Chicken Apple New Years Luck (Printer-Friendly)

Tender chicken, crisp apples, black-eyed peas, and greens tossed with tangy honey-mustard dressing.

# What You Need:

→ Protein & Legumes

01 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
02 - 1 1/2 cups cooked black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed

→ Produce

03 - 2 medium apples (Fuji or Honeycrisp), cored and diced
04 - 1 cup celery, finely sliced
05 - 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 4 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, baby kale)
07 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ Dressing

08 - 3 tbsp olive oil
09 - 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
10 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
11 - 1 tbsp honey
12 - 1/2 tsp salt
13 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Optional Garnishes

14 - 1/4 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, roughly chopped
15 - 2 tbsp crumbled feta cheese (omit for dairy-free)

# How to Cook:

01 - Whisk olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until emulsified. Set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, mix cooked chicken, black-eyed peas, diced apples, celery, red onion, and parsley.
03 - Incorporate mixed salad greens and gently toss to combine.
04 - Pour dressing over salad and toss until evenly coated.
05 - Top with toasted pecans or walnuts and crumbled feta if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It turns superstition into something genuinely delicious, with apples adding sweetness that makes black-eyed peas shine.
  • The whole thing comes together in less time than it takes to watch a football quarter, yet it looks like you planned it for days.
  • Leftovers actually taste better the next day when the flavors have mingled overnight in the fridge.
02 -
  • If you dress the salad too early, the greens will wilt and the apples will brown, so wait until just before serving.
  • Rinsing canned black-eyed peas removes the slimy canned taste that can make the whole dish feel sad and institutional.
  • Toasting the nuts in a dry skillet for three minutes transforms them from forgettable to essential.
03 -
  • If your apples are tart, add an extra teaspoon of honey to the dressing to balance the flavors.
  • Massage the greens with a tiny bit of dressing first before adding the rest—it helps them soften just enough without wilting completely.
  • Always taste a bite before serving and adjust the salt, because black-eyed peas can be bland and need a little extra love.
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