Description
Ina Garten’s mustard chicken salad delivers Mediterranean flavors with tender roasted chicken and zesty herb dressing. Crisp greens and tangy mustard create perfect harmony for diners seeking fresh, elegant meal options.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 chicken breasts, bone in, skin on (3 lbs / 1.36 kg)
- 5 cups (1.18 l) broccoli florets, small
- 1 pint (473 ml) cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 1½ cups (355 ml) mayonnaise
- ½ cup (118 ml) Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup (59 ml) whole-grain mustard
- 2 tbsps minced fresh tarragon leaves
- 2 tbsps tarragon vinegar
- Olive oil, good
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper, freshly ground
Instructions
- Roasting Chicken: Position chicken breasts on a baking sheet, massage with olive oil, and season generously with salt and pepper. Roast at 180°C / 350°F for 35-40 minutes until internal temperature reaches 74°C / 165°F.
- Preparing Protein: Let chicken rest 5-10 minutes, then remove skin and bones. Slice meat into uniform bite-sized cubes.
- Blanching Broccoli: Bring salted water to a rolling boil, create an adjacent ice bath. Submerge broccoli florets for 60 seconds, then immediately transfer to ice water to preserve color and texture.
- Creating Dressing: Whisk mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, whole-grain mustard, tarragon vinegar, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well-integrated.
- Combining Ingredients: Fold warm chicken into dressing, ensuring even coating. Gently mix in fresh tarragon leaves, blanched broccoli, and halved cherry tomatoes.
- Marinating and Serving: Refrigerate salad for 2-3 hours to develop flavors. Before serving, allow to rest at room temperature for 10-15 minutes and adjust seasoning as needed.
Notes
- Roasting Precision: Use a meat thermometer to guarantee chicken reaches exactly 74°C / 165°F for perfect doneness and food safety.
- Mustard Harmony: Mix Dijon and whole-grain mustards for a complex, layered flavor profile that elevates the entire salad.
- Chilling Strategy: Refrigerate salad for 2-3 hours to let ingredients meld and develop deeper, more integrated taste sensations.
- Temperature Balance: Allow salad to rest at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving to soften dressing and enhance overall flavor experience.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg