Springtime Pea & Tarragon Chicken Salad
Bright and bursting with springtime flavors, this delightful chicken salad features an irresistible combination of three types of peas, tender shredded chicken, and fragrant tarragon. The creamy Greek yogurt dressing elevates the dish, making it perfect for a light lunch or as a refreshing snack. Serve it generously over toasted artisan bread or crisp lettuce leaves for a satisfying meal that will transport you to warmer days. Adapted from Bon Appetit, this recipe has been tweaked to enhance the balance of flavors and textures, ensuring every bite is a celebration of spring!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
17
Ingredients
Ingredients
tarragon sprigs
4 sprigs (whole)
chicken breast
1 lb (boneless and skinless)
shallots
2 large (1 halved, 1 minced)
garlic cloves
2 (1 smashed, 1 minced)
kosher salt
to taste
black pepper
to taste (freshly ground)
plain Greek yogurt
3/4 cup
olive oil
3 tablespoons
sugar snap peas
1/2 lb (stringed and thinly sliced)
fresh English peas
1 cup (may use thawed frozen peas)
snow peas
1/2 cup (stringed and thinly sliced)
flat leaf parsley
1/8 cup (finely chopped)
fresh chives
1/4 cup (finely chopped)
lemon zest
2 teaspoons (finely grated)
fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon (may add more to suit your taste)
bread
8 slices (toasted)
lettuce leaves
8
Instructions
1
In a medium saucepan, combine the tarragon sprigs, chicken breast, halved shallot, and smashed garlic. Fill the saucepan with water until the chicken is fully submerged and season generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
2
Bring the water to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, remove the saucepan from heat, cover, and allow the chicken to steep for 15 to 25 minutes, or until it is cooked through. If using larger chicken breasts, allow them to boil for about 3 to 4 minutes before removing from heat.
3
Carefully transfer the poached chicken to a plate and let it cool. Once cool enough to handle, shred or dice the chicken into bite-sized pieces.
4
While the chicken is cooling, prepare the dressing by whisking together the plain Greek yogurt, olive oil, minced shallot, and minced garlic in a small bowl. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
5
In a separate medium bowl, combine the sugar snap peas, fresh English peas, and snow peas. Add the shredded chicken, yogurt dressing, minced tarragon, parsley, chives, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Toss gently until everything is evenly coated.
6
Taste the mixture and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, and lemon juice if desired.
7
Serve the chicken salad generously over toasted slices of your favorite bread or in the center of fresh lettuce leaves, garnished with extra herbs if you like.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Springtime Pea & Tarragon Chicken Salad?
It is a bright and creamy chicken salad featuring three types of peas, shredded chicken, and a fragrant tarragon-infused Greek yogurt dressing.
What types of peas are used in this recipe?
The recipe uses a combination of sugar snap peas, fresh English peas, and snow peas.
How is the chicken prepared for this salad?
The chicken breast is poached in a saucepan with tarragon sprigs, shallot, and garlic, then shredded or diced into bite-sized pieces once cooled.
What ingredients are in the dressing?
The dressing consists of plain Greek yogurt, olive oil, minced shallot, minced garlic, salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
Can I use frozen peas instead of fresh?
Yes, you can use thawed frozen peas as a substitute for fresh English peas.
How long should I poach the chicken?
After bringing the water to a boil, remove it from the heat and let the chicken steep for 15 to 25 minutes until cooked through.
What herbs are used in the salad?
The salad features fresh tarragon, flat leaf parsley, and fresh chives.
How should I serve the chicken salad?
It is best served over toasted artisan bread or inside fresh lettuce leaves.
Is this chicken salad healthy?
Yes, it is a lighter alternative to traditional chicken salad as it uses Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise and is packed with fresh vegetables.
How do I prepare the sugar snap peas?
The sugar snap peas should be stringed and thinly sliced.
What kind of aromatics are used during poaching?
The chicken is poached with tarragon sprigs, a halved shallot, and a smashed garlic clove.
Can I use rotisserie chicken for this recipe?
While the recipe calls for poaching chicken to infuse it with flavor, you can use shredded rotisserie chicken as a time-saving shortcut.
How do I prepare the snow peas?
Similar to the snap peas, snow peas should be stringed and thinly sliced.
What is the role of lemon in this recipe?
Finely grated lemon zest and fresh lemon juice are added to provide brightness and balance the creamy dressing.
How many shallots are needed in total?
You will need two large shallots: one halved for poaching and one minced for the dressing.
What is the preparation for the garlic?
You need two garlic cloves: one smashed for poaching and one minced for the dressing.
Is there any oil in the salad?
Yes, 3 tablespoons of olive oil are whisked into the Greek yogurt dressing.
What kind of bread goes well with this salad?
Toasted artisan bread slices are recommended for serving.
How do I handle the tarragon sprigs?
Use whole sprigs for poaching the chicken and minced tarragon for the salad mixture itself.
Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Yes, the salad itself is gluten-free; simply serve it on lettuce leaves instead of toasted bread.
What should I do if my chicken breasts are very large?
If using larger chicken breasts, allow them to boil for about 3 to 4 minutes before removing the pan from the heat to steep.
Is the chicken shredded or diced?
You can either shred or dice the chicken into bite-sized pieces depending on your texture preference.
What makes this a 'springtime' recipe?
The use of seasonal ingredients like fresh peas, tarragon, and lemon gives the dish a light, fresh flavor profile characteristic of spring.
Can I adjust the acidity of the salad?
Yes, you can add more fresh lemon juice after tasting the final mixture to suit your personal preference.
How much yogurt is used in the dressing?
The recipe calls for 3/4 cup of plain Greek yogurt.
What garnish is suggested for the final dish?
You can garnish the salad with extra fresh herbs like chives or parsley.
Where was this recipe adapted from?
This recipe was adapted from Bon Appetit and tweaked to enhance flavor and texture balance.
How many slices of bread are suggested?
The recipe suggests serving the salad over approximately 8 toasted slices of bread.
How do I ensure the peas are well distributed?
Toss the shredded chicken, peas, dressing, and herbs gently in a medium bowl until everything is evenly coated.
Can this be served as a snack?
Yes, it works equally well as a light lunch or as a refreshing snack served on lettuce or crackers.