Chicken Waldorf Salad with Grapes
A seasonal and healthy take on classic Waldorf Salad!
Posted By Savita
Today, yet again Healthy Salad, flying from my kitchen to yours!
This is my seasonal and healthy take on classic Waldorf Salad with two kinds of juicy grapes, grilled chicken, and a delicious buttermilk dressing.
I love Waldorf Salad but I'm always up for adding my lite spin on classic heavy dressings. Traditional Waldorf salad has rich mayo-laden dressing which is big no-no in my home.
Mayo is one important reason for me to transform this dressing. Mayo and I have never liked each other. I don't like mayo because it is SO heavy. And mayo don't like me either ;-) Why? because it contains raw eggs and I'm allergic to raw eggs.
In my every attempt to lighten-up classic dressings, I always make sure that flavors are not affected. So, to keep this salad a little creamy and comforting yet healthier, I used a combination of low-fat buttermilk and few tablespoon of goat cheese. Goat cheese is less in calories than mayo and also provides additional tang and depth-of-flavor to this dressing. However, if you can't find goat cheese, you can also use softened creme cheese or low-fat Greek yogurt.
Dressing is most important change I did in this salad. And yes, I did replace traditional apples with two kinds of seasonal, sweet and juicy grapes. With all these changes, I think, it is safe to call this salad a "Seasonal Waldorf Chicken Salad"! :)
Don't you think?!
I mean, a lite and refreshing buttermilk dressing, seasonal fresh grapes, and grilled chicken!! Does this represent "summer in a bowl" or what?
As beautiful this salad looks, it tastes equally delicious! Plus it comes together very quickly. Once you have grilled or even leftover rotisserie chicken in hand, this easy Summer Salad comes together in just 20 minutes. Also, if you wish to serve it with grilled meat dinner, on side, you can skip to add chicken in salad.
PS: This salad is best when made 2-3 hours of serving. If planning to keep longer, keep refrigerated and do not mix-in chopped chicken until before serving.
Before we head to the recipe, let me sum-up this salad for you once again:
1. Lite and fit, perfect for this time of year, with Low-Fat Buttermilk and Goat Cheese Dressing.
2. This salad is gluten free and low in carbs.
3. Can be made vegetarian. Just skip chicken.
4. Great for lite side-dinner-salad.
This salad is great to pack for picnics or short travel. Remember, when packing salads for picnic, always use few cold packs to keep everything chilled and fresh.
Friends, this grocery trip, buy some grapes and buttermilk, then enjoy a healthy and delicious Waldorf Chicken Salad with dinner!
Have a great day! -Savita
Here are a few more, low calorie and healthy dinner salads:
Ingredients
- Butter Milk-Goat Cheese Dressing
- 1/3 Cup Butter Milk (low fat buttermilk)
- 1/4 tsp Celery Seeds
- 2 tbsp Goat Cheese (at room temprature)
- 1/8 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
- Salt and Black Pepper (as per taste)
- 1.5 tbsp Honey
- Grapes and Chicken Salad
- 2 Cup Green Grapes (cut into half)
- 2 Cup Black Seedless Grapes (cut into half)
- 1 lbs Chicken (grilled chicken breast or rotisserie chicken, diced into bite size pieces)
- 1/4 Cup Cranberries
- 1/2 Cup Walnuts (toasted, and rough chopped)
- Bunch Parsley (small bunch flat-leaf parsley, chopped)
- 1 Cup Celery (diced small, about 2 stalks)
Directions
- 1. Dressing - Mix all dressing ingredients using a hand whisk or combine ingredients in a food processor. Goat cheese will make buttermilk creamy and thick. If you can't find buttermilk or goat cheese, use thick yogurt and 4 tbsp of water.
- 2. Salad - Slice grapes in half and also cut the celery. In a large salad bowl, mix dressing with grapes, cranberries, celery. Add grilled and diced chicken pieces and toss to combine. Chill in refrigerator. Mix in toasted walnuts just before serving.
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