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Salad 'Grouse Nest' with Chicken
Instructions
I prepare all the necessary ingredients. Beforehand, I boil the chicken fillet until done, adding salt and pepper. I hard-boil the eggs.
I peel the potatoes. I cut them into very thin matchsticks or grate them on a Korean-carrot grater.
I cover the potatoes with cold water for 5 minutes. Then I drain the water and lay the potatoes out on paper towels to remove as much liquid as possible – this way the potatoes turn out crispier.
In a frying pan or small saucepan, I heat the vegetable oil well, add the potatoes in small portions, and fry until golden, salting to taste.
I finely chop the previously boiled chicken fillet.
I cut the cucumber into small cubes.
I separate the hard-boiled eggs into whites and yolks. I cut the whites into small cubes.
I finely chop the onion. If you like, you can marinate it in a vinegar solution.
I mix together the chopped eggs, cucumber, chicken fillet, about a third of the fried potatoes, and the onion. I add the mayonnaise and stir well.
I mash the yolks with a fork, add finely chopped dill and a little mayonnaise, and stir – it turns into a thick paste. From it I shape small balls.
I spread the salad onto a flat plate, give it a rounded shape, and make a small hollow in the middle – this will be the little nest.
On top I arrange the fried potatoes.
Into the little nest I place a few sprigs of dill or parsley, and I also arrange the improvised "eggs".
Salad "Grouse Nest" with chicken is ready. A salad like this will decorate any festive table – your guests will be delighted.Enjoy your meal!
Tips
- 1
COVER THE POTATOES WITH WATER for 5 minutes – this removes excess starch, and after frying they turn out crispy.
- 2
FRY IN BATCHES in hot oil – otherwise the potatoes will not cook but "stew" in their own juices and stick together.
- 3
THE YOLK BALLS are the "signature" touch of this salad. Use fresh eggs for them, otherwise the yolks shape poorly.
- 4
ADD THE POTATO STRAWS AT THE LAST MOMENT – just before serving, otherwise they will go soggy from the mayonnaise. The same principle works in other salads with fried potatoes.
Video
FAQ
Why is the potato cut into straws and not cubes? +
Thin long straws are the "nest" – an imitation of twigs and branches. That is exactly what a real grouse nest looks like in nature. Cubed potato will not give the right visual effect – you would just get fried potato on top. If you do not have a Korean-carrot grater, cut straws with a very sharp knife, 3–4 mm wide and 5–7 cm long. Ready-made "Pai" (tiny fried potato straws) from the shop will also work as a quick option.
Which chicken should I choose? +
The classic choice is boiled chicken fillet (light and lean). Alternatives: baked in the oven with herbs (more aromatic), smoked chicken (more piquant), pan-fried with seasonings (richer). Breast is better than thighs – it does not fall apart in the salad. For a "New Year" version, bake the chicken with soy sauce and honey, then cut into cubes. For a diet version, use boiled skinless breast. Leftover chicken breast from yesterday's lunch will also work perfectly.
How long does the salad keep? +
In the refrigerator in a closed container, without the potato straws – 1–2 days. With the potato on top – only on the day it is made (the straws will go soggy). Assemble and decorate the salad right before serving to guests. The base (the mayonnaise part) can be made 3–4 hours before serving. Fry the "Pai" potatoes 1 hour before serving – they will keep their crispness at room temperature. To transport it to a celebration, take the base and the potatoes separately and assemble on the spot.
How do I decorate it effectively? +
For a "real nest" effect, add more potato straws – let there be more of them than the salad underneath. The yolk balls should not be perfectly smooth, but with "veins" (deliberately "torn") – that way they look like real eggs. Sprigs of dill and parsley between them are the "moss" in the nest. For "quail eggs", boil a couple of quail eggs and put them in whole (instead of the yolk balls). For a "natural" look, add 2–3 leaves of any lettuce to the nest (as "foliage").
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