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Chinese Chicken Salad Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 80 reviews

A refreshing and crunchy Chinese Chicken Salad featuring a vibrant mix of Napa cabbage, iceberg lettuce, mandarin oranges, and crispy toppings, all tossed in a flavorful Asian-inspired dressing made with hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, and peanut oil. Perfect as a light lunch or a side dish with an Asian flair.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad

  • 4 cups Napa cabbage (shredded)
  • 3 cups Iceberg lettuce (chopped)
  • 2 ½ cups cooked chicken (diced)
  • 1 cup carrots (julienned)
  • 11 oz. mandarin oranges (drained and patted dry)
  • 1/3 cup green onions (diced)
  • ½ cup chow mein noodles
  • ½ cup crispy wonton strips
  • ¼ cup sliced almonds
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

Dressing

  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 2 tablespoons peanut oil (can substitute avocado, vegetable, or canola oil)
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 teaspoon peanut butter (optional)
  • ¾ teaspoon toasted sesame seed oil
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Dressing: Combine rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, peanut oil, soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, optional peanut butter, toasted sesame seed oil, and ground ginger in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake vigorously until well blended. Alternatively, use a mini food processor to blend the dressing until smooth. Refrigerate while preparing the remaining ingredients to allow flavors to meld.
  2. Arrange the Greens: On a large serving platter or in a big salad bowl, spread the shredded Napa cabbage and chopped iceberg lettuce evenly. Drizzle a small amount of the prepared dressing over the greens to lightly coat them and add initial flavor.
  3. Add the Toppings: Layer the diced cooked chicken evenly over the greens, followed by the julienned carrots, drained mandarin oranges, and diced green onions. Drizzle additional dressing on top of these ingredients to infuse more flavor.
  4. Finish with Crunchy Toppings: Sprinkle the sliced almonds, chow mein noodles, crispy wonton strips, and toasted sesame seeds evenly over the salad for added texture and nutty notes.
  5. Serve: Offer the remaining dressing on the side so diners can add more as desired. Serve immediately to enjoy the fresh, crisp textures and balanced flavors.

Notes

  • To keep the salad crisp, add crunchy toppings like wonton strips and chow mein noodles just before serving.
  • Chicken can be grilled, poached, or rotisserie for ease and flavor variation.
  • Peanut butter is optional but adds a creamy texture and enhances the peanut flavor.
  • For a vegetarian version, omit the chicken and add tofu or extra nuts for protein.
  • Adjust honey quantity to taste depending on desired sweetness level.
  • Store leftover dressing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one week.

Keywords: Chinese chicken salad, Asian salad, crunchy salad, mandarin orange salad, healthy chicken salad, easy salad recipe

Find it online: https://todayquickmeals.com/chinese-chicken-salad-recipe/