Plums Are The Vibrant Ingredient Your Chicken Salad Deserves

Okay, so maybe Little Jack Horner wasn't eating chicken salad when he sat in the corner and pulled out that plum back in the day, but the kid might have been onto something. Forget Christmas pie the next time you're cutting up some plums, and try tossing them into your chicken salad instead. You'll thank Little Jack when you do.

Incorporating plums into chicken salad introduces a delightful sweetness and a hint of tartness, enhancing the overall flavor of the dish. Plus, the slight acidity of plums can help balance the richness of other ingredients like mayonnaise or yogurt-based dressings. This combination creates a refreshing and vibrant dish that feels both lighter and more complex. Notably, the plums' juicy texture adds moisture, preventing the salad from ever feeling dry, and their vibrant color also makes the dish more visually appealing.

There are several ways to add plums to your chicken salad. When plums are sliced or diced, their succulent consistency spreads throughout the salad, offering a tasty burst in every bite. If you're looking for a smoother texture, you can peel your plums before adding them. However, note that leaving the skin on adds extra nutrients.

While we're on the subject of adding plums to your next chicken salad, we also suggest that you don't stop where Little Jack left off. Incorporating various fruits into your creamy chicken salad is a fantastic way to elevate its flavor profile. Options like grapes and cranberries add delightful chewy juiciness — or, for a crisper bite, you could even serve chicken salad with apple slices instead of crackers. Moreover, different fruits bring their own nutritional benefits to the table. Blueberries are rich in antioxidants, while clementines and mandarin oranges are packed with vitamin C.

By experimenting with a variety of fruits, you can create a chicken salad that is uniquely delicious, whether you prefer a tropical twist with mango or a tart one with cranberries. To further complement these fruits, consider adding savory seasonings such as thyme, rosemary, or curry powder. Nuts like toasted almonds or pecans provide some crunch, while a tangy yogurt or lemon-based dressing might serve to balance the sweetness of the fruit.