Ultimate Spanish Chicken Salad Recipe

If you are running out of Spanish salad ideas we will help you out by sharing some of the best Spanish recipes, so buckle up.

The Spanish chicken salad is a timeless classic from Andalusia, known for its vibrant flavors and refreshing ingredients, making it a favorite in Spanish cuisine.

Making it is super simple, and if you keep reading this article you will find step-by-step instructions and tips to perfect this delightful dish.

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Pssst…!!?? You can’t get enough of Spanish salad recipes? Have a look at my other posts:

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Background of the Dish

There are plenty of traditional Spanish salads that feature chicken as one of their main ingredients, such as the chicken salad with carrots and the apple salad with chicken, but this one stands out due to its serving process.

The Ensalada de pollo, which consists of tender shredded chicken, mayonnaise, and vegetables, is served on top of a crunchy toast of bread, making it a delightful combination of creamy and crispy textures that’s perfect for a light lunch or appetizer.

If you are traveling around Southern Spain, you will find it at almost every restaurant or bar, but by reading this article you can make and enjoy it at home.

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Things You’ll Need for Spanish Chicken Salad

To prepare the Spanish chicken salad you will need chicken breasts, bell pepper, onion, mayonnaise, and bread as the main ingredients.

Ingredients

• 2 large chicken breasts
• 1 cup (240gr) mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 red onion
• 1 green bell pepper
• 1 red bell pepper
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 8 slices of your favorite bread
• Olive oil (for brushing the bread)

How to Make Spanish Chicken Salad – Step by Step Guide

1. To start, place the chicken breasts in a pot of salted water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes or until it is cooked through and no longer pink inside. 

2. After that, remove the chicken from the pot and let it cool. Once cooled, shred them with the help of two forks or your favorite shredding method.

3. Now, boil the eggs for about 10 minutes over high heat. Take them to a bowl of ice water to cool. Once cooled, peel and chop them.

4. Then, peel and chop the onion into small squares. Cut the bell peppers in half and discard the seeds, then chop them into small pieces. Set them aside.

5. To continue with this Spanish summer salad recipe you have to make the dressing. For that, grab a small bowl and mix the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and paprika. 

6. Now, grab a large bowl and mix the shredded chicken, chopped vegetables, eggs, and dressing. Season the traditional Spanish salad with salt and pepper and gently toss until everything gets coated.

7. For the next step in this Spanish chicken salad recipe, take the salad to the fridge to cool down for about 30 minutes.

8. In the meantime, brush the slices of bread with olive oil, and toast for about 3 minutes per side or until golden.

9. To finish making one of the best Spanish salad recipes, spoon a generous amount of the salad onto each tostada. Optionally, garnish the Spanish chicken salad with parsley, and serve it cold.

Substitution of Ingredients

These Spanish salad ingredients are super easy to find and they are available all year round, yet there are some changes that you can follow.

To make this Spanish chicken salad gluten-free you can use your favorite GF bread, or even serve it on lettuce wraps for a delicious and satisfying meal.

You can prepare the chicken salad with vegetables that aren’t listed here, such as carrots, cucumber, lettuce leaves, tomatoes, yellow bell peppers, etc.

Besides that, you can copy the dressing from other easy Spanish salad recipes, like the ensalada de espinacas and the Spanish tomato salad, and stick to the classic mix of olive oil and vinegar.

For a vegetarian version of this salad, we recommend that you check out our delicious Spanish egg salad or other Spanish salad recipes like the grilled veggie salad and the honey mustard chickpea salad.

Check out our collection of traditional Spanish salads with beans like the warm white bean salad, mixed bean salad, warm cannellini bean salad, chilled bean salad or the hot bean salad.

Tips on Serving Spanish Chicken Salad

This chicken salad with tostadas is commonly served as a starter or it is paired up with other famous Andalusian salads.

If you are wondering what to serve with chicken salad, you can go for a side of roasted vegetables, or a crisp green salad, or pair it with a light soup for a heartier alternative.

The toasted bread adds a nice touch of crunchiness to the Spanish chicken salad, but you can complement it with toasted and chopped almonds and walnuts.

You could easily turn it into a Spanish chicken salad sandwich by placing another slice of toasted bread on top and then cutting the sandwich into halves or quarters for a perfect lunch or snack option.

Other traditional Spanish salad recipes that you can make and serve with this one are the Spanish potato salad recipe with eggs, the Spanish chopped salad, and the Spanish vegetable salad.

How to Store Spanish Chicken Salad

You can store the Spanish chicken salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, ensuring it stays fresh and flavorful.

When it comes to freezing this salad, it’s best to avoid doing so as the mayonnaise and vegetables may not retain their texture and flavor well after thawing.

Other authentic Spanish salad recipes that you can make and freeze some of their ingredients are the Spanish rice salad, the Spanish octopus salad, and the Spanish macaroni salad.

Recipe Card: Spanish Chicken Salad

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