food to glow

How can a recipe with no chicken and no mayo be a chicken salad? You would be surprised. White beans, avocado mayo, and the usual suspects of celery, salad onions, tarragon and nuts (in this case, pecans) give a credible imitation without involving our cluckin’ lovely feathered friends.

When I first started thinking about making this I was merrily carrying my coat over my arm and revelling in the unseasonable warmth. Not only was it kind of warmish, it was also sunny and not windy. In Edinburgh that’s all we aspire to, even in July, so experiencing this topsy turvy weather in January kind of warped my brain a bit.

The heady heights of 16C does strange things to me.

Being from Florida I was quick to pounce on this change of weather as a sign that I could relax my normal cold-fearing ways. I could cast off my double layer of socks. I could unwind my thick, tatty scarf and actually put it in the wash. I would dare to wear loafers and dust off the paddle boards. Pah!

The weather gods were quick to realise their error and now we are back to our not-untypical 50mph winds, glowering pensive skies and occasional energetic bursts of sleet. But still, a girl’s got to eat. And I’ve really been craving something like this: a home comfort food that speaks of springtime and picnics.

My mother used to make a mean chicken salad – with added water chestnuts for crunch, and usually some crisp green grapes too. I do think that if she were around she might like this version as it was she who first got us eating veggie chilli, back when such recipes were definitely deemed a second-class choice.

How times have changed. Now veggie versions of meaty dishes are seen as completely and utterly normal. Who doesn’t love a good veggie lasagne? Or, indeed, a vegetarian chilli? Only those whose brains have been addled by too much cold or too much meat would dare insist the meaty version of any applicable recipe is always superior.

I don’t know if I can convince firm meat eaters that my no-chicken salad is as good as that containing our fine feathered friends. But hopefully you, my discerning reader and kindred spirit, will think it is something to crow about. 😉

For something even quicker, why not try Planet Veggie’s Chickpea Mayo Mashup? Or, fancy something with black beans? Here’s Tinned Tomatoes’ Easy Black Bean Pate. And lastly, have a look at this great Avocado Chickpea Salad from Amuse Your Bouche.