“Maybe the best chicken salad ever,” I said to myself while polishing off two bowls for lunch. I’m am only a “20 minute cook” (if it takes more than 20 minutes to make, I leave those recipes to the experts!) so this salad fit my parameters. I rarely measure anything, so it’s hard to write down recipes. I usually throw everything in the vegetable drawer in a salad or soup. But, this one is so special, I thought I would share.

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Chicken Salad with Fresh Peas & Pomegranate Seeds

2 c. cooked organic chicken, diced

Seeds from 1 pomegranate

1 large green onion, sliced

3/4 c. fresh-shelled raw Cremes heirloom peas

2 stalks celery, sliced

fresh basil leaves, sliced

10 slices of bread & butter pickles, diced

bunch fresh arugula leaves

1/2 c. fresh raw goat yogurt

1/4 c. organic mayonnaise

Salt & pepper to taste

Mix chicken, vegetables, pomegranate seeds and basil lightly together in a bowl. Stir in yogurt and mayonnaise. Season to taste.

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I’d been looking for an opportunity to try Emmy’s Bread & Butter Pickles which I purchased via my Farm Fresh to You bi-monthly CSA box. Emmy’s artisan foods are sourced exclusively from local, organic farms and are all made in small batches using only seasonal fruits and vegetables. These pickles tasted so fresh and natural! CSA (community supported agriculture) is an alternative, locally-based economic model of agriculture and food distribution.

I’d never bought, or eaten, a pomegranate in my life, (you eat the seeds? It just seemed silly) but since there was one in my CSA box, I thought I’d give it a try. Juicy, and not too sweet, they were the perfect addition to this multi-textural salad. Never too late to teach a mature cat new tricks! I also ate persimmons and figs last year for the first time! Love them!

The arugula, Cremes peas (seeds from Sharon’s Natural Gardens), basil, onion and celery I grew in my garden. A friend makes the fresh goat yogurt. I realize some of these ingredients might be hard to come by in certain parts of the world, but as long as you have something sweet, like a fresh fruit (or raisins), and something sour like a pickle, and a bit of onion, fresh greens and herbs, it will be loads more interesting to look at and to eat than your basic deli chicken salad. And very healthy! If you are growing sweet peas this winter or next spring, they would also be excellent.

Please let me know if you try it! Happy eating and gardening! – Kaye