Chutney Chicken Salad

I never really liked chicken salad until the past year. I grew up with a strong aversion to Mayonnaise. It really, REALLY grosses me out. I wouldn't eat anything that touched it or that I could tell had mayo in it. I wouldn't touch sour cream either, looked too much like mayo. So things like chicken salad, potato salad, etc were just off limits. Then, as I got older I started to eat potato salad (probably because I live for potatoes) but chicken salad was still a no-no. Then one day, my world was turned upside down.

I helped throw a baby shower where we served chicken salad finger sandwiches from Primos Cafe and Bake Shop. I was really hungry that day and decided the sandwiches didn't look too "mayo-y" so I gave one a try. Then I had a second and a third and a fourth and maybe even a fifth little finger sandwich. From that point on I was addicted to a chicken salad that I could only buy at a restaurant 2 states away. As my parent's next visit to Texas approached, we started brainstorming ways they could carry it on the plane with them but couldn't come up with a good way to keep it cold that didn't involve ice(liquid) or freezer packs(gels) going through security. Not only that, but one little 8oz tub was something like $8!!!

So I just dealt with it until my next visit home. Primos is a long time fixture in the Jackson restaurant and bakery world but a place I had actually never been. I was sure missing out on a good thing. The first place on my list of places to eat is typically Keifers but that time, it was Primos for lunch. I didn't even have to check the menu. I'll have a Chicken Salad Sandwich, and a sweet tea of course. Yum. We got a tub for me to take home as I was checking my luggage and could pack it with some gel packs. It made for great lunches that week.

The little tub from Primos calls the chicken salad "Chutney Chicken Salad" and it listed all the ingredients: Chutney, Mayonnaise, Chicken, Pecans, Celery, Green Onion, Grapes. Sounds easy, but what is Chutney?

Mom asked on of our friends who is an excellent cook and she told us two interesting bits of information.

1. The chicken salad would probably use what is called "Major Grey's Chutney".
2. The Junior League of Jackson cookbook Come On In has a recipe in it for "Chutney Chicken Salad" that is very close to the Primos recipe.

Ah-hah. I have that cookbook. And it really is about the exact same thing as Primos. Once again, my co-workers Erica and Marsh have given it the stamp of approval.

Chutney Chicken Salad (Come On In)

1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup Major Grey Chutney
8 Chicken Breast Halves, cooked, in bite-sized pieces
2 stalks Celery, coarsely chopped
1 Granny Smith apple, unpeeled, coarsely chopped, sprinkled with lemon juice
1/2 cup red seedless grapes, sliced
1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
2 cups cooked brown rice (see note below)

Thoroughly blend mayo and chutney. Combine with all other ingredients. Serve chilled.

My notes: I don't include the rice. I find that the celery can be overwhelming so I normally cut it back some. I add extra pecans and don't toast them. You can use green or red grapes, whatever you prefer. Tastes delicious on sourdough bread.