What’s your favorite way to make chicken salad? Some like shredding the chicken, while others prefer chopping it into cubes. But is there a best method?
Matt Harding, the chief innovation officer at Piada Italian Street Food, says not really—it’s about what you want for flavor and look. He suggests using shredded chicken for mayonnaise-based salads. However, if you’re making something like a pesto chicken salad, cubed chicken is better. Shredded chicken can carry too much sauce and create bursts of flavor that might be overwhelming.
When it comes to presentation, the way you cut your chicken makes a difference. Cubes might look nicer, especially with larger ingredients like grapes. Matching the size of the chicken to the other ingredients leads to a more appealing dish. But if you’re throwing a casual get-together, shredded chicken works just fine. The taste is similar, but the texture and experience differ.
So how do you chop a chicken for your salad? Matt Harding has some tips. First, he recommends carving the chicken into larger pieces using a sharp knife, which helps you navigate its anatomy. Before chopping, remove the skin. This allows you to see the natural seams in the meat. You can always crisp the skin in the oven for a tasty topping later on.
To carve, start with the breast. Cut close to the bone on either side of the cartilage, angling your knife as you go. For the legs, hold the thighs near the hip joint and twist them out while cutting through any connecting tissue. Once you have the meat off the bone, chop it into pieces that match the size of your salad mix-ins.
To wrap it up, both shredded and cubed chicken offer unique textures and flavors for your salad, depending on the occasion and ingredients. Whether you’re whipping up a dish for a party or a cozy night in, understanding how to prepare your chicken can elevate your salad experience.
For a bit more in-depth guidance on the topic, you can read the original article on The Takeout.
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Matt Harding, chicken salad, Shredded chicken, cubed chicken, The Takeout
