Nordstrom's chicken salad

The former restaurant at Nordstrom in the Westside Pavilion made a chicken salad with green apple and goat cheese. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)

By Noelle Carter Los Angeles Times

1:00 p.m. CST, January 29, 2013

Both tart fresh apple slices and dried apple chips flavor this salad, tossed with sliced onion, lightly spiced candied almonds, julienned strips of chicken and creamy goat cheese. The salad is tossed with a bright Champagne vinaigrette. The whole recipe, including the candied almonds, comes together in about an hour, perfect as a side or a light meal.

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Nordstrom's chicken salad

Total time: 1 hour, plus cooling time for the almonds

Servings: 4

Note: Adapted from a recipe from Nordstrom.

Spiced candied almonds

1 tablespoon egg white (about ½ egg white)

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/2 pound blanched almond slivers

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Pinch ground cayenne pepper

1. Heat the oven to 300 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the egg white until frothy, then whisk in the brown sugar until the sugar is moist. Add the almonds, tossing to evenly coat.

2. Spread the almonds into a single, evenly spaced layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Toast the almonds until they are golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.