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Salpicão de frango
Chicken salad
Salpicão: Brazilian Christmas chicken salad with apple, raisins and mayonnaise, topped with crunchy batata palha
Salpicão is the cold dish that appears at every Brazilian Christmas and New Year table, from Rio apartments to family farms in Minas, and the leftovers are just as loved on 25 December in sandwiches. Poached shredded chicken is folded through grated carrot, diced green apple, celery, sweetcorn and raisins in a lime-sharpened mayonnaise, then piled high with batata palha, fine crisp potato sticks. Chef's tip: poach the chicken gently and let it cool in its broth so it stays juicy when shredded.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 1 ⅓ lb skinless chicken breasts
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp salt
- 4 ¼ cups water
For the salad
- 1 large carrotcoarsely grated
- 1 green applefinely diced
- 1 celery stickfinely diced
- 3 ½ oz sweetcorn, drained
- 1 ¾ oz raisins
- 7 oz mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tbsp fresh parsleychopped
- 1 ¾ oz green olives, sliced (optional)
To serve
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Put the 1 ⅓ lb skinless chicken breasts, 1 bay leaf, 1 tsp salt and 4 ¼ cups water in a pan, bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 15–18 minutes until the thickest part reaches 165°F and the juices run clear. Cool in the liquid for 20 minutes.
18 minStep 2: Lift out the chicken and shred it finely with two forks.
5 minStep 3: Toss the 1 green apple with the 1 tbsp lime juice so it doesn't brown. Mix with the chicken, 1 large carrot, 1 celery stick, 3 ½ oz sweetcorn, drained, 1 ¾ oz raisins, 2 tbsp fresh parsley and 1 ¾ oz green olives, sliced, then fold in the 7 oz mayonnaise.
8 minStep 4: Cover and chill for at least 1 hour so the flavours settle.
60 minStep 5: Pile the 3 ½ oz batata palha (fine crisp potato sticks) on top just before serving. Adding it early is the common mistake: the sticks go soft within minutes.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 360 kcal
- Protein
- 25 g
- Carbs
- 20 g
- Fat
- 20 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does salpicão de frango take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of skinless chicken breasts?
- Boneless chicken thighs, same weight (a few minutes longer).
- What can I use instead of large carrot?
- Parsnip or sweet potato, same weight.
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Perfect for:ChristmasParty & potluck