What Kind of Apples to Use in Chicken Salad?
Chicken salad is a versatile dish, as many different ingredients can be used. Apples are a fresh addition to meat dishes, including chicken salad, with a mildly sweet or tart flavor. There are a number of apples that can be used in chicken salad to enhance its flavor and texture. Does this Spark an idea?
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Red Delicious Apples
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Red Delicious apples are dark red in color, and tend to be crispy and mildly sweet. These apples were originally known as Hawkeye apples when they were first introduced in the 1870s. Red Delicious apples are best eaten raw, such as in a chicken salad, and they are available all year.
Empire Apples
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These apples are a cross between McIntosh and red delicious apples. Empire apples are medium-sized with a deep red color, firm texture, and slightly tart taste. Like red delicious apples, they are a nice addition to chicken salad because they are ideal for eating fresh. Overall, they are good all-purpose apples. Empire apples are typically available from September to July.
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Ida Red Apples
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Ida Red apples were first introduced in the 1930s. Their skin is sometimes a red flush, and sometimes pink. Ida Reds tend to have a tangy, but pleasantly mild flavor that works well in salads. These apples have a long storage potential, and have become more popular in North America as a result. Ida Red apples also freeze well.
Gala Apples
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Gala apples are native to New Zealand, but they are now grown extensively throughout the U.S. They first came on the U.S. market in 1965. As a cross between Kidd's Orange Red and Golden Delicious apples, they have a yellow skin with red, pink and orange stripes. Gala apples are crisp with a mildly sweet taste, and are used commonly in baking. They store well and are ideal for eating fresh.
Apple Chicken Salad Ideas
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While there are several variations of chicken salad with apple, a standard salad can be tried at home. Mix equal amounts of cubed cooked chicken breast, diced empire apple, walnuts and mayonnaise in a bowl, and mix well. Other variations of apple chicken salad include apple pecan chicken salad, curried chicken salad, chicken salad with apple and basil, and barbecued chicken salad with grilled apples. Sweeter apples may be better suited to chicken salad containing ingredients like nuts and mayonnaise, so as to balance the flavors. Tangy apples work well with salads, such as honey Dijon chicken salad and curried chicken salad, as they add to the already flavorful blend.
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