Bing Cherry Chicken Salad With Toasted Pecans

Courtesy of Marjorie Druker, chef and co-owner of the New England Soup Factory located in the Boston area. Reprinted from the "New England Soup Factory Cookbook"

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄4 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1  celery rib, cut in half
• 1⁄2 onion, peeled
• 1  slice lemon
• 1  bay leaf
• 1  teaspoon kosher salt
• 1  cup pecan halves, toasted
• 1⁄2 cup  diced  vidalia onion
• 1  celery rib, diced small
• 1⁄2 lb fresh cherries, pitted, See Note*

Directions

1. For the poached chicken:.
2. Place the chicken in a 4 to 6-quart pot. Add enough cold water to cover the chicken by 1 inch.
3. Add the celery, onion, lemon slice, bay leaf, and salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
4. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
5. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove chicken from the pot.
6. Cool completely and chop before making the salad.
7. For the salad:.
8. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
9. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper.
10. Place the pecans in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes, removing once to stir, until fragrant and toasted. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
11. In a medium mixing bowl place the chicken, onion, celery, cherries, and pecans.
12. Add mayonnaise and gently stir so that all contents are lightly covered in mayonnaise.
13. Season with salt and pepper.
14. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
15. *A note from the chef:
16. Removing pits from cherries is undeniably tedious, but a cherry pitter (found at most kitchen supply stores) makes the job more tolerable. You’ll end up with mushed fruit and stained fingers if you attempt to do it all by hand. For a shortcut, use oven-roasted chicken (even one purchased at the supermarket) instead of poaching the breast yourself.