Brine

Green Goddess Chicken Salad

by:
April 26, 2018
4.7
3 Ratings
Green Goddess Chicken Salad
Photo by Ty Mecham
  • Prep time 8 hours 25 minutes
  • Cook time 1 hour 50 minutes
  • Serves 8
Author Notes

Instead of dicing cooked chicken breast for a salad, I like to brine a whole chicken, roast it, then pick the meat off the bones—tasty skin bits and all. You end up with tons more flavor. To add another level of yum, I fold in green goddess dressing, an old-school ranch-like classic that’s freshened up with scallions and tarragon.

Reprinted from Gather & Graze: 120 Favorite Recipes for Tasty Good Times. Copyright © 2018 by Stephanie Izard, Inc. Photographs copyright © 2018 by Galdones Photography. Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC. —Food52

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • The chicken:
  • 1 medium white onion, quartered
  • 1 cup kosher salt
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons roughly chopped garlic
  • 1 tablespoon black peppercorns
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 orange, quartered
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 4 cups ice cubes
  • 2 whole chickens, 3–4 pounds each
  • The dressing:
  • 2 egg yolks
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 cup canola oil
  • 2/3 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup chopped scallions (white and green parts)
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh tarragon
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 2 cups thinly sliced sweet onions
  • 1/4 cup torn fresh basil leaves
  • 2 tablespoons torn fresh tarragon leaves
  • 1 pinch Kosher salt, to taste
Directions
  1. The chicken:
  2. In a very large pot over medium heat, combine the onion, salt, sugar, garlic, peppercorns, coriander, red pepper flakes, and 4 cups water. Bring the mixture to a boil and whisk until the sugar and salt are fully dissolved. Add the orange and thyme.
  3. Remove from the heat and let cool for 15 minutes. Add the ice cubes to the brine, allow to cool to room temperature, then submerge the chickens. Refrigerate for 8 hours.
  4. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Transfer the chickens to a roasting pan. Discard the brine. Roast the chickens for 30 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F and continue roasting for 1 hour more. The chickens’ juices will run clear when the meat is fully cooked. Remove the chickens from the oven and allow them to rest for 20 minutes.
  5. Remove the skin and chop into pieces. Shred the meat into medium pieces. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  1. The dressing:
  2. In a food processor or blender, combine the egg yolks, lemon juice, lime juice, and mustard. Blend until fully combined. While the food processor is running, slowly drizzle in the oil and continue mixing until the dressing thickens. Add the sour cream, scallions, and chopped tarragon. Blend until well combined.
  3. Heat the 1 tablespoon oil in a medium sauté pan over medium-high heat. Cook the onions until tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and let cool. Add the chicken, chopped skin, dressing, and the basil and tarragon leaves to the onions. Season with salt to taste and toss to coat. (If you plan on doing the preparation ahead, the chicken can be stored in the refrigerator, undressed, for up to 4 days. Dress the salad right before serving.)
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1 Review

megomiles
megomiles November 6, 2023
I put this over a bed of lettuce with tomatoes and peppers and tossed it. I felt that it was a lot of dressing so I cut it in half, but still think a half batch could have fed 6-8 people for an entree. It was flavorful and delicious.