Spanish Chicken Salad Recipes

Steps:

• Dice the potatoes; boil until just tender, then rinse in cold water.
• Blanch the asparagus spears in boiling water for 2 minutes; drain and rinse with cold water. Cut into 2-inch pieces.
• Chop the red pepper. Slice the radishes and olives.
• In a large bowl, toss together the chicken, salami, potatoes, pepper, peas, radishes and olives.
• In a smaller bowl, whisk together the sherry, olive oil, vinegar and pepper. Pour over salad and chill.
• To serve: Slice the red onion. Chop the hard boiled eggs and fold into the chicken mixture. Line salad bowls with Boston lettuce leaves and fill with the chicken salad. Garnish with asparagus spears, chopped parsley and red onion rings.

Steps:

• Combine the vinegar, honey and saffron in a small pot. Bring to a boil over high heat; immediately remove from the heat and let sit until cool to room temperature. Combine the mayonnaise and garlic with the saffron mixture in a medium mixing bowl and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cook the potatoes in a large pot of boiling, salted water until tender. Drain and slice 1/2-inch thick. Place in a large serving bowl and immediately fold in the mayonnaise mixture, tomatoes, onion, thyme and parsley. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Steps:

• Squeeze the garlic out of the skins and whisk together with the oil, lemon zest, juice, smoked paprika and some seasoning in a large bowl. Add the butter beans, peppers, tomatoes and rocket, and give everything a good mix. Divide between lunchboxes. Top with the chicken on one side and crumble over the feta.

Steps:

• Bring first 4 ingredients to boil in heavy medium saucepan. Add rice and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Cover and simmer over low heat until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Transfer to large bowl and chill.
• Whisk remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, vinegar and garlic in small bowl. Add remaining ingredients to rice in large bowl. Drizzle olive oil mixture over. Toss well. Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

Steps:

• Slice the tomatoes and arrange on a large platter with the onion. Sprinkle with a good pinch of salt and ½ tsp of the sugar. Leave to stand for 10 mins or up to 30 mins while you make the dressing.
• Tip the parsley, vinegar, olive oil, remaining sugar, garlic, half the almonds and a good pinch of salt into the small bowl of a food processor. Blitz to a pesto consistency, adding a dribble of water if you need to loosen it a little.
• Weave the slices of ham between the tomatoes and onion, creating a little height on the plate. Drizzle over the dressing, scatter with the remaining almonds and shavings of manchego. Drizzle over a little extra oil and serve.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Combine the arepa flour with the salt in a large bowl. Spread your fingers apart and make a claw with one hand and start circling the flour mixture while adding 1/2 cup water with your other hand. Make a fist a couple of times to bring the clumps of dough together, then squeeze to break apart any remaining larger dough pebbles. Repeat 3 more times, adding 1/2 cup water each time (for 2 cups water total) to the dry spots of the dough, squeezing out the pebbles, and combining the larger clumps.
• After the final addition of water, bring the dough together and incorporate any flour left in the bowl. Make a fist to squeeze the dough through your fingers and repeat until no more clumps remain. Bring the dough together again and let rest, uncovered, for 5 minutes.
• Poke a couple of holes in the dough and add 2 tablespoons water, then knead again. The goal is to get the dough dry enough so it doesn't stick to your hands or the side of the bowl, but not so dry that it cracks when you squeeze a little chunk of it between your fingers. If necessary, add 2 more tablespoons of water and knead to combine one more time. If the dough is too wet, sprinkle a flour in a little at time, then mix to combine. Let rest, uncovered, for another 5 minutes.
• Heat a large cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium heat and lightly grease with an oiled paper towel.
• Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces -- each should weigh about 4 1/2 ounces. Roll each piece into a ball, then flatten into a disk about 3 1/2 inches wide and 1 inch tall. According to my mother, if the edges crack a little while flattening the disk, your dough is too dry. If this happens, add another tablespoon or 2 of water and let rest again.
• Working in batches, if necessary, place the disks in a single layer in the skillet and cook until a golden-brown crust has formed on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Flip and repeat on the other side, 5 minutes more. Reoil the skillet for each additional batch.
• Place the arepas directly on the oven racks and bake until crusty all over and the insides feel slightly hollowed out, 20 to 25 minutes. (Or if you're my mother, until you tap them 3 times, like a drum, and hear a deep "poh poh poh.")
• Serve immediately, plain, or with your favorite fillings. You can cut the arepas in half to make two half-moon pockets, or lay them flat, and cut halfway through the side to make one large round pocket. My favorite fillings are black beans, queso duro (aged, hard cheese) and crema, or the classic Reina Pepiada filling. Alternatively, you can store the arepas in a resealable plastic bag at room temperature for 3 to 4 days, or in the freezer, where they'll last for months.
• Combine the avocado, mayonnaise and lime juice in a medium bowl and mix, mashing the avocado with a fork as necessary. Stir in the onion, chicken, cilantro (if using), a sprinkle of pepper and a generous sprinkle of salt. Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary. Serve with arepas and garnish with hot sauce, if you're into that.