Pecan Sage Chicken Salad gets help from a premade rotisserie chicken. Added flavor comes from fresh sage, pecans, and grapes.
My Granny loved chicken salad. She’d boil chickens that were seasoned only by adding salt and pepper added to the water. Carrots and celery never made it into her chicken pot, either. After the chicken cooled, she’d shred it and add boiled eggs, pickle relish and mayonnaise. That was the only way she ever made it. Chicken salad containing other ingredients such as fruits and nuts was known as “fancy chicken salad” to her. Never mind that the fruits and nuts were very common to her such as grapes and pecans. You put that stuff in chicken salad and it turns it fancy. She had no objection to eating fancy chicken salad but it never made the menu in her kitchen. Perhaps she was a creature of habit. Perhaps she was afraid no one else would like anything other than her regular chicken salad.
The fact that the addition of something so common could turned an everyday dish into fancy, tells a lot about my Granny’s humble existence. She lived a simple life without much variation and very little glitz and glamour. I pray that I will always appreciate simplicity. Living a simple life is honorable and noteworthy. My grandparents bestowed a blessing on me by teaching me that lesson.
For a different spin on chicken salad, check out Chinese Chicken Salad .
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Pecan Sage Chicken Salad
This is a “fancy” chicken salad that would have delighted my Grandmother. She would have eaten it and just gone on and on about how good it is. But she would have never made it herself.
Roasted chicken brings flavor to chicken salad as does stewed or boiled. I use both dark and white meat because dark meat is more flavorful than white. Fresh sage needs a little time to develop its flavor. This chicken salad is best made the day before.
The sweetness of grapes and minty overtone of sage blends for a nice combination.
4 cups cooked chicken, skinned, deboned and cubed
1 1/2 cups seedless red grapes, washed and halved
1/2 cups chopped pecans
1 cup good quality mayonnaise (I prefer Duke’s)
2 tablespoons fresh sage, finely minced
1 tablespoon sugar
juice of one lemon
salt and pepper to taste
Place chicken, grapes and pecans in a large bowl.
In a small bowl mix mayonnaise, sage, sugar and lemon juice together. Add to chicken, grapes and pecans and mix well. Chill before serving.
Pecan Sage Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked chicken skinned, deboned and cubed
- 1 1/2 cups seedless red grapes washed and halved
- 1/2 cups chopped pecans
- 1 cup good quality mayonnaise I prefer Duke's
- 2 tablespoons fresh sage finely minced
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- juice of one lemon
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place chicken, grapes and pecans in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl mix mayonnaise, sage, sugar and lemon juice together. Add to chicken, grapes and pecans and mix well. Chill before serving.
You might also enjoy:
Herb Roasted Chicken
Maureen @ Orgasmic Chef says
Sorry, Granny, I’m a fancy chicken salad eater myself. I can’t wait to roast a chicken and make this salad. I love chicken salad with fruit and nuts in it and this looks perfect.
Jackie Garvin says
Maureen,
That would be just fine with Granny that you like fancy chicken salad. She liked to eat fancy chicken salad, she just never made it herself! 🙂
karen thompson says
Will this be served at your gathering? Sounds yummy – “grandma’s recipes” are always that way — if there was a recipe. Being lucky enough to see how she made things was enough for me – she taught me many many valuable things! Oh, Happy Birthday, too!
Jackie Garvin says
Karen,
I’m serving it to my friends today at lunch.
Thanks for the birthday wishes! 🙂
Ann says
I LOVE that kind of chicken salad – the fancy kind – although I grew up eating the simple kind too!. I told my parents the other day they should put some of their blueberries on their salad and they were surprised – had never heard of it – I told them they should try it – that fruits on salads were good!. I’ve never tried the sage, I’ve always used tarragon in mine – it’s yummy too! Thanks Jackie
Jackie Garvin says
Ann,
I had never used fresh sage in chicken salad, either, but I wanted to give it a try. Sage is such a good herb to use with chicken. I love to use it when I roast chicken. I put fresh sage in my Thanksgiving dressing, too.
Jean says
Morning Jackie….just so happens I made chicken salad the other day for a little party. Now sage has never crossed my mind to put in my chicken salad but I will try it. I didnt do all the fancy things as I was making this for croissant sandwiches. I like all the bells and whistles! Have eaten it with a little curry in it too.
Jackie Garvin says
Jean,
I wanted to try sage with chicken salad because it goes so well with chicken. It gives it a little different twist. I love chicken croissant sandwiches!
Angia Snyder says
The chicken salad sounds yummy! But – – – it’s the pictures that I am drawn to, today. What an absolute beautiful picture of the chicken salad on beautiful lettuce on your beautiful china on that royal or navy cloth. Divine!!!
Jackie Garvin says
Angia,
Your comment means so much to me. I have really been working hard on improving my food photography. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!!!
Susan 30A EATS says
I am a fan of fancy and white meat chicken salad, but other than that our recipes are the same! Grew up with the “fancy” tuna and potato salads too. Egg was just Dukes and a little celery and pepper. My parents were experimental foodies! Looks delicious!
Jackie Garvin says
Susan,
Thanks for stopping by. I admire your parents for exposing you to different types of foods. 🙂
Elizabeth K says
I like your granny’s recipe – I prefer a simpler chicken salad. Nope, no grapes in my chicken salad. I generally just boil the chicken too, but next time, I’ll roast it and give that a try Enjoy your fancy salad and your guests! ; )
Jackie Garvin says
Elizabeth,
I think you’ll find the chicken to be more flavorful when roasted. Thanks for commenting!
Mary at Deep South Dish says
I enjoy chicken salad on both ends of the spectrum myself! Your photos are beautiful Jackie.
Jackie Garvin says
Mary,
I like it fancy and simple, too!
Thanks so much for stopping by, Mary!
Mary says
Jackie, your pictures are absolutely beautiful! I love a good ol’ homemade chicken salad, and your recipe sounds like a winner. This would be good stuffed in a big ol’ home-grown tomato…yummy! I noticed a previous commenter wished you “Happy Birthday”, so ditto from me!!! I’ll think of your granny when I make this recipe. Have a good day, and thanks for sharing.
Jackie Garvin says
Mary,
Thank you so much for your comments. I always look forward to a “mimigresham” comment!
I had a wonderful day and I hope you did, too! 🙂