I love summer, don’t you? Everything is in bloom, the days are long and full of outdoor activities to enjoy, and downtown Main Streets come to life with sidewalk sales, soon to be discovered “starving artists”, outdoor cafes, and farmer’s markets! So much to see and do! Yet plenty of time to kick back and relax, too.
We’re in the middle of yet another blistering heatwave, and anything hot right now just doesn’t even sound edible. So my refreshing, cool and creamy chicken salad that tastes like you’re dining al fresco at an outdoor sidewalk cafe sounded perfect for a light supper to end the day! What could be better than that, except maybe piled onto a bed of crisp, chopped lettuce and a toasted croissant!
Back when I used to cater, this was my most requested salad in the summertime! It’s simple ingredients produce anything but a simple flavor! The secret is the tarragon. Yes, you read that correctly, tarragon. It’s wonderful in this salad and people never guess that it’s in there. I don’t normally measure anything when I make this, but this time I did and wrote it down for you as I went along. It’s just too good not to share and so want you to give this a try! It’s very much “upscale bistro-style”, and if I were ordering this in a trendy cafe, I’d expect to pay no less than 8 dollars for it. But you can make this at home for so much less. It’s quick to make, very easy, and uses just a few simple ingredients.
Though it’s simple, it is definitely company-worthy. So invite a few friends over and share out on the patio, on the boat or beach, or under a gazebo in the park, and pair up with glasses of a nice light white wine such as a sauvignon blanc. I have a 2006 bottle of Cakebread Cellars that I’d love to share with you! I think this would also go beautifully with a cool and creamy chilled fresh asparagus soup, too.
So get out there and take advantage of those farmer’s markets and whip up this salad for the weekend! Enjoy and, literally, stop to smell the roses! Have a beautiful summer day all!
Sidewalk Cafe Chicken Salad with Red Grapes, Pecans, Celery & Tarragon on Toasted Croissants
Ingredients
Instructions