The Fruity Ingredient That Will Liven Up Your Next Batch Of Chicken Salad

Chicken salad is one of those tried and true lunch dishes, but it can quickly become boring if you have it a few days in a row. In order to give it some pizzazz, try adding preserves to the mix. It will give your recipe a small dose of sweetness that will help balance out the other ingredients you add, whether apples, celery, or red onions. For example, plum jam adds a sweet and fruity element to the salad, enhancing the overall flavor profile. It can help cut through the richness of the chicken and other ingredients, providing a contrasting taste that makes the dish more complex and interesting.

You'll want to add the plum jam to a mayonnaise dressing, ensuring it coats every piece of cubed chicken. Simply add a tablespoon of jam to the mayo, and add a squeeze of lemon to balance out the sweetness with some acidity.

Mixing savory with sweet is a classic culinary move, and you can use the same mixing principle you used with your chicken salad with your dinner roasts. But instead of making a dressing, you're making a glaze. Simply combine plum jam, ginger, and horseradish, and brush it onto a chicken that has been roasting for 20 minutes in the oven. Pop it in for another 20, and you'll have a savory-sweet dinner that will have you coming back for seconds.

You can also skip the glaze and instead add the plums directly to the dish. Cut the plums in half, and mix them with honey, shallots, cinnamon, and allspice before tossing them onto the roasting tray with your bird. Have them act as the bed of the dish, with the chicken roasting directly on top. Once it's time for plating, serve it with your roasted chicken, adding a touch of unexpected sweetness to the savory dish.