Crisp Chicken Salad with Apple and Basil

I definitely would not call myself a fancy cook . . . although I love trying out new recipes and experimenting with flavors, I'm not a very creative or talented chef. But I love testing out new dishes, making little changes, and pretending nothing happened if it turns out poorly.

This, however, was a success! I saw this tasty-looking chicken salad recipe at Real Simple and thought it looked delicious. I made a few little tweaks and mmmmmmmm . . . this recipe is definitely worth repeating! I love light, crisp, fruity meals for the summertime, and this one is definitely a keeper. 

One tip, though--you have to use fresh basil. Have to. This is not a drill. I know, it's kind of pricey, but don't even bother making this if you're going to replace the fresh basil with the dried stuff . . . it just wouldn't be worth it. Put that ice cream back in the freezer at the grocery store and spend your $4 on fresh basil instead. You'll be so glad you did!

Crisp Chicken Salad with Apple and Basil

(You can find the original recipe from Real Simple here, but come on, don't you trust me?)

Ingredients:

4 chicken breasts

1/4 cup lime juice

1 Tbsp. rice vinegar

1/3 cup mayonnaise 

2 Tbsp. light brown sugar

4 scallions, thinly sliced

1 Granny Smith apple, diced

1/3 cup chopped pecans

1/3 cup thinly sliced fresh basil 

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

Directions:

Boil the chicken in lightly salted water until fully cooked, then place in a bowl of ice water while you prepare the remaining ingredients.

In a large bowl, combine lime juice, vinegar, mayo, and sugar; add scallions, apples, and pecans. Shred or dice the chicken and add it to the apple mixture along with the basil, salt, and pepper. 

Toss and enjoy!

I'll be sharing this recipe at Tea Rose Home, House of Hepworths, Fingerprints on the Fridge, and the Shabby Nest!