A chicken salad sandwich recipe to die for!

The American homemaker is always looking for new ways to revitalize the weekly menu, with a new take on an old standby. Usually, new recipes are derived from those same old ingredients, packaged in a surprising, but nonetheless delicious, fusion concoction, blending old and new in a culturally exciting dish that excites the palate and makes it seem all brand new. The family, not acquainted with your sleight of culinary hand, embraces your new dish as something out of this world. Ah, the sweet smell of success!

The chicken salad sandwich recipe made its debut after World War II, becoming a chic addition to the 1950s lunch menu. Leftover chicken was diced, mixed with mayonnaise, fresh parsley and then presented between two slices of bread as a gourmet treat of disguised leftovers, with no one the wiser. This chicken salad sandwich recipe survived for decades, a popular lunch treat enjoyed by millions.

Come to think of it, are you still serving up this anachronism of the chicken salad sandwich recipe today? Oh, no, culinary concepts have come a long way since then, so you may need to get up to date in order to truly wow your family with an award-winning chicken salad sandwich recipe for the 21st century.

Let's look at some of the ways you can bring this retro dish into today's world, adding a great deal of pizazz to an otherwise ordinary concept.

The idea of using leftover chicken remains intact. It's what gets into the mix that makes this dish special. Replace the standard parsley with fresh snips of cilantro, infusing your chicken salad recipe with a piquant, zippy flavor that does that chicken justice. Color is important. Finely diced red Spanish onion is a must. Diced, fire roasted red peppers, or halved jalapenos definitely fattens the taste mix of this fins and satisfying sandwich. Contrast in texture is another must-do of the successful 21st century chicken salad sandwich recipe. Toss in a layer of alfalfa sprouts for a bit of crunch. Sliced black olives add complexity. How about some shaved Parmesan? Fresh spinach and artichoke hearts pair well with chicken and Parmesan. If you choose this made-in-heaven combo, consider foregoing the roasted red peppers and jalapenos.

We have quite the fat sandwich here! Why stop now? Drizzle this mixture with a Caesar or poppy seed dressing to make a really outstanding chicken salad sandwich recipe.

To achieve culinary perfection, brush a hoagie roll with olive oil and broil it briefly, just enough to brown and warm it, before piling it high with this haute cuisine lineup of chicken salad sandwich recipe ingredients. Now, there's a dish that will please the most fussy of diners.

White bread, be gone! A chicken salad sandwich recipe of such high style demands artisan bread, pocket bread or bruschetta to create true perfection.

A long cry from the 1950s, plain Jane version, wouldn't you say? However, we owe a debt of gratitude to those 1950s inventors of the modern day chicken salad sandwich recipe. We've come a long way indeed.