Chicken Salad with Celery

 Ingredients: * 1 chicken breast (approx. 600 grams) * 1 celery for leaves * 3 - 4 tablespoons of mayonnaise * juice of half a lemon * 1 small cup of nuts (approx. 70 - 80 grams) * 1 small onion * tarragon, salt, pepper * for the chicken: 1 bay leaf, salt, a few peppercorns

We boil the chicken breast in salted water with a few peppercorns to add a hint of flavor. This step is essential, as boiling the chicken will ensure tender and juicy meat. When the water starts to boil, it is important to skim off the foam a few times to remove impurities and achieve a clear liquid. After removing the foam, we add a bay leaf, which will enrich the aroma of our dish. We let the chicken breast boil over medium heat for about 30-40 minutes. Once the meat is cooked, we discard the water and let the chicken breast cool completely.

In the meantime, we take care of the vegetables. We carefully separate each stalk of celery, wash them well under cold running water, making sure to remove any impurities. Then, we chop the celery into small cubes to integrate well into the salad. Next comes the onion, which we finely chop, being careful not to leave large pieces that would dominate the flavor of the dish. These ingredients will add a crunchy texture and a distinct flavor to our salad.

In the bowl where we will prepare the salad, we combine mayonnaise with freshly squeezed lemon juice, salt, pepper, and dried tarragon. We mix the ingredients well to obtain a creamy and uniform dressing. We then add the chopped celery, onion, roasted nuts, which will provide a crunchy contrast, and the diced chicken breast. We carefully homogenize the mixture, ensuring that each ingredient is well coated with the dressing.

It is important to taste the salad and adjust the seasonings according to our preferences. If we feel it needs more acidity, we can add an additional amount of lemon juice. We also need to be mindful of the salt level, considering whether the nuts used are salted or not, as well as how salty the mayonnaise is. This chicken salad with celery is not only easy to prepare but also extremely flavorful, perfect for a lunch or light dinner. It is served cold, and the combination of ingredients will surely impress anyone who tastes it.

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