Description
Crisp and refreshing Chinese Chicken Salad brings zesty Asian flavors dancing across your plate. Crunchy cabbage, tender chicken, and tangy dressing create a perfect balance of textures that will satisfy you with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 lbs chicken breast
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
Vegetables:
- 1 head napa cabbage, shredded
- 1 cup green onions, chopped
- 1 cup carrots, julienned
- 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
Dressing and Seasonings:
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp ginger, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
Garnish:
- 1/2 cup crispy wonton strips
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and season chicken breasts with salt and pepper, then roast for 25-30 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Allow chicken to cool completely, then shred into bite-sized pieces using two forks.
- Toast sliced almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden and fragrant, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
- Prepare the vegetables by finely shredding napa cabbage, chopping green onions, julienning carrots, and roughly chopping cilantro.
- Whisk together rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, minced ginger, minced garlic, vegetable oil, black pepper, and salt in a large mixing bowl to create a vibrant dressing.
- Combine shredded chicken, napa cabbage, green onions, carrots, and cilantro in a spacious salad bowl.
- Pour the prepared dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly to ensure even coating.
- Sprinkle toasted almonds, crispy wonton strips, and sesame seeds on top as a crunchy garnish.
- Chill the salad for 15-20 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld together.
- Serve cold and enjoy the refreshing, texture-rich Chinese chicken salad.
Notes
- Roast chicken ahead of time to save preparation time and enhance flavor depth by seasoning generously with herbs or spices.
- Toast almonds carefully, watching closely to prevent burning, as they can quickly turn from golden to charred in seconds.
- Customize salad by substituting protein: swap chicken with tofu for vegetarian version or use rotisserie chicken for quicker meal prep.
- Prepare dressing separately and store in refrigerator up to 3 days in advance for meal planning convenience and enhanced flavor development.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg