Salads
Chicken and pineapple salad
Chicken and pineapple salad is a Russian New Year and birthday classic. Tender chicken with sweet pineapple and salty cheese is a combination almost everyone likes. Walnuts add crunch and a pleasant bitterness, and a little garlic in the dressing sharpens the flavour. You can build it in layers in a pretty dish or simply toss everything together. The key is juicy chicken: poach it with a bay leaf and let it cool in the broth. Drain the pineapple really well, or the salad turns watery.
Method
Tap a step to mark it done.
Lower the chicken breast into boiling salted water with the bay leaf. Once it returns to the boil, simmer gently for 20 minutes. Leave to cool in the broth.
Hard-boil the eggs for 10 minutes, cool in cold water and peel.
Drain the pineapple in a sieve, pat dry and cut into roughly 1 cm pieces.
Cut the cooled chicken into small cubes or shred it.
Coarsely grate the cheese and eggs. Toast the walnuts and chop them with a knife.
Mix the mayonnaise with the crushed garlic.
Layer the salad: chicken, pineapple, eggs and cheese, spreading each layer thinly with the garlic mayonnaise. Or toss everything together in a bowl with the dressing.
Sprinkle with walnuts, chill for 1 hour and garnish with parsley before serving.
Tips for success
- Cool the chicken in its broth so it stays juicy and doesn't turn stringy.
- Drain the pineapple thoroughly; excess syrup makes the salad watery.
- Add the walnuts just before serving so they stay crunchy.
- If the salad tastes too sweet, add more cheese or a little chopped pickle.
Serving and storage
Serve chilled in a large dish or in individual glasses, topped with pineapple pieces and parsley.
Keeps covered in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Not suitable for freezing.
Variations
- With sweetcorn: add 150 g of canned sweetcorn for colour.
- With smoked chicken instead of poached for a punchier flavour.
- Lighter version: dress with Greek yoghurt mixed with mustard.
Calories and macros
Per serving (about 199 g):
Per 100 g: 215 kcal, P 12.7, F 15.8, C 5.1. An estimate based on average ingredient values. Your daily calories ›
