Saturday, January 22, 2011

Nancy Drew's Chicken Salad

    "In the old days, chicken salad was served either to children, or at tea rooms to ladies who had been shopping and wanted a light lunch. If you remember your Nancy Drew mysteries, you will recall that Nancy and her chums, wearing their sport frocks, would jump into Nancy's roadster and after chasing a nasty thief or smuggler, would stop at a tearoom and eat chicken salad and homemade rolls with iced tea." --Laurie Colwin
Two of my loves are food and mystery, and I'm passionate about them both.  The story surrounding the above stack of books that I encourage you to read here, is what made me decide to make chicken salad today, and share this wonderful recipe with you.  It is not Nancy's recipe, of course, but it is one of which I have no doubt she would have approved.


 The recipe is from Remy's Wine Bar in Clayton, MO, and can be found in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch publication SPECIAL REQUESTS (that I have mentioned many times before because, truly, it does not contain a recipe that is not exceptional).  A very tasty and different chicken salad. I loved the addition of the pistachios. I also liked the vindaloo paste, but I like things a bit spicy so next time will probably double it.

RED CURRY CHICKEN SALAD
Yield 8 servings
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoons vindaloo paste or more to taste
2 teaspoons minced garlic
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
1/4 cup white wine
1/4 cup shelled pistachios
1/4 cup raisins
1/2 cup minced onion
1/2 cup diced celery
2-1/2 pounds baked, boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
Fresh tomatoes, for garnish

In a large bowl, combine mayonnaise, vindaloo paste, garlic, salt, pepper and wine; whisk thoroughly until combined.  With a rubber spatula, fold in pistachios, raisins, onion and celery.  Gently fold in chicken cover and chill.

To purchase a copy of SPECIAL REQUESTS
(and get the second volume MORE SPECIAL REQUESTS for FREE), please click here.
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11 comments:

The Church Cook said...

This recipe looks divine, Pattie! Thank you for sharing!

Lyndsay Wells said...

LOL! We have another thing in common. I collect Nancy Drew books. As a child I remember salivating over Hannah Gruen's lamb chops with mint jelly and the wonderful snacks and lunches she would prepare for Nancy and the gang.

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Curry chicken salad is one of my favorites. YUM! Thanks for this recipe.

XO,

Sheila :-)

Unknown said...

So this is chicken salad, huh? I wouldn't have thought it was made with mayo for kids. Who would have thought! But I would love this in fluffy white bread rolls with crunchy lettuce! YUM!

Tracy's Living Cookbook said...

I'm curious about vindaloo paste. Must confess I've never heard of it!

Miz Helen said...

Hi Patti,
Your Chicken Salad looks so good. I would like to invite you to bring a dish to my Full Plate Thursday. Thank you for sharing and have a great week!

April J Harris said...

I've bookmarked your recipe - I love that there are pistachios in it! I loved the Nancy Drew books as a child too - how pleased you must have been to get them back!!

wacki04@TheKing'sCourt IV said...

I love it! Looks great AND your from St. Louis like myself... definitely a WINNER, lol!

Unknown said...

oh i am such a nancy drew fan! this chicken salad is speaking to me...i am definitely going to make it. welcome to the supper club and thank you for sharing this amazing recipe!

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Fun post, Pattie! I'd forgotten about the chicken salad lunches. :)

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hi Pattie...

Oooh...your Red Curry Chicken salad looks sooo good, my friend! I have never had red curry chicken salad but I know that I would love it! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe with us...I would love to give it a try!

I must admit, I am a huge Nancy Drew fan! I think that I read every one of her books when I was younger! I totally agree...nothing like a good mystery! Thanks for joining in with the Sunday Favorites party this week, my friend!

Have a super Sunday!
Chari