Waldorf chicken salad

Try this modern version of Waldorf chicken salad. Tender lettuce, peppery arugula, sweet apple, nuts, spicy Daikon radish, chicken and creamy mayo are a great combination. Enjoy this delicious salad, packed with flavours and textures, as an appetizer or as a light meal.

Waldorf salad got its name after a hotel, the Waldorf Astoria in New York, where it’s been created. Basically, it’s a classic salad made of simple ingredients that got famous. The most typical ingredients of a Waldorf salad are lettuce, apples, celery, grapes, walnuts and mayo. More, the colours of all ingredients tend (or at least used) to be of different shades of green.

However, there are modern versions, too. These include a variety of other ingredients. For instance, chicken, turkey or dried fruits. Besides that, the dressing might be different as well. My Waldorf salad belongs to the modern versions since I made a lot of changes. Does it still look or even sound like a Waldorf salad? Wink. Well, let’s say it is a very modern version. Ha ha. At least I followed the basic rule: lettuce, something crunchy, nutty, fruity and mayo. I have it all. Wink.

Why I made all of these changes? It’s always the same. I start with changing one ingredient, then I change the second, the third and then I can’t stop anymore. It’s a rollercoaster. Honestly, I prefer tender lettuce to a crunchy one. Because I like contrasts, I used a red apple. More, I like celery root yet not celery stalks. Therefore, I substituted it with Daikon radish.

I love it. Daikon radish is a long, white radish – a tad bitter, slightly sweet and with a spicy note. Are all radishes spicy or is it just me? I find also the red radishes spicy. Go figure it. Anyway, it pairs great with sweet apples. Besides that, it is also a great addition to your diet. In fact, Daikon is very low in calories but very rich in vitamin C. In most Asian countries and Japan, it’s the most commonly eaten vegetable.

If you are a radish lover just like me, then check these lovely recipes with radishes and apples: pea and radish chicken salad, fresh avocado salmon ceviche, summerish watermelon carpaccio, crunchy carrot apple salad, a wonderful cheesy apple pide, a healthy blueberry apple salad with walnuts. I love the crunch. They make a great healthy movie snack, too. Yummy.

Ingredients for 2-4 portions of Waldorf chicken salad:

• 2 handfuls of goat lettuce
• 1 handful of arugula
• 300 g chicken medallions
• 1,5 apple (cubed)
• 1 lemon (juice)
• a handful of mixed nuts
• half of a medium Daikon radish (sliced or cubed)
• 80 g mayonnaise
• vinegar
• salt
• olive oil

To begin, prepare the chicken. In a non-sticking frying pan, drizzle some olive oil. Once it gets hot, add the chicken and cook until golden brown. Then, remove from the pan and allow to cool.

In the meantime, wash the salad greens and let them drain. Also, roughly chop the nuts, peel and slice the Daikon radish.

Last but not least, wash the apples and cut them into cubes or small slices. Place them in a small bowl, squeeze the lemon juice on top and gently toss.

Finally, combine all of the ingredients in a salad bowl, drizzle with some olive oil and vinegar, add the mayonnaise and toss. Serve with a slice of bread for a lovely meal.

Enjoy!