Strawberry Chicken Salad & Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing

As I mentioned in my last post (No-Bake Strawberry Ice Box Cake), it's strawberry season where I live.  It's one of my absolute favorite food-times of the year!  I just adore fresh strawberries picked from the field that very day.  They're so sweet, juicy, and delicious.  I could pop them in my mouth just as they are ... oh, and I do ... with more than my fair share.

But I like to whip up tasty concoctions with them, too.

So, when I found this Strawberry Chicken Salad in the latest edition of Cooking Light magazine, it didn't take me long to give it a whirl.  And. It. Is. Tasty. - winning the approval of both me and my hubby.

The original recipe calls for using bottled poppy seed dressing.  I wanted to see if I could pull together a homemade dressing, instead of using the bottled.  Not that there's anything wrong with bottled dressings ... I just wanted to also have a homemade alternative.  I loved, loved, loved the homemade dressing!!  I'll definitely be making it again, even when I'm not making this Strawberry Chicken Salad.

For the dressing, combine some cider vinegar, canola oil, a bit of sugar, poppy seeds, and a bunch of chopped onion.  Give it a whirl in a food processor or blender ... and you have homemade Poppy Seed Dressing.  Pretty easy, huh?

Mix this dressing into a combination of chicken, fresh basil, minced green onions, fresh diced strawberries, and chopped pecans ... and you've got one tasty and refreshing chicken salad.  It's great just on its own, but I could also see this in phyllo cups as a wonderful hors d'ouvre ... or, on croissants for a beautiful sandwich ... or, in a tea sandwich, or ... or ... or

I'll just have to give these other ideas a try, won't I?!?

Strawberry Chicken Salad

Source:  Chicken salad adapted from Cooking Light magazine; Homemade poppy seed dressing adapted from Happier than a Pig in Mud
(Printable recipe)

Ingredients
Chicken Salad:
3/4 c. bottled or homemade poppy seed dressing (see below)

1/4 c. minced green onions

3 T. chopped fresh basil

1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

4 c. chopped cooked chicken

2 c. diced fresh strawberries

1 c. chopped pecans

Salt, to taste

Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing:

1/4 c. sugar

1/2 c. canola oil

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 c. apple cider vinegar

1/4 c. white, yellow, or Vidalia onion, finely chopped

1/4 to 1/2 tsp. poppy seeds

Directions
Prepare the Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing (if using):
1.  Combine all dressing ingredients in a food processor or blender.  Process until well combined.

Prepare the Chicken Salad:
2.  Stir together the poppy seed dressing, green onions, basil, and black pepper in a large bowl.  Fold in the chicken, strawberries, and pecans.  Add salt to taste.

3.  Cover and chill for about 2 hours.

Note:  This salad is best eaten the day it is made.  Though it was still tasty the next day, be aware that on the second day the strawberries will have gotten a bit limp and some of their color will have 'bled' onto the chicken.

Enjoy!