Herbed Lemon Chicken Salad

1. Season the Chicken

Begin by seasoning the chicken generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. This initial seasoning enhances the flavor and tenderness, making the chicken delicious right from the start.

2. Prepare Bags and Lemon

Take one of the lemons and slice it into thin slices, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick. Place the seasoned chicken breast halves into zipper-lock bags or vacuum bags, along with the lemon slices and whole sprigs of tarragon. Removing the air from the bags ensures that the flavors infuse deeply into the chicken, which is crucial for a well-seasoned outcome. You can use water displacement for zipper-lock bags or a vacuum sealer if you have one.

3. Sous-Vide Cooking

Preheat your sous-vide cooker to 155°F (68°C). Once it reaches the desired temperature, place the bags of chicken into the water bath. Allow the chicken to cook for at least 1 hour, but it can stay in for up to 4 hours if needed. Cooking sous-vide ensures that the chicken is perfectly even and juicy, with a wonderful infusion of lemon and tarragon flavors. The chicken should be opaque and tender once done.

4. Cool the Chicken

When the chicken is finished cooking, transfer it to an ice bath for about 15 minutes. This step stops the cooking process and makes handling the chicken easier.

5. Prepare the Dressing

While the chicken is cooling, prepare the vibrant dressing. In a large bowl, mix together the juice and zest of the remaining lemon (you'll need about 1 tablespoon of juice and 1 teaspoon of zest), 1/4 cup of mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard, the minced tarragon leaves, parsley, chives, red onion, celery, and garlic. This combination creates a fresh and flavorful dressing that complements the chicken beautifully.

6. Combine Chicken and Dressing

After the chicken has cooled, remove it from the bags and discard the tarragon stems and lemon slices. Remove the skin and bones from the chicken, then cut the meat into 1/2-inch cubes. Fold the cubed chicken into the mayonnaise mixture, ensuring that each piece is evenly coated with the dressing for a consistent and delicious flavor throughout.

7. Adjust Seasoning and Serve

Finally, taste the salad and adjust the seasoning with more salt, pepper, mayonnaise, mustard, or lemon juice as desired. Serve the herbed lemon chicken salad on a bed of lettuce or in sandwiches for a refreshing and satisfying meal. Enjoy!