Cape Cod Hen Salad Recipe: 15-Minute Picnic Meal

If you happen to’re searching for a cranberry rooster salad recipe that may blow your thoughts… look no additional. We’ve made this Cape Cod Hen Salad month-to-month for years, ever since we recreated it from our favourite bagel deli within the neighborhood (it has the most effective taste!). As a cousin to the equally scrumptious apple and grape-filled Hen Waldorf salad, this scrumptious salad is ideal for a picnic, packed lunch, or any outside outing. Whether or not you’re headed to the park, the seaside, a household outing, and even tailgating, this meal is tremendous straightforward to pack and luxuriate in on the go. 

That is additionally generally known as “New England Hen Salad” in the event you’re searching for that, This Cape Cod model is a flavorful twist on the conventional rooster salad however with cranberries, pecans and poppy seeds added. I find it irresistible a lot greater than the unique rooster salad. 

I additionally included straightforward (examined!) substitutions under to make this recipe, gluten-free, vegan, WW pleasant, and low carb. 

Components

• 4 cups chopped cooked rooster (We maintain the Costco model of shredded rooster available for this).
• 3 celery ribs, diced
• 1 cup sweetened dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
• 1/4 cup diced purple onion

Dressing Components:

• 1 1/2 cups mayo
• 1/3 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Non-obligatory Sandwich Components: 

Serves: 8

Directions

1. Into a big bowl, add your chopped cooked rooster.
2. Add in your diced celery, dried cranberries, chopped pecans, and diced purple onions.
3. In a smaller bowl, combine mayonnaise, honey, and poppy seeds to create a creamy dressing.
4. Pour the dressing over the rooster combination and season with salt and black pepper.
5. Serve and luxuriate in!

Now, let’s discuss some (examined!) enjoyable variations for each weight-reduction plan of this traditional Cape Cod Hen Salad recipe. As a result of everyone has totally different preferences and a few individuals are on a medically restrictive weight-reduction plan, If you happen to’re like me and simply use rotisserie rooster and even canned rooster (it sounds gross, however belief me, it’s fairly tasty and a nice backup meal), or the shredded rooster from Costco, you possibly can whip this up in simply quarter-hour and meal prep it for the subsequent 2-3 days. 

Variations for Vegan/Low Fodmap/Keto/WW/Low Calorie Food plan

1. Keto or low-Carb Choice: Swap out the honey for two teaspoons of lemon juice and 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard to maintain it keto-friendly.
2. Low FODMAP: Use inexperienced onions (or chives) as a substitute of purple onions, and make sure the mayo is freed from high-FODMAP elements (you need to use the Fig App to verify for Fodmap-free business product and types). 
3. Vegan: Use Hellman’s vegan mayo as a substitute, and purchase Butler’s Soy Curls right here (they’re exhausting to seek out in shops however they’re AMAZING as an alternative to diced rooster – 4 out of 4 of my non-vegan besties will fortunately eat these instead of rooster – which is the very best type of reward there’s as a result of they honestly hate vegan meals. I feel Butler’s soy curls style precisely like rooster and may’t determine why they don’t carry them in each retailer that sells unattainable burgers. Butler’s soy curls come dehydrated, so to make use of them- you simply pour heat water over them and allow them to rehydrate for 10 minutes when you chop the remainder of the elements. 
4. WW (Weight Watchers): Use half fat-free Greek yogurt (or low-fat vanilla greek yogurt in the event you can spare the factors) and half fat-free mayo. It will lower down the factors, making it a guilt-free possibility. For these monitoring recipes, this model is about 3 WW factors per serving (not counting the bread in the event you make this a sandwich). 

Dietary Worth and Ideas

This Cape Cod Hen Salad is very good, and there’s a whole lot of totally different views of what makes a wholesome meal (all natural? Entire meals? Low Carb? Low Calorie? Vegan?), However I’m together with out there nutrient information from Completely satisfied Forks under (word: they’ve a recipe analyzer that may do that to trace recipes you discover on-line) so you will get an concept of diet based mostly on the recipe listed above (I didn’t do that for the entire variations like Vegan, Keto and so forth, however you need to use their recipe analyzer to make the substitutions that you just used to replace it). Notice: I calculated day by day values utilizing all-white rooster breast with simply the rooster salad, so in the event you use rooster thighs, it might be barely increased. And including issues like complete grain bread to make a sandwich would additionally improve the energy. 

Picnic Perfection

Among the finest components about this rooster salad is how straightforward it’s to pack for a picnic or any outside journey. Simply portion it into single-serving containers and even make sandwiches utilizing whole-grain bread. It’s a scrumptious recipe that’s versatile sufficient to serve in lettuce wraps or on crackers as an expansion. For a lightweight summer season meal, pair it with some recent fruit or a easy inexperienced salad.

This Cape Cod Hen Salad additionally stands out due to its distinctive taste profile. The poppy seeds add a delicate crunch, whereas the honey brings a pleasant sweetness that balances the savory parts completely. It’s an genuine Cape Cod rooster salad recipe that stays true to the standard flavors of the northeastern United States.

​Our Recent Hen Hack 

At first look, this recipe could appear to be it’s worthwhile to prepare dinner rooster earlier than you even get started- however you’re all of it mistaken! You should buy already-cooked chicken rooster in bulk at Costco for ridiculous costs, retailer it in 1-cup luggage within the freezer to rapidly thaw, and use it if you want it (we’ve got a ton of recipes that we use right here with precooked rooster breasts in order for you different straightforward concepts). If you happen to don’t use Costco- you can too use canned rooster, a rotisserie rooster, or you possibly can bulk prepare dinner rooster breast right away pot with pineapple juice (freeze the additional for subsequent time). 

Cape Cod Hen Salad Recipe: 15-Minute Picnic Meal

 

This creamy Cape Cod Hen Salad is a month-to-month staple in our home. It is our go-to for tailgating, seaside journeys, RVing, and even packed lunches for work.

Creator: Rosemarie Groner

Recipe sort: Picnic

Delicacies: American

Serves: 8 Servings

Components

• 4 cups chopped cooked rooster (We maintain the Costco model of shredded rooster available for this).
• 3 celery ribs, diced
• 1 cup sweetened dried cranberries
• ½ cup chopped pecans, toasted
• ¼ cup diced purple onion
• Dressing Components:
• 1½ cups mayo
• ⅓ cup honey
• 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• Non-obligatory Sandwich Components:
• Bread
• Lettuce

Directions

1. Into a big bowl, add your chopped cooked rooster.
2. Add in your diced celery, dried cranberries, chopped pecans, and diced purple onions.
3. In a smaller bowl, combine mayonnaise, honey, and poppy seeds to create a creamy dressing.
4. Pour the dressing over the rooster combination and season with salt and black pepper.
5. Serve and luxuriate in!

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Ultimate Ideas

Whether or not you’re making this for a household outing, a fast meal at house, or packing it up for a day on the seaside, this Cape Cod Hen Salad is certain to turn out to be a staple in your recipe rotation. It’s straightforward to make, full of taste, and adaptable for varied dietary wants. So, subsequent time you’re searching for a meal that’s each scrumptious and handy, give this salad a strive. And don’t neglect to share your personal model and recipe concepts – I’d love to listen to the way you make this scrumptious salad your personal!

Completely satisfied consuming, and luxuriate in your subsequent picnic with this unbelievable Cape Cod Hen Salad!