Cilantro Lime Chicken Salad

During college, one of my favorite jobs was working for a small coffee shop/cafe on the town square back in Tennessee. I had previously worked at Starbucks and enjoyed learning everything the corporate coffee world had to teach, but working for a mom and pop place was so much fun.

The one thing I have carried with me all these years from that cafe has nothing to do with coffee though, it's their chicken salad recipe. It is so good. The original recipe calls for grapes, orzo pasta, and a few other ingredients I don't always add, but the base is always the same and tastes great with other flavors integrated in for endless sandwich possibilities. My favorite lately is a cilantro lime concoction that tastes fresh and bold, perfect for a bland Monday afternoon.

Cilantro Lime Chicken Salad

1 large chicken breast, cooked and shredded
1 hard boiled egg, diced
1/2 C mayonnaise
2 TBSP yellow mustard
Zest and juice from 1 lime, more depending on size of lime
1 clove garlic, pressed or grated
1 green onion, chopped
1 bunch cilantro, dice or tear leaves, discard stems
salt and pepper to taste

Mix everything up, tasting as you go. I like to taste a lot of lime so I usually add more zest and juice after I mix everything together, but this recipe is so easy and versatile, you can add and omit items to your preference. Pile it high on wheat bread with sliced tomatoes and avocados, mmm.

Enjoy!