California Chicken Salad Lettuce Boats Recipes

ITALIAN CHICKEN SALAD IN LETTUCE CUPS

Steps:

• Toss the chicken, bell peppers, onion, parsley, almonds, and capers in a large bowl with enough vinaigrette to moisten. Season the chicken salad with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Arrange 1 large lettuce cup and 1 small lettuce cup on each plate, overlapping slightly. Spoon the chicken salad into the lettuce cups. Drizzle more vinaigrette over the salads. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve.
• Do-Ahead Tip: The chicken salad can be prepared 4 hours ahead and refrigerated. Just before serving, spoon the salad into the lettuce cups.
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 2 teaspoons salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup olive oil
• Combine the vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, and pepper in a blender. With the machine running, gradually add the oil and blend until emulsified.
• Yield: 1 3/4 cups

RANCH SALAD BOATS WITH BACON

Steps:

• Make the dressing: Combine the buttermilk, sour cream, mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons each chives and dill, the lemon juice and hot sauce in a blender. Blend until very smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Cook the bacon in a medium skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until browned and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
• To serve, arrange the lettuce leaves on a platter and top with the tomatoes, radishes, cucumber and bacon. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle most of the dressing over the salad and serve the remaining dressing on the side. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 tablespoon each chives and dill.

CALIFORNIA CHICKEN SALAD LETTUCE BOATS

Steps:

• Cook the chicken breast and put in a food processor with the onion celery and mayo.
• Put mixture in a mixing bowl.
• Mix in the other ingredients.
• Clean and trim the lettuce to uniform size resembling small tacos.
• Fill the lettuce with a quarter cup of the chicken salad.

PARTY SALAD BOATS

Steps:

• Assemble the salad dressing an hour ahead, so the onion and salad dressing have time to blend but the onion is still crunchy.
• Bring the water to a boil with the salt. Add the pasta and cook for 12 minutes. Drain immediately and cool completely.
• Chop the romaine, tomatoes and pepperoni. Drain and add the olives. Crumble the cheese over the salad.
• Toss the salad dressing and salad. The dressing will be clumpy. Add the dressing a little at a time, being careful to not add too much. Add garlic salt to taste.
• (I usually spoon out the onions with a large non-slotted spoon. I use the dressing that comes along with the onions, leaving any excess dressing for another day.).
• Fill the pasta shells.