A crisp and creamy chicken salad with the elegant flavor of fresh tarragon. If you don’t like or can’t find tarragon, use basil or parsley.
WHAT IS TARRAGON?
Tarragon is a perennial herb that is leafy green. Most commonly found in French cuisine. It has a distinct anise-like flavor that blends well with dishes or sauces that have a vinegar base, like the famous French, Bearnaise. Tarragon subtle herbal flavor blends well with chicken and fish dishes, as well.
It is a spring and summer herb but can be found dried year round in supermarkets. Tarragon is in the family of fine herbs, such as chives, chervil, and parsley. It blends well with any in this category.
HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN TARRAGON ROTINI SALAD
- Cook the rotini in a pot of salted boiling water according to the package instructions; drain.
- Spread on a baking sheet to cool completely.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, vinegar, and tarragon.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Toss in chicken, rotini, grapes, almonds, and scallions.
- Season again with salt and pepper to taste.
- Refrigerate until serving.
- It will last for 3 days refrigerated in an airtight container.
NOTES
- PASTA: Rotini comes in regular, wheat, tri-color, lentil, and veggie such as beet. If you don’t have rotini, farfalle (bow-tie) is a perfect substitute.
- TARRAGON: For this salad if you don’t have or like tarragon, use fresh basil or parsley.
- ALMONDS: Use sliced or slivered . Toast in a 350 degree F oven on a baking sheet for about 5 minutes, keep a close eye on them.
Chicken Tarragon Rotini Salad
A crisp and creamy chicken salad with the elegant flavor of fresh tarragon. If you don't like or can't find tarragon, use basil or parsley.
Servings: 4 (5 cups)
Ingredients
- ½ box (about 6 oz) rotini pasta, (regular, wheat, lentil, or veggie)
- ½ cup sour cream
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 Tbsp Tarragon vinegar or white wine vinegar
- 2 Tbsp fresh tarragon, chopped or 2 tsp dried
- 2 cups rotisserie chicken
- 1½ cups green grapes, halved
- ¼ cup green onions, large chopped
- ¼ cup sliced or slivered almonds, toasted
- Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the rotini in a pot of salted boiling water according to the package instructions; drain. Spread on a baking sheet to cool completely. In a large bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, vinegar, and tarragon; season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Toss in chicken, rotini, grapes, almonds, and scallions; season again with salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until serving; will last for 3 days refrigerated in an airtight container.
Notes
- Rotini: sold in regular, wheat, tri-color, beat, or lentil.
- Substitute for rotini: Farfalle (bow-tie).
- Substitute for Tarragon: fresh or dried Basil, fresh or dried Parsley.
- For a sweeter pasta salad add 1 Tbsp sugar to the dressing when whisking together.
