Fast & Flavorful Barefoot Contessa’s Curry Chicken Salad Recipe

Summers call for light, refreshing meals that dance on your palate, and this Barefoot Contessa curry chicken salad recipe delivers pure culinary magic.

Ina Garten’s touch brings an irresistible blend of flavors that transforms a simple dish into something extraordinary.

Tender chunks of chicken mingle with a creamy, spice-infused dressing that whispers of exotic adventures.

Crisp celery and sweet golden raisins add delightful texture and unexpected bursts of flavor.

The hint of curry powder weaves through each bite, creating a sophisticated yet approachable meal.

Serve this salad at picnics, brunches, or whenever you want to impress without spending hours in the kitchen.

Grab your apron and get ready to savor every delicious spoonful of this crowd-pleasing recipe.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Calories: 445 kcal

Servings: 6

Barefoot Contessa Curry Chicken Salad Ingredient List

• Chicken Breasts: Lean protein that provides a tender, succulent foundation for the salad, selecting fresh, high-quality breasts ensures maximum flavor and texture.
• Roasted Cashews: Crunchy nutty element that adds a delightful textural contrast and rich, toasted undertones to the chicken salad.

• Mayonnaise: Creamy binding agent that creates a smooth, luxurious base for the dressing, opt for a full-fat version for richer taste.
• White Wine: Adds subtle acidity and depth to the dressing, choose a dry white wine for balanced flavor profile.
• Chutney: Sweet and tangy condiment that introduces complex, fruity notes to the salad, select a mango or apple variety for best results.
• Curry Powder: Warm, aromatic spice blend that infuses the entire dish with exotic, vibrant flavor, look for fresh, high-quality blends.
• Salt: Essential seasoning that amplifies and balances all other flavors in the recipe.

• Celery: Crisp vegetable that provides refreshing texture and subtle peppery notes, choose firm, bright green stalks.
• Scallions: Mild onion variety that adds sharp, fresh bite and bright green color to the salad.
• Raisins: Sweet, chewy dried fruit that introduces delightful bursts of natural sweetness and textural variation.

What You Need for Barefoot Contessa Curry Chicken Salad

• Baking Tray: Essential for roasting chicken evenly and catching drips.
• Food Processor: Perfect for blending dressing ingredients smoothly and quickly.
• Sharp Knife: Crucial for dicing chicken and chopping scallions with precision.
• Cutting Board: Provides a clean surface for chopping ingredients safely.
• Large Mixing Bowl: Needed to combine chicken, dressing, and mix salad components.
• Measuring Spoons: Helps measure salt and other ingredients accurately.
• Mixing Spoon: Useful for stirring salad ingredients and ensuring even coating.

How to Assemble Barefoot Contessa Curry Chicken Salad

Oven Roasted Chicken Base

• Chicken Preparation Cozy baking session with succulent chicken breasts ready for transformation.

Gently lay chicken breasts on baking tray, massage with olive oil, sprinkle delicate seasoning. Roast until golden and tender, approximately 35-40 minutes.

• Cooling and Chopping Relaxed breakdown of roasted meat

Allow chicken to rest and cool slightly. Tenderly remove meat from bones, discard skin, slice into hearty bite-sized chunks perfect for salad.

• Flavor Symphony Creamy dressing magic

Blend mayonnaise, white wine, fruity chutney, warming curry powder into silky smooth sauce that promises delicious complexity.

• Salad Assembly Playful ingredient dance

Combine diced chicken with luxurious dressing. Welcome crisp celery, zesty scallions, sweet raisins into delightful mixture.

• Flavor Melding Delicious anticipation

Chill salad, allowing ingredients to whisper and mingle their unique personalities. Patient waiting rewards with deeper, richer taste.

• Final Touch Crunchy surprise

Just before serving, sprinkle roasted cashews for delightful textural contrast. Serve at comfortable room temperature, inviting everyone to enjoy.

Tweaks & Flavor Notes for Barefoot Contessa Curry Chicken Salad

• Ensure even cooking by letting chicken breasts reach room temperature before roasting. Pat the meat dry with paper towels to help achieve a crispy exterior and seal in delicious juices.
• Adjust curry powder quantity based on personal heat preference. Start with less and gradually increase for a milder or bolder flavor profile that suits your taste buds.
• Swap roasted chicken with grilled turkey, poached shredded chicken, or rotisserie meat for quick and convenient preparation. Each protein option brings a unique texture and taste to the salad.
• Experiment with different nuts like toasted almonds, pecans, or sunflower seeds instead of cashews. These additions provide delightful crispness and introduce exciting flavor dimensions to the classic recipe.
• Prepare the chicken salad a day in advance to allow flavors to meld beautifully. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator, adding cashews just before serving to maintain their satisfying crunch.

Serving Suggestions for Barefoot Contessa Curry Chicken Salad

• Serve on Toasted Bread Slices: Slice a crispy baguette or rustic sourdough bread, lightly toast until golden, and top with generous spoonfuls of the curry chicken salad for a delightful lunch option.
• Spread in Lettuce Wraps: Carefully spoon the chicken salad into crisp butter lettuce leaves, creating a low-carb and refreshing way to enjoy this flavorful dish that's perfect for a light meal.
• Create Elegant Party Platter: Arrange the curry chicken salad in a beautiful serving bowl surrounded by crackers, pita chips, and fresh vegetable sticks, making it an impressive appetizer for gatherings.
• Pack for Picnic Perfection: Transfer the salad into individual containers with tight-fitting lids, pack some extra cashews on the side, and enjoy a delicious outdoor meal that's easy to transport and share.

How to Store Barefoot Contessa Curry Chicken Salad

• Refrigerate Wisely: Store the curry chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, keeping the flavors fresh and ingredients crisp.
• Freeze for Later: Separate the cashews and store the chicken salad base without nuts in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months, maintaining its delicious taste and texture.
• Revive Before Serving: When ready to enjoy, thaw the salad in the refrigerator overnight and stir in fresh cashews for a crunchy, just-made feel.
• Meal Prep Magic: Prepare the chicken salad in advance for quick lunches or picnics, making weekday meals effortless and delightful.

Tangy Curry Chicken Salad Recipe

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4.7 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s curry chicken salad blends tender chicken with a creamy, spiced dressing. Balanced flavors and fresh herbs make this classic recipe perfect for quick lunches or elegant gatherings you’ll want to savor.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 3 whole (6 split) chicken breasts, bone-in, skin-on
• 340 g (12 oz) good mayonnaise (Hellman’s recommended)
• 3 tbsps curry powder
• 200 g (7 oz) medium-diced celery (2 large stalks)
• 60 g (2 oz) chopped scallions, white and green parts (2 scallions)
• 80 ml (2.7 fl oz) dry white wine
• 60 g (2 oz) chutney (Major Grey’s recommended)
• 40 g (1.4 oz) raisins
• 140 g (5 oz) whole roasted, salted cashews
• olive oil
• kosher salt
• freshly ground black pepper

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Instructions

1. Roast Chicken: Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Drizzle chicken breasts with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and roast for 35-40 minutes until internal temperature reaches 74°C (165°F).
2. Prepare Chicken: Let roasted chicken cool, then dice into uniform bite-sized pieces, discarding skin and bones.
3. Create Dressing: Blend mayonnaise, white wine, mango chutney, curry powder, and salt in a food processor until smooth and well-integrated.
4. Combine Ingredients: Mix diced chicken with prepared dressing, then gently fold in chopped celery, scallions, and raisins until evenly distributed.
5. Chill and Finish: Refrigerate salad for 2-3 hours to enhance flavor complexity. Just before serving, incorporate roughly chopped cashews to add a satisfying crunch and textural contrast.

Notes

• Master Chicken Roasting: Ensure chicken reaches exact 74°C internal temperature for perfectly cooked, juicy meat without dryness.
• Flavor Infusion Technique: Allow salad to rest in refrigerator for 2-3 hours, enabling spices and condiments to deeply penetrate and enhance overall taste profile.
• Texture Preservation Trick: Add cashews right before serving to maintain maximum crunchiness and prevent soggy nuts.
• Chutney Transformation Secret: Mango chutney acts as flavor amplifier, balancing curry’s warmth with sweet-tangy undertones for complex, sophisticated taste.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Snacks
• Method: Roasting
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 445
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 520 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 27 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 22 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg