Ruth’s Curry Chicken Salad {Naptime Everyday}
Picnic season has finally arrived, hip hip hooray! What is your favorite picnic food? I would love to know. I am always looking for new and exciting treats to bring to my favorite summer activity. If you have any dishes you’d like to share, please leave comments below.
In the mean time, in the spirit of kicking off the season of moveable feasts, I am going to share one of my most favorite picnic foods, Ruth’s Curry Chicken Salad. To some this may sound boring and common, however, I promise, it is anything but. This salad is a medley of unique flavors that will satisfy even the snobbiest of chicken salad connoisseurs. It is my time-tested dish for summer gatherings, and, trust me, if you serve this at a picnic, there won’t be any leftovers.
My friend Ruth gave this recipe to my mother-in-law and I over a decade ago. At the time Ruth was our neighbor on Martha’s Vineyard, happily living out her retirement overlooking Lagoon Pond. Ruth was an extremely special person, she was full of intelligence and wit, gracious to a fault, and had a life history more interesting than that of most world leaders. Born in Niagara Falls, Ruth graduated from Cornell in 1938 – a time when very few women graduated from college at all – with a degree in Home Economics. After college Ruth went on to live with her husband in Buenos Aires, where she occasionally dined with Eva Peron, travel to all seven continents and raise three successful children. Honestly, I could write about this fascinating woman all day, but I will save that for another time. Today I am going to share one of the thousands of treats she brought us from her warm family kitchen, her awesome salad.
I first tasted this recipe when Ruth brought it to our Fourth of July buffet picnic. Upon first bite I knew it was the perfect chicken salad for me, and have been making it every since. I love that it’s warm, sweet taste is purposely not dulled down with heavy mayonnaise. Instead, the ingredients are bound together with a tangy Greek yogurt sauce, which really allows the delicious medley of flavors to stand out and show their stuff. Plus, like all good salad recipes, this one has a good amount of flexibility. You can easily omit the peanuts, coconut or raisins, or substitute them for other popular salad ingredients, like green grapes or chopped apples. Additionally, you should feel free to adjust the amount of curry powder to suit your taste. We prefer it at a restrained medium heat, though some people like it fiery hot.
The preparation of this salad is very straightforward and I am able to handily complete it during my daughter’s afternoon naptime. This way, we are able to head straight to our picnic, food in the hand, the minute she wakes up. I hope that you have a fun picnic to attend soon, and that you choose to bring this salad. Ruth would be happy to know that everyone is enjoying her recipe, and I would be, too.
(Don’t forget to share your favorite picnic food below!)
Recipe
Ruth’s Curry Chicken Salad
adapted from a handwritten original recipe by Ruth Apeseche
Ingredients
| 1 ½ – 2 lbs | boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into small, thin strips |
| 1 | large Vidalia onion, finely chopped |
| 2 t. | curry powder for the chicken (or more, if you like it hotter) |
| 2 t. | curry powder for yogurt sauce (or more, if you like it hotter) |
| ¼ c. | olive oil |
| 4 c. | cooked Basmatic rice (4 cups AFTER it has been cooked, not 4 c. dry rice) |
| 1 10oz. | package petite frozen peas, thawed (not cooked!) |
| ½ c. | golden raisins |
| 1/3 c. | unsalted peanuts, toasted |
| 1/3 c. | sweetened shredded coconut |
| ¼ c. | sliced scallions |
| ¼ c. | mayonnaise |
| 1 c. | full-fat Greek yogurt, well stirred |
| ¼ c. | light cream |
Instructions
1. Saute the chicken strips in olive oil with the chopped onion and 2 t. curry powder. When chicken is fully cooked through, set aside and let cool.
2. Cook basmati rice according to package directions.
*You can prepare up to this point one day ahead of time*
3. In a large bowl place the basmati rice, cooked chicken, cooked onion, scallions, peanuts, coconut, raisins and peas. Combine well with your hands or a large wooden spoon.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, yogurt, cream and remaining 2 t. of curry powder. Add more curry if you want the salad hotter.
5. Pour sauce over salad, mix the salad with your hands, or wooden spoon, until well-incorporated.
6. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Naptime Notes
Naptime Recipe Serving ideas
Chicken salad is easily one of the most popular dishes at summer picnics, and this one is top notch. Feel free to play with the ingredients depending on your tastes, like any good salad recipe, this one is flexible.
Naptime Stopwatch
The preparation of the salad takes half of my daughter’s naptime, which, in my opinion, is an hour well spent. The enormous amount this recipe yields is more than enough to feed the family for at least two days.
Naptime Reviews
Both adults and children alike love to eat this salad. Sometimes the kids prefer it without the peanuts and raisins, so I just pick them out. Also, this dish is completely gluten-free if that is a concern in your household.
My favorite picnic food is deviled eggs… it is a must have when the Burrall family goes to Tanglewood for a concert sitting on the lawn. Love summer in the Berkshires.
My favorite picnic food is deviled eggs… it is a must have when the Burrall family goes to Tanglewood for a concert sitting on the lawn. Love summer in the Berkshires.
I'm going to try Ruth's chicken salad this weekend. I had it many times in Ruth's home by the Lagoon, but never got the recipe, so thanks for doing it for me! I'm a Southern girl by birth (a New Yorker and Vineyarder by choice!) and have to admit that my favorite picnic food is fried chicken. Don't indulge that often, but it's probably my favorite food and easy to eat outdoors, except for the dipping it in ketchup part! Love your site.
I'm going to try Ruth's chicken salad this weekend. I had it many times in Ruth's home by the Lagoon, but never got the recipe, so thanks for doing it for me! I'm a Southern girl by birth (a New Yorker and Vineyarder by choice!) and have to admit that my favorite picnic food is fried chicken. Don't indulge that often, but it's probably my favorite food and easy to eat outdoors, except for the dipping it in ketchup part! Love your site.
OMG! Thank you so much for posting this! We searched and could not find any of her recipes so this is a very unexpected and welcome surprise! It's so nice to hear how much you enjoyed spending time with her and the memories this recipe conjures. We definitely miss her and her hospitality!
OMG! Thank you so much for posting this! We searched and could not find any of her recipes so this is a very unexpected and welcome surprise! It's so nice to hear how much you enjoyed spending time with her and the memories this recipe conjures. We definitely miss her and her hospitality!
What a great post! Summer picnic food is some of my favorite food. One thing that we always take in the summers to our picnics on the boat in Minnesota is fried chicken! It is usually served with deviled eggs, ruffled potato chips, and bing cherries. Now, that is simply summer for me:)
What a great post! Summer picnic food is some of my favorite food. One thing that we always take in the summers to our picnics on the boat in Minnesota is fried chicken! It is usually served with deviled eggs, ruffled potato chips, and bing cherries. Now, that is simply summer for me:)
Now that summer is here it is time to start trying some recipes. Pesto is first on the list based on that I have a huge italian basil plant growing in the garden. I will stay posted ont he results.
Now that summer is here it is time to start trying some recipes. Pesto is first on the list based on that I have a huge italian basil plant growing in the garden. I will stay posted ont he results.
My husband makes the Barefoot Contessa's shrimp salad and also a yummy orzo feta salad with fresh herbs (basil, tarragon, parsley, dill) . We love packing it up and going to the pool with a few other families in the summer!
My husband makes the Barefoot Contessa's shrimp salad and also a yummy orzo feta salad with fresh herbs (basil, tarragon, parsley, dill) . We love packing it up and going to the pool with a few other families in the summer!
Picnic at the beach, a basket with fresh baguette, tuna, egg, olives, and some crispy veggies and chips.Cool drinks, a bit of rose or lemonade.I do love fried chicken and watermelon and potato salad too. (Southern roots at heart) Ice tea with fresh mint…aha, a summer picnic sounds nice…when all this rain stops.pve
Picnic at the beach, a basket with fresh baguette, tuna, egg, olives, and some crispy veggies and chips.
Cool drinks, a bit of rose or lemonade.
I do love fried chicken and watermelon and potato salad too. (Southern roots at heart) Ice tea with fresh mint…
aha, a summer picnic sounds nice…when all this rain stops.
pve
This sounds great! We may just have to try it this week. As far as favorite summer foods- caprese salad, mango salsa, ANYTHING on the grill and homemade guac (well I love that at all times of the year!).
This sounds great! We may just have to try it this week. As far as favorite summer foods- caprese salad, mango salsa, ANYTHING on the grill and homemade guac (well I love that at all times of the year!).
Dropping in from Cookie's virtual picnic! (I brought the drinks, hope you liked them!)Love your blog concept. I get most of my cooking and now, blogging) done during naptime too!
Dropping in from Cookie's virtual picnic! (I brought the drinks, hope you liked them!)
Love your blog concept. I get most of my cooking and now, blogging) done during naptime too!
Okay, I was literally drooling while reading how you described the taste of this special salad. Greek yogurt sauce, huh? Now, that sounds like something new. You can never go wrong with a chicken salad, of course. However, Spicy Deviled Eggs is a yummy appetizer in a summer lunch out at the park, too. You might want to look up for its recipe.