I recently came across a recipe for chicken salad on Saveur that was made for the cafe in the Neiman Marcus department stores.  I decided I had to try it. The Neiman Marcus Chicken Salad was created in the 1950’s by a well known Texas cook named Helen Corbitt.  I have made a creamy salad recipe before that used whipping cream in it.  The whipping cream makes it rich and extra creamy.  This recipe also called for whipping cream so I knew it had to be good.  The recipe also said to use the cream whipped. However, I reduced the amount and eliminated whipping and just added it straight from the carton.
I also used a rotisserie chicken from the store to make this. But, you can always cook your own chicken if you prefer.  This salad was a rich and creamy treat to eat for dinner.  I served it on croissants for my family because they would think I was crazy to serve chicken salad any other way.  However, for me I just served it up on a couple red lettuce leaves.  I also enjoyed the leftovers the next day for lunch!  This was an easy dinner to prepare. No cooking was required – definitely a great way to beat the summer heat!
Neiman Marcus Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked and diced chicken (I used a rotisserie chicken)
- 1 cup light mayonnaise
- 1 cup diced celery
- 1 1/2 cup purple grapes, halved
- 1 Tbsp fresh parsley chopped
- 1 tsp salt
- pepper to taste
- 1/3 cup whipping cream
- 1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds plus additional for garnish if desired (I bought them toasted from the store)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine all of the above ingredients.
- Fold the mixture until well combined. Serve on croissants or over red lettuce leaves.
- Serves 6.
Recipe adapted from Saveur.
48 comments
Ok, if I am getting it right.
Do not whip the whip cream? Just pour?
I would love the cookie recipe please!
Just pour it. 🙂
Could+you+send+the+cookie+recipe+pls.+Ty+.
Judy+
judy.wilson04@gmail.com
Hello+could+you+send+me+the+NM+cookie+recipe+robynbolton77@gmail.com++Thanks
I would love to have the recipe for the NMcookies. Holidays are almost here. Thanks
Helen Corbett’s Neiman Marcus chicken salad is the only chicken salad I ever make, and I would never, ever change that recipe. Even my father who grew up on a chicken farm, and who would not eat chicken, actually loved this recipe! The full amount of whipped cream whipped makes this chicken salad light and airy. It almost floats , so don’t change the original recipe, because then you don’t have Nieman Marcus chicken salad! JMHO.
I grew up in Dallas, where the Downtown NEIMAN MARCUS was the only store in the world, and Stanley Marcus was the Master of fashion and finery topping anything in the world, living just off TURTLE CREEK, in HIGHLAND PARK, I use to eat at the ZODIAC RESTAURANT within NEIMANS, until a friend that worked there took me behind the back halls to the LITTLE DIPPER RESTAURANT which was for the employees and less than half price of the same items in the zodiac. Most all receipts were from HELEN CORBITS books that i still have in my library, These were the GOLDEN AGES of DALLAS
Fresh Tarragon is a nice substitute for the parsley
The original recipe had one thing that is missing from the above list of ingredients and that is a large dollap of Durkees Dijon mustard. I know because I worked at Neimans in the 60s and knew the lady making it for Neiman’s. Gives it a super taste. And you can use red or green grapes. Neiman’s used what was in season and served it with Cinnamon graham crackers.
Thanks for the history :), be blessed.
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Thank You for all the info. I would love to have the NM cookie recipe.
Also could you use cool whip instead of whipping
cream?
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Ewww! Absolutely not. You don’t use whipped cream, you use heavy whipping cream. Major difference. Cool whip is a sweet treat and heavy whipping cream doesn’t have any sugar. I realize I’m 6 years late to respond, so you probably learned the hard way.
I read the comment you replied to and yelled, “Nooo!” Then I read your comment and lol’d. Amazingly in the world of the vast internet I read your comment less than a week after you wrote it!
I also used dill instead of parsley, because we love it! It added a lot of ‘freshness’ to the salad. I cut down (a bit) on the nuts, since we’re not ‘nuts’ about nuts in Chicken Salad. Other than that, this was the very best Chicken Salad ever!
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I am interested in the nutritional info because I am diabetic
how many does this recipe serve? thanks
making it for a baby shower.
The Neiman Marcus recipe for chicken salad brings back fond memories. My mother lived in Atlanta in the 80’s and when I visited, we always went to NM for lunch and ordered the chicken salad with the orange soufflé. Delicious!
Would love to have the neiman Marcus cookie recipe. If anyone has it would love for it to be sent to me. Thanks
L.Mitchell lgmitchell@bellsouth.net
does anyone have the recipe for the scones that neiman marcus use to serve the there resturant the had a orange flavor with currants in them
I would love the recipe for the cookies. Please!!! Thank you in advance.
I have made this and it is wonderful! I also strongly suggest that you don’t skimp on the quality of the grapes. Just won’t be the same. I know; I tried. Get the best you can; you will be so happy you did.
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I have never eaten at Neiman Marcus, but this chicken salad recipe looks familiar. The only differences I notice are to add two or three tablespoons of orange juice to the salad dressing (mayo, cream, juice), a Tbs of finely chopped onion, and cashews in place of the almonds. Oh, now I remember, it was the recipe for The Claim Jumper chicken salad sandwich, served on a croissant at one time, but now on their own special bread. Both very, very good.
Cashews sound delicious, but I would never put onions in chicken salad.
whipping cream, do you whip or just add?
If you read the intro above the recipe, she says the recipe said to whip the cream, but she opted to use a little less cream and just add it straight to the recipe without whipping.
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Thanks definitely will make. Does anyone have the receipe for NM chocolate cream pie from their deli and bakery. Tried for years to find to no avail. Thanks
Not the pie, but I have the NM cookie recipe if anyone wants that
Would love the recipe for Nieman Marcus cookies There is a cafe in town that has them on Thursdays and if I don’t call or get there early they are already gone . twenty five miles for nothing. thank you
Please send me the cookie recipe.
I would like to have recipe for the nm cookies. thank you, dorothy
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I would love to have the cookie recipe. Also on the chicken salad could you use cool whip? Crazy but just a thought.
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Cool Whip is very sweet- I would not use it. My Mother-in Law worked at NM for 40 years.
I would love it. Thank you
Please send the NM cookie recipe to me. I am a grandma, and love to bake for my family. Thank you.
Would love the cookie recipe. Thank you
Margie, just came across this post and was wondering if you would send me the the NM cookie recipe.
email is: kayak32958@gmail.com
Thank you so very much
I would like the NM cookie recipe.
Thanks
I would love the NM cookie recipe! Thank you very much!
I would like NM cookie recipe. Thanks. See would also have turkey and ham Rochambeau downtown Houston Texas
Would love to have the NM cookie recipe please.
Thank you,
Bonnie
Five tears later. Can you share the cookie recipe?
Thank you so much for adding your tips and comments to this recipe. I’d planned to make it for dinner, but was confused about the whipping cream. You were very helpful!
This brought back many fond memories of eating the chicken salad at Neiman Marcus in Atlanta. Thank you.
This recipe looks wonderful. Will try it very soon. It will be a “keeper” for sure.
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I’ve been looking for a yummy, yet easy chicken salad recipe & this is PERFECT!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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I made this tonight, used dill instead of parsley, though, and it was delish – so moist!!
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Never had it but it sounds wonderful. thank you