Salads with chicken

The "Snowdrift" salad is a pure white festive Russian layered salad that gets its evocative name from the dramatic finishing touch: the entire top is covered with finely grated hard-boiled egg white, which completely blankets the layers and creates the illusion of a real snowdrift. It looks particularly stunning on a New Year's table. The fillings are classic Russian holiday favorites: poached chicken, hard-boiled eggs, grated cheese, sliced pickles and onion, all bound with mayonnaise. Optional canned pineapple adds an interesting sweet note. Let the salad rest 2-3 hours in the fridge so the flavors meld. Traditional proportions for 6-8 servings inside.

The "Tenderness" salad lives up to its name — it's a soft, beautifully balanced layered salad where mild poached chicken meets sweet prunes, fragrant walnuts and grated hard cheese. Each layer is bound with mayo or sour cream, which keeps the whole thing creamy and luscious. Soak the prunes in hot water for 10 minutes to soften, then dice them small. Lightly toast the walnuts in a dry pan to deepen their aroma. After assembling, let the salad rest in the fridge for 1-2 hours so the flavors meld and the layers turn perfectly tender. Classic proportions for 4-6 servings and the best layer order inside.