This restaurant-quality Chinese chicken salad is bursting with super fresh and crunchy vegetables. The chicken is prepared with hints of Chinese 5 spice, and is accompanied by a to-die for homemade garlic, ginger, and sesame dressing! Whether you're looking for a light lunch or a delightful side dish, this salad promises to delight your palate and leave you craving more.
Today, I'm excited to introduce you to one of my beloved salads: Chinese Chicken Salad. This dish is not only quick and easy to prepare but also boasts a refreshing taste that's far healthier than its restaurant counterparts. I hope you'll enjoy this salad as much as I doโit might just become one of your new favorites!
HOW TO MAKE CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD
To begin with, the hallmark of Chinese Chicken Salad lies in its diverse ingredients. Crisp lettuce, shredded carrots, crunchy cucumbers, and thinly sliced bell peppers create a colorful base that provides a satisfying crunch with every bite. These fresh vegetables enhance the salad's texture and also contribute to its nutritional value.
Moreover, tender, thinly sliced chicken breast adds a hearty element to the salad. Whether grilled, poached, or pan-seared, the chicken brings a savory flavor that perfectly complements the vegetables' crispness. This protein-rich component makes the salad a well-rounded meal option.
Furthermore, the dressing plays a crucial role in elevating the flavors of Chinese Chicken Salad. Typically a blend of soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and ginger, the dressing adds a delightful umami and tangy profile to the dish. Its light yet flavorful nature ensures that it enhances rather than overwhelms the ingredients.
INGREDIENTS FOR CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD
- Lettuce: Shredded Romaine, Iceberg lettuce, or Napa cabbage are all great options
- Cabbage: Red cabbage adds a beautiful pop of color and a nice crunch
- Cucumber: Cucumbers with thin skin, such as English cucumber, Asian, or mini cucumbers. Cut lengthwise, quarter, and de-seed, so water doesn't accumulate.
- Carrots: Coarsely shredded carrots. Add sweetness, color and crunch.
- Green Onions: Scallions add a subtle onion flavor that is perfect in this salad. Green and white parts are finely sliced.
- Mandarin Oranges: sweet mandarin segments without skin
- Chicken: Fresh grilled chicken breast with hints of Chinese 5 spice. Super juicy, tender, and tasty!
- Nuts/Seeds: Slivered almonds and sesame seeds add extra flavor.
- Dressing: Our homemade sesame ginger dressing gives this salad its sweet and sour characteristics.
- Toppings: And of course, a classic chicken salad has to include a crunchy topping like wonton chips or crispy chow mein noodle chips. The best part ๐
Additionally, Chinese Chicken Salad is known for its versatility. It can be enjoyed as a standalone meal for lunch, or dinner, or served as a refreshing side dish at gatherings and potlucks. Its ability to satisfy both as a healthy option and a crowd-pleaser makes it a staple in many households.
Substitutes: The almonds can be easily swapped out for cashew nuts or peanuts. If you are short on time, you can use rotisserie chicken for this recipe. However, if you have chicken breast on hand and a few spices, follow my easy guide to make the perfect juicy chicken to go with this salad!
Recipe
Chinese Chicken Salad
Ingredients
Dressing:
- ยฝ cup rice wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 clove garlic small/medium size
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger about thumb sized
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tsp soy sauce low sodium
- ยผ tsp sea salt
- โ teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon sesame optional
For the salad
- 3 cups romaine lettuce shredded
- 2 cups purple cabbage shredded
- 1 carrot grated
- 1 cucumber thinly sliced
- ยฝ cup mandarin orange segments
- 3 green onions, green and white parts thinly slized
- ยฝ cup cilantro chopped
- ยผ cup slivered almonds
- 4 oz bean sprouts optional
- 1 tablespoon black sesame for garnish
- ยฝ cup cilantro
- 1 cup wonton chips - or more
Chicken Marinade:
- 2 chicken breast
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ยฝ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon chinese 5 spice optional
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dehydrated onion, or onion powder
- ยฝ cup lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
Instructions
Grill the Chicken
- 1. In a skillet at medium temperature, heat 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Add chicken filets and cook until golden brown and juicy. This will take about 5 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness of the chicken breast. Remove chicken breast to chopping board, and slice into bitesized pieces.
Make the Dressing:
- In a bowl add all the ingredients as listed above. Whisk together. Set aside. Tip: If you have a garlic press, you can press the ginger there as well. If not a microplane or any fine hole grater will work.
Assemble the Salad:
- 1. Cut the lettuce and cabbage into fine shreds. Peel and cut the cucumber lenghtwise into 4 pieces. Cut out the seeds. This is done so the cucumber doesn't draw out too much water. Peel and grate the carrots. Thinly slice the green onions, and roughly chop the cilantro.2. Mix the lettuce, cabbage, cucumber, carrots, bean sprouts, manderin or orange segments, green onions, and slivered almond together. Arrange on a platter or salad bowl. Pour the dressing all over, and mix. Top the salad with the chicken pieces, and wonton chips. Sprinkle salad with black sesame. Enjoy!
Nutrition
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