This delicious chicken salad appetizer has tons of flavor and is different from the normal mayonnaise version! Chunks of chicken are tossed in arugula pesto, dried cranberries, and fennel, and stuffed into endive cups.
3cupscooked chicken breastcubed (about 1 lb uncooked chicken breast should yield about 3 cups)
1/4cupdried cranberries
1/2cuparugula pestofrom recipe above
1/4cupthinly julienned fennel
1or 2 belgian endive headsyou need about 1/2 lb
Instructions
Bring a pot of water to a boil, and set up a bowl of ice water. Place the arugula in a strainer and immerse it into the boiling water for 15 seconds. Immediately remove the arugula and place in the ice water for 10 seconds, to stop the cooking process. Drain and squeeze all the excess water from the arugula leaves.
Place the blanched arugula, garlic, a pinch of salt and pepper, pine nuts, and olive oil in a food processor. Blend until combined. Add the manchego cheese, and pulse to combine. Taste to check for seasoning.
To assemble the cups, toss the chicken breast with the dried cranberries, pesto, and fennel. Season to taste with salt and pepper, if necessary.
Separate the endive into leaves, and spoon the pesto chicken mixture into the endive cups. Serve and enjoy!