Vegan Smoky Chicken Salad

Smoked almonds and smoked paprika give this spread its subtle wood-fired flavor. Apple, celery and carrots up the vitamin quotient which, along with parsley, provide nice texture and flecks of color. The tarragon, optional nutritional yeast, and faux chicken seasoning enhance the chicken-y flavor. And the combination of lemon juice and vegan mayo provide just the right amount of tang.

This salad is delicious served in all of the traditional ways, but it is particularly enhanced by a simple side salad of long, narrow seedless cucumbers--preferably home-grown--sliced and sprinkled with vinegar and coarse sea or kosher salt to offset their natural sweetness.


Place first five ingredients in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade and process until coarsely chopped, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Add remaining ingredients, except mayo and lemon juice and continue processing using a pulsing action, scraping down sides as necessary, until all ingredients are fairly finely and uniformly chopped. Add mayonnaise and lemon juice and process until mixture comes together. Adjust seasoning and pulse a few more times to combine. Serve immediately or refrigerate until serving time. Allowing the flavors to marry for a few hours seems to enhance the taste of this habit-forming spread.