SMALL HOUSEHOLDS SWEET & SOUR CHICKEN SALAD: easy,some prep-ahead, healthy, wallet-friendly, dairy-free option

Finding an exciting tasty not-too-difficult recipe for leftover chicken without buying lots more ingredients can be tricky.

But here's one that's got everything you could want...and more

This recipe, inspired by Waitrose Food magazine, is rather glorious: layered with fabulous flavours, attractive, part make-ahead and easily assembled.  It won't make a big dent in your weekly food budget.

67goingon50 has focused on small households - singletons, couples, pensioners - but the ingredients are easily doubled for 4 people.

Ingred:

50ml red wine vinegar

min1/3-max 1/2 tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp lemon zest

1/2 tsp orange zest

1 bay leaf

equivalent shredded meat of at least 2 cooked chicken thighs 
25gms/4/5oz pine nuts (or seeds: sunflower, pumpkin or both)
60gm/2.1oz fresh or reconstituted cranberries or other dried fruit (medjool dates, raisons, apricots)

4-6 sunblush tomatoes, from supermarket or make-your-own (see  below)

10 gm fresh basil, torn OR 1/3 tsp dried basil

45gm/1.5oz rocket, rinsed 2-3 times, drained, dried 

2 tbsp virgin olive oil

zest and juice of 1/2 clementine

membrane-free segments of half a clementine  

2 tbsp dairy or plant Parmesan

salt & pepper to taste

Method:

The day or night before

1. Heat vinegar in small pan over med heat until simmering at the edges; add sugar, lemon & orange zest & bay leaf;  when sugar is dissolved, take pan off heat; set aside to cool
2. Put shredded chicken, seeds and dates or other fruit in a large bowl; strain infused vinegar over, discarding zests & bay leaf; cover, refrigerate 3 hours or overnight

When ready to eat:

1. Add remaining ingredients to the chicken mixture; mix well, season; transfer to serving platter
2. Taste.  Add more pepper and cheese if needed.

Comments:

'Delightful!' Senior Researcher

'Surprisingly good considering the main is leftovers. Well blended flavours; not too sweet or sour. Surprisingly interesting as well as tasty.  All in all, an easily prepared wallet-friendly meal. Thanks to Waitrose Food Magazine for the inspriration. ' Retired writer

Tips:

QUICK & EASY AIR FRIED SUNBLUSH TOMATOES

Note: (67goingon50 recommends Doubling or tripling recipe; store remainder in jar or shallow dish covered with olive oil.  They'll be ok for 3-4 days but probably wll probably go very quickly!)

     4-6 cherry tomatoes, halved across the middle OR 1 good-sized tomato in 6 wedges 
    1/2 clove garlic, sliced very finely into matchsticks (opt)
    Olive oil
    salt & pepper
    basil and/or thyme, dried or fresh
    sugar (no more than 1/2 tsp)

Cost: £.75p??

Feeds: 1-2

Method:

Preheat Air Fryer to BAKE 140c.   insert 1 or 2 slivers of garlic,if using, into the soft part of the tomato; spray surface of tomato generously with olive oil; season with salt & pepper.  Sprinkle each tomato segment with a pinch of fresh or dried basil or thyme plus  a tiny pinch of sugar.  Arrange on air fryer tray so that air circulates evenly; if the air fryer does not have a tray, crumble up some tin foil so tomatoes can sit proud of the bottom. Air fry for30-40 mins or until tomatoes are on the verge of collapsing and insides have more or less liquified. Turn off air fryer but leave tomatoes inside till needed.

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Copyright: This recipe has been adapted from Waitrose Food Magazine by  B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises.