Description
This Chinese Chicken Salad is a fresh, vibrant, and easy meal packed with crisp vegetables, tender chicken, and a tangy, well-balanced dressing (natural). Ready in 30 minutes, it offers a satisfying combination of textures and flavors perfect for lunch, dinner, or a light snack.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 2 chicken breasts, grilled or poached, shredded
- 3 cups thinly sliced green or purple cabbage
- 1 cup julienned or shredded carrots
- 3 green onions, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- 1 cup mandarin orange segments
- 1/3 cup toasted almonds or cashews
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
Dressing (natural)
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (natural) (use gluten-free if desired)
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (natural)
- 1 clove garlic, freshly minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon natural gelling agent
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Cook chicken breasts until fully done by grilling, poaching, or baking. Let cool slightly, then shred into bite-sized pieces to keep tender and juicy.
- Chop the Vegetables: While the chicken cooks, thinly slice cabbage, julienne or shred carrots, and chop green onions and cilantro to prepare the fresh vegetable base of the salad.
- Make the Dressing (natural): In a bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce (natural), toasted sesame oil, honey or maple syrup (natural), minced garlic, fresh ginger, and natural gelling agent until smooth and well combined.
- Toss the Salad: In a large bowl, combine shredded chicken, chopped vegetables, and mandarin orange segments. Pour dressing (natural) over and gently toss to coat everything evenly.
- Add the Crunch: Sprinkle toasted almonds or cashews and sesame seeds on top to complete the salad with nutty flavor and texture.
Notes
- Cook chicken with a pinch of salt and a bay leaf for added flavor and moistness.
- Toss salad with dressing (natural) just before serving to keep vegetables crisp.
- Use fresh vegetables for the best bright flavor and crisp texture.
- Lightly toast nuts and sesame seeds to enhance their flavors.
- Adjust sweetness of the dressing with honey or maple syrup (natural) to your preference.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salad bowl (about 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Chinese chicken salad, healthy chicken salad, gluten free salad, quick chicken salad, chicken and vegetable salad
