With its refreshing crunch and lovely mix of colors, textures and flavors, this Italian Chopped Chicken Salad with Fennel & Ricotta Salata is a clever variation of chopped salad.
Since I started working from home a few years ago, it’s rare that I have to be out of the house by 7:45 am. But I woke bright and early yesterday, excited to run out the door to pick up Little Miss Dolce from the doggy motel where she’d been chilling for the past few days.
In my early morning travels down back country roads, I came upon small clusters of people…moms sporting all too familiar yoga pants and oversized sweatshirts and squeaky clean kids donning oversized backpacks standing at the end of long driveways waiting for the school bus to arrive.
In an instant, I am reminded of how quickly our days pass.
In the blink of an eye we go from standing at the end of our driveways holding soft little hands, to waving goodbye from the front door, to sharing the I Love You sign as we drive away from dormitories and new apartments. And as difficult as good-byes can be, I stay composed (I suppose that’s left to interpretation) by remembering one thing…”Hello!” is just around the corner. Whether it’s reuniting at the end of a school day or coming together at the beginning of a vacation, there is no sweeter word than hello.
This salad is a reminder of a meal that Luc and I shared earlier this week on a damp and drippy slate-colored day in Boston. Since we had the gift of time and no-where to be, room-service seemed the perfect idea. So we partook in this luxury and solved all the world’s problems… And before I know it, Chels and I will pick up where we left off, sharing a sushi roll or two, in what is certain to be a sunshine-y day in LA… To return home to Nick, a favorite summertime housemate, who in typical fashion will beat me at Rummy and help us eat more hams & hots than we can count…
See. ‘Hellos’ all over the place.
Speaking of hello, this Italian Chopped Chicken Salad will have you saying hello to its simplicity and big time flavors. Like most chopped salads it starts with a bed of chopped romaine hearts and then it’s all about the mix-ins: lemon-pepper rotisserie chicken (yes, I said rotisserie, one that’s prepared and ready for pick up at your favorite grocer), toasted pine nuts (or any nut you prefer), sliced prosciutto (a must), sweet baby currants, plump black grapes, sliced cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced fennel, crumbles of ricotta salata and a finish of fruity olive oil with a splash or two of balsamic vinegar.
This dish is oh so pleasing and very beautiful…
I hope your weekend is filled with hellos, my friends!
Buon Appetito!
Print
Italian Chopped Chicken Salad with Fennel & Ricotta Salata
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 6 – 8 oz. sliced rotisserie chicken
- 3 oz. thinly sliced prosciutto
- 1 cup halved black grapes
- 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
- 3/4 cup thinly sliced fennel
- 1/2 cup currants
- 1/3 cup toasted pine nuts
- 1/2 cup crumbled ricotta salata
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 – 3 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
- Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, toss to combine the lettuce, chicken, prosciutto, grapes, tomatoes, fennel, currants, pine nuts and ricotta salata.
- Swirl olive oil and vinegar over top.
- Stir to combine.
- Finish salad with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Serve.
CIAO!
Do I ever want to be a fly on the wall…or on your shoulder! It sounds like you have a big, amazing family doing cool things all over the place! What a joy to be able to visit, have them visit you, and have so many “hello”s! I tend to be the “goodbye” kid, always moving around and travelling…but am terrible at goodbyes myself when the other person is leaving! Such is love. This salad looks so fresh and delicious!
Such is love – you are correct! We’re having fun! Thanks, my dear! 🙂