Chicken salad with mandarin oranges used to be a staple on every party buffet. Not a single celebration went by without this classic dish from the past. No wonder: It was easy to prepare, and everyone loved the result. We’re bringing back this old favorite and realizing that a culinary look into the past is sometimes more worthwhile than you might think.
Chicken Salad with Mandarin Oranges Was a Regular Guest at Family Gatherings
Now, chicken salad with mandarin oranges are a real throw-back. But, we think there is something genius in the mix of savory chicken and bright orange. Another throwback? Sure, canned goods were all the rage in the past, and today they’re experiencing a small revival. So, of course, the mandarin oranges in this classic also come from a can.
The beauty of chicken salad with mandarin oranges is that you can also customize the basic recipe to your liking. Thanks to plant-based meat alternatives such as soy chunks, you can even adjust it for the vegetarians in your life. We opted for canned mushrooms as additional ingredients.If you like, expand the ingredient list with peas or carrots, corn, or gherkins. The possibilities are many and delicious, so the result is always different. It definitely won’t get boring!
Once you have the body of your salad ready, it’s time to top off the dish with a dressing, which is made of yogurt, mayonnaise, and mustard. Once it’s ready and drizzled on, all you need to do season your chicken salad with mandarin oranges simply with salt and pepper. But curry powder is also excellent if you want to give the salad a spicy touch and twist.
By the way, this salad tastes best when it’s been chilled in the refrigerator for at least half an hour, but preferably a whole hour before serving. This gives the salad enough time for all the flavors to meld together and set. Plus, cold oranges? Talk about a burst of flavor! Once ready, we suggest serving this salad either with a fresh baguette or heavier rye bread. So, when’s the next party? We’re already looking forward to serving this nostalgic favorite to our guests, in true retro style!
Who said salads have to be boring!? Our Buffalo chicken salad, roasted potato pesto salad, and parsley salad are also fantastically fresh and flavorful.
Chicken Salad with Mandarin Oranges
Ingredients
- 1 can (15 oz) mandarin oranges drained
- 1 can oz mushrooms drained
- 1 lb chicken breast
- ½ bunch of chives
- ⅔ cup plain yogurt
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ tsp mustard
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Drain the mandarin oranges and mushrooms.
- Meanwhile, heat salted water in a pot and cook the chicken for 15 minutes. Then, cut it into small pieces.
- Rinse the chives and chop them. Chop the mandarin oranges and mushrooms. Add all ingredients to a bowl with the chicken.
- Whisk together the yogurt, mayonnaise, and mustard, and season the dressing with salt and pepper.
- Combine the dressing with the other ingredients in the bowl and let the salad rest in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes before serving.