Chicken Apple New Years Luck (Print Version)

A bright mix of chicken, apples, and black-eyed peas with honey-mustard dressing for a nourishing dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Protein & Legumes

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
02 - 1 1/2 cups cooked black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed

→ Produce

03 - 2 medium apples (Fuji or Honeycrisp), cored and diced
04 - 1 cup celery, finely sliced
05 - 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 4 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, baby kale)
07 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ Dressing

08 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
09 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
10 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
11 - 1 tablespoon honey
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
13 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Optional Garnishes

14 - 1/4 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
15 - 2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese (omit for dairy-free)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Whisk olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until emulsified. Set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, mix cooked chicken, black-eyed peas, diced apples, celery, red onion, and parsley.
03 - Add mixed salad greens to the bowl and toss gently to combine all ingredients.
04 - Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad and toss until evenly coated.
05 - Sprinkle toasted nuts and feta cheese if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It brings together luck and flavor in one bowl, with black-eyed peas doing double duty as tradition and texture.
  • The honey-mustard dressing clings to everything without feeling heavy, making each bite bright and balanced.
  • You can prep it ahead and toss it together right before guests arrive, no last-minute stress.
  • It works as a side or a full meal, and everyone from salad skeptics to health enthusiasts clears their plate.
02 -
  • Do not dress the salad until you are ready to serve, the greens will wilt and the apples will release water if it sits too long.
  • If your apples are tart, add an extra teaspoon of honey to the dressing to balance the acidity.
  • Rinse canned black-eyed peas thoroughly or they will make the salad taste flat and salty.
03 -
  • Toast your nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat, shaking constantly, until they smell like butter and turn golden, it only takes three minutes but transforms them completely.
  • If you want more protein, add a soft-boiled egg on top of each serving, the yolk mixes with the dressing like magic.
  • Use a salad spinner to dry your greens thoroughly, wet greens dilute the dressing and make everything soggy.
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