*Welcome to Cooking Without Recipes, in which we teach you how to make a dish we love, but don’t worry too much about the nitty-gritty details of the recipe, so you can create your own spin. *
A best friend always knows what you need. On a weeknight, a store-bought rotisserie chicken is your best friend. It may not lend an ear or make you laugh or give advice, but it, too, is there for you. Sick? Shred the meat and mix into soup. Craving something warm and indulgent? Add some to a quesadilla. Need to reverse the heavy eating you did earlier? Use it to give some body to a green salad. I’ve also been known to stand at the kitchen counter and eat the fatty, crispy skin as a comforting snack.
One of my favorites is a chicken salad tartine. No matter what season it is or where you are, close your eyes while eating this, and you might just feel like you’re on a picnic.
Shred some rotisserie chicken into a big bowl (I eyeball everything, so do what feels right for you). Plop in a large spoonful of mayonnaise. A squeeze of lemon juice lends brightness, plus it helps keep your greens green. What greens, you ask? I love a generous handful of chopped parsley or dill. Sometimes, if I’m feeling crazy, I'll use both. Then, lots of kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Often I keep it as simple as that, but there’s lots you can add in: apples for sweetness, scallions for heat, celery for crunch.
Toast a fat piece of whole-grain rustic bread. Spread some Dijon mustard on there. Dump a bunch of chicken salad on top (full disclosure: I have also been known to add crushed potato chips, too), and voilà—dinner!
Bring your leftovers to work the next day between two slices of bread and call it a sandwich instead of a tartine; just be mindful of your neighbors.