Chicken salad is a classic summer dish to serve at a cookout or pack with a delightful picnic spread—and it’s easy to make in a pinch. All you need to add this to your lunch rotation is simmered chicken breasts chopped and tossed with the remaining ingredients. For an Indian-inspired twist on the flavor, we’ve added curry, garam masala, pineapple, and ginger. Enjoy this Bombay Curry Chicken Salad on its own, wrapped in lettuce leaves, or over cooked sweet potato slices in lieu of bread.
The simplicity of this curry chicken salad recipe combined with protein-rich chicken makes it a great option for Paleo athletes to have on hand. It’s easy to prepare and can either be enjoyed after a workout to replenish energy or as a filling, ready-to-eat-lunch to help fuel your goals.
Chicken and mayo are the two staples of any chicken salad, and we haven’t skimped on either of those ingredients. Just be sure to buy a Paleo-friendly mayonnaise at the store or make it at home with our recipe. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reduce muscle soreness, increase endurance capacity, and improve recovery in athletes.1 For an extra boost of omega-3s, use flaxseed oil or walnut oil as the base for your mayo.
TIPS:
- Don’t have garam masala? Make your own! Use ¼ teaspoon each of ground cumin, cinnamon, coriander, and fennel for a similar flavor profile.
- Don’t let the leftover pineapple go to waste! Use the rest in a tropical fruit salad or virgin mojito.
Dietary Restriction: Because ingredients in this Bombay Curry Chicken Salad are not part of an Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) diet, this recipe is not AIP-Friendly.
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References:
- Thielecke, F., & Blannin, A. (2020). Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Sport Performance—Are They Equally Beneficial for Athletes and Amateurs? A Narrative Review. Nutrients, 12(12), 3712. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12123712
Recipe adapted from The Paleo Diet for Athletes by Loren Cordain and Joe Friel.
Bombay Curry Chicken Salad
- Recipe by: The Paleo Diet Team
- Serves: 4
- Meal: Dinner
- Serves: 4
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Total Time: 12 minutes
Ingredients
2 skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of fat
1 tbsp curry
4 tbsp Paleo mayo
1 tbsp garam masala
4 fresh pineapple rings, diced
1 tbsp raisins
1/2 tsp ginger, freshly grated
1 cucumber, peeled and finely chopped
2 ribs celery, finely chopped
Directions
Place chicken breasts and curry in a pot filled with water. Slowly simmer until cooked through. Drain and let cool. Cut chicken into half-inch cubes or smaller.
In a medium serving dish, combine mayonnaise, garam masala, pineapple, raisins, ginger, cucumber, and celery. Add chicken and mix well.
Serve chilled.
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