!
Alyssa says
Thanks Chris! Haha I gladly mopped up the water once I grabbed the nail polish bottle and realized it was in fact closed. Whew!! I have a history of spilling nail polish on carpet (ugh) so I feel like I dodged a bullet this time! I would have been so upset to have stained our brand new rug! Haha
Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
Well, Alyssa, unlike you I love curry, and I also love the chicken-cashew combo, so you don’t have any real convincing to do to get me on board with this one!
Welcome to your new home, by the way! Glad that you managed to christen the carpet with a nice cool glass of water!
Alyssa says
Ooh I bet you would love this salad, Helen! I surprised myself by how much I loved the curry in here. And thank you! We are in the final stages of setting up and finding new places for all of our things. It’s amazing how far we’ve come in two weeks, given the first was us sitting on folding chairs using an overturned cardboard box as a table! And oh, I’m so thankful it was just water! The couch/rug/floor weathered that one no problem. My heart leapt into my throat thinking blue nail polish would be permanently plastered on our (rented) floors!
Kristi @ Inspiration Kitchen says
This looks like a delicious chicken salad and I love that you served it on Old Bay Buns. Oh yes! 🙂 Ya gotta love Old Bay.
Alyssa says
Thanks Kristi! This salad paired SO well with those Old Bay buns. I think I’ve gone a little Old Bay crazy…it usually doesn’t make it back into the cabinet it’s used so much! 🙂
Ruby @ Ruby Red Apron says
I would have trouble keeping my fork out of this chicken salad! I love everything… the curry and the cashews! And it looks so good served with those buns!
Alyssa says
Thank you Ruby! This batch is long gone now (unfortunately) but I most certainly savored it. On sandwiches, on salads, and definitely those forkfuls alone! 🙂
Ashley @ My Midwest Table says
Alyssa! So many exciting things going on for you! I’ve just binge-read all the posts I’ve missed–which was a LOT! I hope you are liking your new city and are starting to feel all settled. Moving is crazy, isn’t it?! That’s where I’ve been. 🙂 We moved from South Dakota to Nebraska in late May, and since then it’s been crazy. I’m hoping to get back to blogging in the next week or two. I’ve missed it!
So about this chicken salad. Holy yum! I’m a huge fan of curry, so this is totally up my alley. And I must get my hands on Old Bay. I’ve never had it!
Alyssa says
Hey Ashley!!! Haha missed ya – I was just thinking about you! Glad to hear all’s going well and hope everything is great with your new home! Moving is most certainly crazy! And thank you – this chicken salad is so, SO good. If it can convert me to curry powder, then I bet you would totally love it. And you’ve got to try Old Bay if you run across it. It gives such a great flavor to dishes – and now homemade breads! 🙂
Jessica @ Jessiker Bakes says
Moving does seem to strike up some interesting firsts but it does seem rather exciting! These look great, and glad you got to enjoy a great one-of-your-first-meals in your new home!
Alyssa says
Thank you! Moving is definitely exciting Jessica, yes! If not a little (or a LOT) exhausting haha.
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Hopefully you are settling into your new place, Alyssa! I love how creative this chicken salad is. Definitely gives the regular version a fun twist! I am not a huge fan of curry, but in here, it sounds amazing!
Alyssa says
Thanks Gayle! We’re *just* about done setting everything up and arranging all of the smaller, decorative items. Glad that all the heavy lifting is over! And I never really enjoyed curry before, but for whatever reason I love it in this salad! To the point where I’d be craving it and counting down the hours and minutes until lunch/dinner when I’d eat it!
Lynette says
This sandwich is absolutely perfection! No other words necessary.
Alyssa says
Thanks! Super yummy, right? 🙂