Chicken Salad with Pine Nut Dressing

Ingredients

• 4 tablespoon spine nuts
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (or any clear vinegar)
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoon swater
• 1 teaspoon hot mustard paste - gyeoja, 겨자or dijon or yellow mustard if desired
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
• salt to tasteabout 1/2 teaspoon
• 1 chicken breast8 to 10 ounce s
• 1/4 medium onion
• 1/2 stalk celery
• 1/2 carrot
• 3 garlic clove s
• 1 bay leaf - optional
• a handful spring mix or other salad vegetables of choice
• 2 to 3 red radishesthinly slice d
• 1/4 red bell pepperjulienned
• 1/4 yellow bell pepperjulienned
• 1 small Kirby cucumbercut lengthwise and then thinly slice d diagonally

Instructions

1. To make the dressing, toast the pine nuts in a pan over medium heat for 2 3 minutes. This will enhance the flavor. Grind the pine nuts in a blender or food processor (or finely mince them with a knife). Add the remaining dressing ingredients and blend well. Refrigerate while preparing the chicken and vegetables.
2. In a medium size pot, bring 5 cups of water and the aromatic vegetables to a simmer over medium heat. Add the chicken breast and simmer over medium low heat for about 8 10 minutes (increase the time if cooking more than 1 chicken breast). Remove the chicken and allow it to cool.
3. When cool enough to handle, shred and lightly season with salt. Refrigerate while preparing vegetables. Wash salad vegetables in ice water and drain well. Cut them into desired sizes if needed.
4. Combine the shredded chicken with the dressing, leaving a couple of tablespoons of dressing.
5. Line the platter with the salad vegetables. Place the chicken salad in the middle. Drizzle with the remaining dressing, and garnish with a few pine nuts if available.
6. OR thinly slice the optional vegetables and mix well with the chicken salad before serving.