Chicken salad

Chicken salad is a delightful and versatile dish with chicken as its central ingredient. Typically, it's combined with mayonnaise, hard-boiled eggs, celery, onions, pepper, pickles, and various mustards. In the United States, "chicken salad" can refer to any salad containing chicken or specifically to a mixture of chopped chicken blended with a creamy element such as mayonnaise or cream cheese.

This tasty salad offers a multitude of serving options. You can enjoy it on a bed of lettuce, accompanied by slices of tomato or avocado, or even as a hearty sandwich filling. Whether you're using leftover cooked chicken or canned chicken, you can prepare this dish quickly. Additionally, for a more substantial meal, you can top a garden salad with fried, grilled, or roasted chicken.

In Europe and Asia, chicken salad comes in a variety of forms, often incorporating different dressings and ingredients. You might find versions that include greens and vegetables, or even pasta, couscous, noodles, or rice.

Chicken salad has deep roots in American cuisine, dating back to the 19th century. Early recipes appeared in Southern cookbooks such as "The Carolina Housewife" by Sarah Rutledge and "What Mrs. Fisher Knows About Old Southern Cooking" by Abby Fisher. These early recipes frequently involved making mayonnaise from scratch to mix into the salad.

One of the earliest known American versions of chicken salad was served by Town Meats in Wakefield, Rhode Island, in 1863. This popular dish featured chicken combined with mayonnaise, tarragon, and grapes, creating a delightful blend of flavors that has endured through the years.