Simple Chicken Waldorf Salad with Candied Walnuts

Don’t you just love meals that are as beautiful as they are flavorful? And if they’re simple…well, that’s just the trifecta of perfection if you ask me.

I’m always looking for quick and easy lunch ideas, and as the weather is warming I’m not so keen on heating up dinner leftovers. Add to that I’m in the midst of a chaotic DIY kitchen remodel and I don’t want a recipe that’s going to require much (or any) cooking, either.

Enter this amazing chicken Waldorf salad which is made from fresh fruit and fully-cooked chicken sausage from Isernio’s, so you don’t even have to worry about the effort of cooking chicken or de-boning a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store. The only thing you might have to worry about is glazing your walnuts, but if you’re really averse to turning on your stove you can actually just buy some at the store. {I’ll never tell.}

This month we’re partnering with Isernio’s, which has just launched a new line of fully cooked chicken sausages. They are made from chickens that are certified humanely raised, fed a 100% vegetarian diet, and were given no antibiotics ever. Plus, they have no MSG, gluten, nitrates or nitrites, contain no fillers, and are free of preservatives so you can feel good about feeding them to your family. Isernio’s has sponsored this recipe.

So without futher ado, here’s the recipe. Make it to take for a simple lunch, throw it together for a nice summer brunch with your girlfriends, or make a big portion of it and take it to your next potluck.

It’s just as impressive as it is easy. I promise.

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients for the candied walnuts:

1 cup walnuts
1 Tb. butter
1/4 cup sugar

Instructions for the candied walnuts:

Coarsely chop the walnuts into large pieces.
Melt the butter in a non-stick sauce pan over medium heat.
Add the walnuts and sugar.
Stir occasionally until the sugar starts to melt (about 5-8 minutes).
Once the sugar begins to melt, stir constantly so it doesn’t burn. Stir until all of the sugar granules are melted and have glazed the walnuts.
Remove from heat and pour onto a piece of parchment paper or silicone baking mat to cool and harden. They will be fully cooled and ready to use in about 10 minutes.
Store in an airtight container if you don’t use them immediately.

Ingredients for the dressing:

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 Tb. dill pickle relish
1/4 cup finely diced celery
1 scallion, chopped
salt & pepper to taste

Instructions for the dressing:

Mix all ingredients together. Set aside. This can be done in advance.

Ingredients for the salad:

2 Isernio’s fully cooked Apple Chicken Sausages, diced (use Isernio’s Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage if you’re not able to find them)
juice of 1/2 a lemon
1 apple, diced
1 celery stalk, chopped
1 cup red grapes, halved
1 cup candied walnuts (recipe below)
Bibb lettuce (optional)

Instructions for the salad:

Place the chopped apples in a mixing bowl and squeeze the juice of 1/2 a lemon over them to keep them from browning.
Add the celery, red grapes, and sausage to the bowl and mix well.
Add dressing according to your liking, whether you prefer it heavily dressed or lightly dressed.
Mix in the walnuts.
Serve with bib lettuce, either in a bowl or as lettuce wraps.