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Italian Chicken Salad in Lettuce Cups

I rely on this dish whenever I’m hosting a ladies’ lunch or wedding shower, or when I just want something tasty and healthy in the refrigerator to snack on. The trick here is using a purchased, roasted whole chicken. It’s important to use a whole chicken because it stays moister and more tender than precooked breasts.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

1/2 cup slivered almonds
1 pound farfalle pasta
4 cups coarsely shredded cooked chicken (from about 1 1/2 purchased roasted whole chickens)
1/2 cup diced roasted red bell pepper (about 1 pepper)
1/2 cup diced roasted yellow bell pepper (about 1 pepper)
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 cup drained capers
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/4 cups Red Wine Vinaigrette (page 229)
12 butter lettuce leaves (from about 2 heads)
2-ounce chunk of Parmesan cheese, shaved with a vegetable peeler

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the almonds on a small baking sheet in a single layer. Bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer to a bowl to cool.

    Step 2

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender, stirring occasionally, 10 to 12 minutes. Drain.

    Step 3

    In a large bowl, combine the pasta with the chicken, bell peppers, onion, parsley, almonds, capers, salt, and pepper. Drizzle with 1 cup of the vinaigrette and toss gently.

    Step 4

    Arrange 1 large lettuce leaf and 1 small lettuce leaf on each plate, overlapping slightly. Spoon the chicken salad into the lettuce “cups.” Drizzle the remaining 1/4 cup of vinaigrette over the salads. Garnish with shavings of the Parmesan cheese and serve.

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