cook it: avocado chicken salad

first up: i hate chicken salad sandwiches.  
a) it's like the baby/bridal shower, women's conference, any event women are planning staple.  
b) i do not like mayo. at all. so i avoid this chicken salad sandwich like the plague. [and mayo might give you the plague.]
c) i generally do not eat croissants, which is what this is typically put on.

without further ado...


Avocado Chicken Salad
recipe adapted from here.

first.

boil a pot of water [i added about a tablespoon of chicken better than bouillon for extra flavor]. throw in 2 - 3 large chicken breasts [i used 2]. cook it thoroughly. when it is thoroughly cooked, remove it from the water and let it cool a few minutes in a bowl.

second.

half shred the chicken. then, put it in your kitchen aid with the paddle attachment. run it on a low speed {1 or 2} for about a minute to let it break up the chicken a bit more.

third.

pit an avocado. chop it in cubes and put it in your kitchen aid. again, run the kitchen aid on low to let the avocado mix in and cover the chicken.  add 1/2 tsp sea salt and 1/4 tsp fresh cracked pepper {crack it right on in there}. taste it to decide if you need more. then taste it again just because it's so delicious.

fourth.

add the chopped green onions and cilantro.

fifth.

here's where we get fancy. i added a ton [and i mean a ton] of chopped spinach. it's a great filler and makes the meal go further. spinach is so good for you and you can't even tell it's in there {for those who [sadly] don't like spinach}.

i also added a chopped gala apple {i used a baby apple}. my husband liked this a lot and said add more next time {which means i'll use a regular sized apple}.

i like the crunch and freshness of celery, so i added 3 stocks, chopped pretty small.  my husband said less celery next time, so i'll add 2.

i shredded 2/3 of a zucchini {that's all i had less} to add even more vegetables and fill this baby up even more.

if i had raw cashews at our apartment, i would have chopped a bunch up and put them in. if i knew i would be making this recipe, i would have picked some up while at the market.

if i had grapes, i would have halved them and thrown them in as well.

*remember: all of those things are optional: apple, grapes, celery, raw cashews, spinach, and shredded zucchini. maybe you want some but not as much. maybe you want more. maybe you don't want any. maybe there's something else you want to add.

photo and original recipe from here via pinterest.

sixth.

enjoy this bad boy in a whole grain tortilla, pita, toast, or solo.  my husband ate his on some toast. i added mine to spinach and had a double spinach salad. MMMMM!

my husband LOVED this recipe. like, really on the favorites list loved it. best part--it's delicious, nutritious, quick, and cheap. his only suggestions were: less celery, more apple. and we both agreed: if we had raw cashews and grapes, those would have gone in, too.