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Chicken rice salad

Creamy Chicken & Rice Salad

This vintage European chicken and rice salad combines tender chicken, fluffy rice, marinated mushrooms, hard-boiled eggs, and tomatoes in a creamy mayonnaise dressing. It’s a hearty cold salad that works beautifully for lunch, buffets, parties, or a make-ahead meal.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Resting time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 6
Course: Salad
Cuisine: European
Calories: 400

Ingredients
  

  • 200 g cooked chicken, diced (about 1½ cups)
  • 150 g cooked rice (about ¾ cup)
  • 150 g marinated mushrooms, drained and sliced (about 1 cup)
  • 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
  • 150 g mayonnaise (about ⅔ cup)
  • 80 g sour cream (about ⅓ cup)
  • 200 g tomatoes, diced (about 1½ cups)
  • 20 g tomato ketchup (about 1 tbsp)
  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • Fresh parsley, for garnish

Method
 

  1. Make sure the cooked chicken and rice are completely cool before assembling the salad.
  2. Cut the chicken into small bite-size pieces.
  3. Drain the marinated mushrooms well and slice them if necessary.
  4. Chop the hard-boiled eggs and dice the tomatoes.
  5. Place the chicken, rice, mushrooms, eggs, and tomatoes in a large mixing bowl.
  6. In a separate small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, and tomato ketchup. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  7. Add the dressing to the chicken mixture and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
  8. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper as needed.
  9. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes before serving.
  10. Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with fresh parsley.

Notes

Rice: The recipe gives 150 g cooked rice, rather than 150 g dry rice. For the best salad texture, use cooled long-grain rice that isn't overly soft.
Chicken: This is a great way to use leftover roast or poached chicken. Remove the skin and bones before weighing.
Marinated mushrooms: The original specifically calls for marinētas sēnes. Drain them thoroughly so the salad doesn't become watery.
Tomatoes: Use firm tomatoes and remove particularly watery seeds if necessary.
Dressing: The original recipe combines mayonnaise with sour cream and a little tomato ketchup, giving the salad a creamy, slightly tangy dressing.
Make ahead: You can prepare the chicken, rice, eggs, and dressing in advance. For the freshest texture, I’d add the tomatoes closer to serving.