Mango Chutney Chicken Salad

Ushering in Spring with a Visit to a Local Botanical Garden and Bistro 

                                                                                      

                                                                               

                                               

                              

Mango Chutney Chicken Salad

Cook's notes: This is not your standard deli-style chicken salad with mayo, celery, and sometimes chopped-up eggs. No, this is the kind of food you get when you go to lunch with the ladies at Tea Room Restaurants, but it did get a huge stamp of approval from my husband. 
Plain Greek Yogurt can be substituted for the mayonnaise. This recipe can be easily doubled. Use the ratio for dressing equal parts of mayonnaise and mango chutney. Curry spice is strong, so I recommend starting out small with 1/2 teaspoon, taste test, then increase as needed.
The curry and chutney make this salad take center stage over traditional chicken salad. Recipe adapted from deepsouthdish.com and serves 4
Ingredients:

• 3 cups cooked chicken, diced (use a rotisserie chicken to save time) 
• 1/2 cup celery, diced
• 4 tablespoons onions, chopped
• 3 tablespoons Miracle Whip or lite mayonnaise
• 1/2-1 teaspoon curry
• 2 teaspoons parsley flakes
• 3 tablespoons mango chutney ( I used Major Grey's Chutney)
  
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts or almond slices 
• 3/4 cup dried cran-raisins (plump up in a cup of boiling water and drain) or substitute 1 cup sliced red grapes
• 1/2 cup crisp apple, diced
• optional: 1 small can of water chestnuts, drained and diced

Directions:

• Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces
• In a large bowl, mix chutney, mayonnaise or Miracle Whip, onions, curry powder, and parsley flakes
• Add in diced chicken, 1/2 cup nuts, cran-raisins or grapes, apples, celery
• Chill several hours before serving

Serving options: on a bed of lettuce garnished with nuts, as a croissant filling or check out these other fine ideas below for serving your favorite chicken salad 

Phyllo Cups Appetizer

Tea Sandwiches

Appetizer on Balsamic Vinegar and Basil Triscuits (the flavors pair very well)