Saturday, January 26, 2013

Oriental Chicken Salad



Oriental Chicken Salad

This looks a little like it's straight out of the pages of a 1970's cook book don't you think?  I grew up with a grandmother and a mum, who only had things like soy sauce and curry powder to turn food 'oriental'.  Given the limited resources available to the home cook in those days, I think they did pretty well.   I have been eating this all in one salad since the 70's and it is a little beauty.  It is easy peasy and very tasty.  With all that dressing, it's not for dieters, but remember, I am into sustainable eating and as today is Australia Day, I'm having a day off. As long as I don't have a day off every day, I figure I'll be OK



Australia is a bring a salad culture.  We are meeting extended family and friends today on a near by beach and this will be the Beach House Family's contribution to the picnic table.  'Cause that's what you do here in OZ. Bring and share.  I really do sometimes wonder what I did in the last life to be lucky enough to be born here.  On so many levels, it is wonderful.  It is a truly democratic, egalitarian multi cultural nation, which is under populated and for all intense and purpose, free.  Except for a few mean people, we embrace every one and love to experience the cultures they bring here.  I found myself tearing up at the citizenship ceremony I was watching this morning. Just thinking what some of these people had been through and now they were being accepted so heartily into Australia,  I even surprised myself.  But it really was a good story.  


Food fusion is big here in Australia.  After European immigration, the next big wave was the Chinese, in search of gold..  There is a Chinese restaurant in every suburb and country town in this country.  Ironically the food served probably resembles little of what Chinese people in their own country eat today.  You won't find this recipe on the menu of a Chinese restaurant either, but it's how home cooks did it in the 70's and I think it's pretty good.

Oriental Chicken Salad
1 store bought BBQ chicken cut into 12 or so pieces ( I use scissors)
1 cup 1000 Island Dressing
1 dessert spoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons curry powder
2 sticks of finely diced celery
1 small can chopped water chestnuts drained
20 grapes
1 cos lettuce
1 can of lychees drained 
(I used pears instead of lychees, as the super market didn't have any.... we are a bit too waspish up here on the Northern Beaches for something so radical.)

Place chicken pieces, dressing, curry powder, soy sauce, celery and water chestnuts in a large mixing bowl.  Mix well to combine.
If you don't mind washing up you could mix up the sauce first, but I never do.

You can also do up to here the day before.

To serve, lay out cos leaves on a platter
Decant chicken mixture onto the leaves and garnish with grapes and lychees ( or pears)

See it's that simple.  

For all my other easy family meals go here.

Don't forget to enter my word art giveaway  here.

And of course Happy Australia Day to you all.  And thanks for all the lovely comments on my mum's Flight Attendant story, you really made her laugh.

I'm off on a 2 week holiday and I shall not be blogging it, as it happens.  I need a digital detox.  I may have one more post in me, but maybe not.  For those who follow on twitter and instagram @desireempire all will be revealed on Monday.  It's going to be good.

Today I am linked up here
Sunday Showcase
Table Top Tuesday
Show and Tell Friday
Foodie Friday
Clever Chicks
Wow Us Wednesday
Crafty Soiree
Home Sweet Home
Kitchen Fun
Craft-o-maniac

10 comments :

  1. We are off on Holidays for 2 weeks on Wednesday and won't have a computer!
    It is amazing the things you can create with a BBQ chook, my sister used to do a yummy lemon chicken dish- nothing like the real thing either, but easy!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I can remember that chicken, grape and mayo salad from the 70's Carolyn and to tell you the truth, I didn't mind it. Do you remember that mayo made from condensed milk and curry powder. Those were the days! LOL

    Anne xx

    ReplyDelete
  3. I can do this-simple and delicious-thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Carolyn,
    This oriental chicken salad looks delicious. You know, Chinese food is my favorite, and my husband just went to get some take out. This looks very easy to make too. Have a nice weekend.
    ~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a gorgeous looking salad. I think everyone in my family would love this xx

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yum, that looks so good, nice piccies. Hope you are having a terrific holiday and looking forward to a coffee once you're back and all settled back into school routine.

    ReplyDelete
  7. That looks good! Thank you for joining Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

    ReplyDelete
  8. oh yum yum chicken bum! ha, this looks yummy and with the lychees it adds a nice touch!!

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...