With the days getting warmer I find myself turning to salads more often and with the fresh local produce starting to come in it is getting easier. I came across this recipe for a chicken and asparagus salad with a creamy tarragon dressing in the latest issue of Food and Drink. Several things about this salad caught my attention with the primary one being how green it was and how perfectly Spring that was. With the local asparagus coming in already I just had to wait a bit for the local peas to show up at the farmers market and I was all set to go. In general I really like salads like this where you can easily add some meat and turn it into a light meal. I also liked the sound of both poaching the chicken with tarragon and the creamy tarragon dressing as tarragon is a herb that I enjoy but rarely use. Salads are generally pretty easy to make and this one was no exception. The chicken and asparagus salad with a creamy tarragon dressing was really good and I certainly got my tarragon fix. The tarragon dressing was nice and creamy and and I enjoyed the use of the capers in it. During the Spring/Summer when I can get fresh peas I like to use them in salads like this straight from the pods without any cooking and that is what I did this time. This salad was a really nice light Spring meal!
Chicken and Asparagus Salad with Creamy Tarragon Dressing
ingredients
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 small onion (peeled and quartered)
- 1 teaspoon tarragon, chopped
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 (6 ounce) chicken breasts
- 3 cups baby spinach (or other salad greens)
- 1/2 pound asparagus (cleaned and trimmed)
- 1/4 cup peas
- 1/4 cup pine nuts (toasted)
directions
- Bring the chicken broth, onion, tarragon and bay leaf to a boil in a large pan, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add the chicken and simmer, covered, for 6 minutes turning once in the middle.
- Remove from heat and let the chicken cool in the broth.
- Steam the asparagus and peas (if using frozen) until tender, about 4 minutes and 1 minute respectively.
- Cut the chicken into slices.
- Assemble the salad and pour on the dressing.
Creamy Tarragon Dressing
ingredients
- 1 tablespoon plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon capers (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon tarragon (chopped)
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic (chopped)
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar
- salt and pepper to taste
directions
- Mix everything.
Kevin is is a wonderful salad, perfect for summer!
What a lovely color contrast!
This is nice, I love asparagus.Thanks for sharing.
I haven't tried asparagus in a salad. Thanks for sharing this lovely recipe
Tarragon is definitely one of my favorite herbs – licorice-y and delicious!
Great hot night dinner, very wonderful looking meal..
A perfect dish for a summer meal here also. I love the idea of using fresh tarragon – it's a herb I do not use much of.
Oooh that sounds awesome! Especially the creamy tarragon dressing 🙂
Sues
I rarely use tarragon – don't know why really, but this looks great.
Absolutely stunning, this salad certainly screams spring!
That tarragon dressing sounds divine! I've been bookmarking all of your recipes, they're all just too delicious sounding.
Really beautiful looking! A delightful salad!
Cheers,
Rosa
Great summer salad!!!! I agree with you, Im a huge fan of any salad I can turn into the main course!
My standby for any salad we have in this house is baby spinach leaves and they look so tasty with the chicken on top. I must admit that I have do not enjoy the flavor of tarragon so much but I am sure many other herbs would do this justice.
Top flavours! Tarragon mayo works great in deli sandwiches too.
We love tarragon in our chicken salad. Great idea to add asparagus! Gorgeous photo too (as always!).
I still haven't tried tarragon yet but I hear good things about this herb. This sounds like a great spring dish – love how much you're cooking in season.
Yum! the chicken and asparagus salad are calling me! a great combination of ingredients!
Tarragon is my FAVORITE! Cream is NOT – but when I saw the yogurt – no problem and not as calorie laden as I had thought in the first place. Thanks Kevin.
vat a great combo you have here in this amazing salad.. way to go.. love ye blog..
cheers!
This chicken salad looks delicious with the tarragon dressing…yummie! Love the way that you "dressed" the chicken with pine nuts and peas…just very yummie.
That dressing sounds amazing!
Tarragon is my favorite herb, I think is the only herb that can go with everything without over powering. It's perfect for this dressing too.
What a beautiful and tasty salad.
This looks so delicious!! I love asparagus!!! Beautiful photo as always.
What a great looking dinner! I love it all.
The tarragon with the capers sounds like a great combination for a salad.
Looks very refreshing!
Hey Kevin and thanks for stopping by my blog! I absolutely lOOOOOVE tarragon and this salad just looks glorious! Thanks for sharing 🙂
What a lovely light summer meal. The tarragon dressing sounds amazing!
This definitely sounds like a winner. I love tarragon with chicken, what a great combo.
Excellent looking salad Kevin, with lovely fresh flavours! I think we would really like this!