15 minute 5 Ingredient Chicken Curry Salad

curry salad

This is my go-to salad when I need a salad for a get-together, need a lunch for a day of kayaking, or when I am craving curry and don’t feel like cooking. The sweetness of the grapes, the crunch of the water chestnuts and the savory of the curry is a winning combination. Not to mention the inflammation fighting powers of turmeric. Even my friend Gaye who doesn’t love lots of foods gave this salad” a thumbs up” today. She liked it!! Hurray!

  • 1 – 12.5oz can chicken breast packed in water, drained OR 2 boneless skinless breasts, cooked and cubed
  • 8oz water chestnuts, sliced (must have for the crunch)
  • 1 ½ cup red grapes, sliced in half
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • ½ tsp turmeric or more to taste ( I love 1 tsp)
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp pepper

In an 8 cup mixing bowl (love the Pampered Chef Batter bowl) toss together all the ingredients. With a colored spatula, (mine is red) stir gently to combine. (I have two wrecked white-turned-yellow spatulas from cooking with curry.) Refrigerate. To serve arrange on Bibb lettuce. Yield: 4 cups of salad.

I often spy it in the fridge and eat it standing with the fridge door wide open (don’t tell Gary) and eat it right out of the container.

currysalad1

This salad is a time saver nutritious winner in my book. It takes 15 minutes from start to finish. Prepare it the night before to allow the flavors to blend. I buy my canned chicken from Costco. If you desire more than five ingredients a few sliced green onions add another layer of flavor. If you are not curry lover you can substitute your favorite fresh herb like tarragon.

Is Mayonnaise gluten free?

Most mayonnaise is gluten free as most are made with naturally gluten free ingredients. They may not be labeled gluten free because they are not guaranteed against cross contamination. If you want to be certain it is gluten free use Spectrum mayonnaise products which are confirmed gluten free by analysis.

The Healing Powers of Turmeric

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Photo curtesy of Steven Jackson

Don’t forget turmeric has healing powers. Turmeric’s main ingredient curcumin has been shown in over a thousand studies to have a wide array of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Studies show that the elderly of India have very low rates of Alzheimer’s disease which is attributed to their daily consumption of curries. Duke University researchers have concluded that turmeric appears to outperform many pharmaceuticals in its effects against several chronic diseases including cancer and arthritis. When I had my concussion my functional medicine colleagues advised me to take turmeric capsules to fight the inflammation.

Turmeric photo: CC rights by Flickr photos by Steven Jackson