---
title: "Salad with Baked Eggplant, Chicken, and a \"Secret\" Apple: Styler's Recipe for a Hearty Dinner"
description: "Styler shares a recipe for a hearty salad with baked eggplant, chicken, tomatoes, and an unexpected apple. The dressing can be made with mayonnaise or a light yogurt-mustard blend."
date: 2026-09-02T15:46:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/baked-eggplant-chicken-apple-salad-styler-recipe
tags: [eggplant-salad, chicken-salad, apple-recipe, healthy-recipe, food-recipe]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Salad with Baked Eggplant, Chicken, and a "Secret" Apple: Styler's Recipe for a Hearty Dinner

![Making a hearty salad with chicken, tomatoes and greens in a wooden bowl — Styler's dinner recipe](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/02/salat-s-baklazhanami-kuricey-i-yablokom-recept-styler/salat-s-baklazhanami-kuricey-i-yablokom-recept-styler-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- The salad is made of baked eggplant, boiled chicken, tomato, apple, and fresh herbs.
- The dressing can be made with mayonnaise (rich version) or with yogurt and mustard (light version).
- The apple is the "secret" ingredient, adding freshness, sweetness, and crunch; optionally topped with inactive yeast flakes.

If you're in the mood to cook something hearty, simple, and at the same time unusual, the Styler editorial team (an RBC-Ukraine project combining entertainment and lifestyle) is sharing a salad recipe that's easy to put together even for an ordinary weeknight dinner. It brings together baked eggplant, boiled chicken, a juicy tomato, and a fresh apple, and the dressing can be made either lighter or richer. The author of this widely shared recipe is Ilona Shevchuk (@thefoodhub.by_ilona). [The original article is published on the Styler website](https://styler.rbc.ua/ukr/deliciously/tsyu-stravu-tochno-poklichut-zamizh-salat-1788358474.html), where photos of the dish at various stages of preparation are also posted.

### Simple Ingredients and the Key Principle

The salad calls for simple ingredients that pair well together: eggplant, tomato, apple, fresh herbs, and boiled chicken. The main secret, according to the author, is not to overdo the dressing so that it doesn't overpower the flavor of the vegetables and the apple. The eggplant is baked until tender, then allowed to cool. After that, all the components — eggplant, tomato, apple, herbs, and boiled chicken — are chopped, transferred to a bowl, and mixed. This approach preserves the texture of each ingredient and keeps the dish from turning into a uniform mush.

### Dressing: Two Options to Choose From

The dressing can be made in two ways, depending on the desired calorie level and flavor richness. For a heartier, richer version, mayonnaise works well — in the author's view, it pairs perfectly with baked eggplant and chicken. If you prefer a lighter option, mix a few tablespoons of natural yogurt with one teaspoon of mustard, add salt and pepper to taste, dress the salad, and stir. This way, the same dish can be adapted to different preferences — from a more substantial dinner to a more diet-friendly version.

### The "Secret" Ingredient — Apple

The most unexpected element of the recipe is the apple, which at first glance seems completely out of place. It is precisely this, according to the author, that gives the salad freshness, a light sweetness, and a pleasant crunch. Without it, the combination of eggplant, chicken, and tomato would be much simpler and flatter in flavor. Optionally, you can sprinkle some inactive yeast flakes on top for extra aroma and texture. The finished salad is best left to rest in the refrigerator for a few minutes so the flavors meld together.

### Result and Presentation

The result is a hearty yet unpretentious salad with a very unexpected flavor accent that, as the author emphasizes, is easy to prepare even for an ordinary dinner. The dish is served in a bowl, where the bright red tomato wedges, green herbs, and pale pieces of chicken and apple form a contrasting, appetizing composition. The recipe is positioned as a simple solution for anyone looking for a hearty yet fresh, non-"boring" snack without complicated preparation.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [You'll definitely be asked to marry you for this dish: salad with eggplant and a secret ingredient](https://styler.rbc.ua/ukr/deliciously/tsyu-stravu-tochno-poklichut-zamizh-salat-1788358474.html) - Первичный источник рецепта: состав (запечённые баклажаны, курица, помидор, яблоко, зелень), два варианта заправки (майонез / йогурт+горчица), неактивные дрожжевые хлопья, настаивание в холодильнике. Совпадает с текстом статьи.
- [Made it once — now they ask for it at every holiday: "September" salad straight from Georgia with ...](https://progorod43.ru/news/161617) - Подтверждено по источнику progorod43.ru
- ["Chicken on a high" instead of "Herring under a Fur Coat": a new recipe for the holiday table](https://focus.ua/lifestyle/540588-kurica-pod-kayfom-vmesto-seldi-pod-shuboy-recept-novinki-dlya-prazdnichnogo-stola) - Подтверждено по источнику focus.ua
- ["Chicken on a high" salad: an unusual combination of meat and poppy seeds will win over your family](https://www.unian.net/recipes/salads/salads-with-meat/kurica-pod-kayfom-recept-salata-s-makom-12454818.html) - Подтверждено по источнику unian.net

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What are the main ingredients needed for the salad?
**A:** Baked eggplant, boiled chicken, tomato, a fresh apple, and fresh herbs. Optionally, inactive yeast flakes are sprinkled on top.

### Q: What dressing can be used?
**A:** Two options: a rich one based on mayonnaise; and a light one made from natural yogurt with a teaspoon of mustard, plus salt and pepper to taste.

### Q: Why is an apple added to the salad?
**A:** The apple gives the dish freshness, a light sweetness, and a pleasant crunch, making the combination of eggplant, chicken, and tomato more interesting.