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Chinese Chicken Salad

Chinese Chicken Salad
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This Chinese Chicken Salad is a fresh, vibrant, and flavor-packed dish combining crunchy napa cabbage, crisp carrots, tender shredded chicken, and a tangy, savory dressing. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s a healthy, light option perfect for quick lunches or dinners, featuring a delightful balance of textures from crunchy veggies, toasted almonds, and crispy chow mein noodles.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken

  • 1 to 2 cooked chicken breasts, shredded

Vegetables

  • 4 cups napa cabbage, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup carrots, grated or julienned
  • 3 green onions, finely chopped
  • ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Toppings

  • ½ cup sliced almonds, toasted
  • 1 cup chow mein noodles

Dressing

  • 3 tablespoons soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 clove garlic, minced

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chicken: Cook chicken breasts thoroughly by grilling, baking, or poaching until no longer pink inside. Once cooked, shred the chicken into bite-sized pieces using two forks.
  2. Chop the Vegetables: Thinly slice napa cabbage, grate or julienne carrots, and finely chop green onions and cilantro. Combine all the vegetables in a large mixing bowl.
  3. Toast the Almonds: In a dry skillet over medium heat, toast the sliced almonds until golden and fragrant. Remove from skillet and set aside to cool.
  4. Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, grated fresh ginger, and minced garlic until smooth and well combined.
  5. Assemble the Salad: Add shredded chicken, toasted almonds, and chow mein noodles to the vegetable mixture. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently but thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.

Notes

  • Use day-old roasted or grilled chicken to save time and enhance flavor.
  • Add the dressing gradually to prevent overdressing and keep vegetables crisp.
  • Toast nuts fresh at home for better aroma and crunch.
  • Crushed wonton wrappers can be used as an alternative to chow mein noodles.
  • Prepare vegetables ahead of time and refrigerate to streamline salad assembly.

Nutrition

Keywords: Chinese chicken salad, healthy salad, quick salad recipe, gluten-free salad, Asian inspired salad, chicken lunch, light dinner

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