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Chinese Chicken Salad Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 79 reviews

This vibrant Chinese Chicken Salad is a delightful blend of crisp Napa cabbage and iceberg lettuce, tender diced chicken, sweet mandarin oranges, crunchy chow mein noodles, and toasted almonds. Tossed with a flavorful Asian-inspired dressing featuring hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and sesame oil, it offers a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors with a satisfying crunch in every bite. Ideal for a light lunch or a refreshing dinner salad.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad

  • 4 cups Napa cabbage, shredded
  • 3 cups Iceberg lettuce, chopped
  • 2½ cups cooked chicken, diced
  • 1 cup carrots, julienned
  • 11 oz mandarin oranges, drained and patted dry
  • ⅓ 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 (or substitute with 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 Dressing: Combine the rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, peanut oil, soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, peanut butter (if using), toasted sesame seed oil, and ground ginger in a jar with a lid. Shake vigorously until well combined. Alternatively, use a mini food processor to blend ingredients smoothly. Refrigerate the dressing while preparing the rest of the salad.
  2. Assemble Salad Base: Arrange the shredded Napa cabbage and chopped iceberg lettuce on a large serving platter or in a large bowl. Drizzle a small amount of the prepared dressing over the greens to lightly coat and enhance flavor.
  3. Add Toppings: Evenly distribute the diced cooked chicken, julienned carrots, drained mandarin oranges, and diced green onions over the dressed greens. Drizzle more dressing over these layers for added taste.
  4. Finish with Crunch: Sprinkle the top with sliced almonds, chow mein noodles, crispy wonton strips, and toasted sesame seeds to add texture and nuttiness to the salad.
  5. Serve: Serve the salad immediately with any remaining dressing on the side for guests to add as desired.

Notes

  • Chicken can be grilled, poached, or rotisserie chicken for convenience.
  • To keep the salad crunchy, add crispy toppings like chow mein noodles and wonton strips just before serving.
  • Optional peanut butter in the dressing adds richness but can be omitted for a lighter taste or allergy considerations.
  • This salad is best served fresh; store leftover dressing separately in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • For a vegetarian version, omit the chicken and substitute with tofu or tempeh.

Keywords: Chinese chicken salad, Asian salad, healthy chicken salad, crunchy chicken salad, hoisin dressing, mandarin orange salad

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