Description
This Chinese Chicken Salad is a fresh and vibrant dish featuring tender shredded chicken, crunchy cabbage, colorful vegetables, and crunchy almonds, all tossed in a sweet and tangy sesame dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or dinner, it combines simple ingredients with bold flavors for a satisfying, quick meal.
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded or chopped
- 4 cups shredded Napa or green cabbage
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup green onions, sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 cup crispy wonton strips, optional
Sesame Dressing
- 1/4 cup neutral oil
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the neutral oil, rice vinegar, honey, soy sauce, sesame oil, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, grated fresh ginger, and black pepper until well combined and emulsified.
- Combine the salad ingredients: In a large bowl, add the shredded or chopped cooked chicken, shredded Napa or green cabbage, shredded carrots, thinly sliced red bell pepper, sliced almonds, sliced green onions, and chopped fresh cilantro.
- Toss with dressing: Pour the prepared sesame dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently but thoroughly to ensure all components are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Chill the salad: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for 15 to 20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill.
- Add crunchy topping and serve: Just before serving, sprinkle the optional crispy wonton strips on top for extra crunch and texture, then serve immediately.
Notes
- Using rotisserie chicken can significantly reduce preparation time and add extra flavor.
- For a sweet and citrusy twist, add mandarin orange segments to the salad.
- If preparing ahead of time, keep the dressing separate until just before serving to keep the salad crisp.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, substitute soy sauce with gluten-free tamari and use gluten-free toppings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Chinese