Description
Crisp Chinese chicken salad delivers bold flavors from fresh ingredients and zesty dressing. Crunchy vegetables and tender chicken create a delightful meal that you will enjoy for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups chicken, shredded or diced
- 1 lb (454 g) Napa cabbage, cored and finely shredded
- 2 cups red cabbage, cored and finely shredded
- 1 cup carrots, shredded
- 1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup cilantro, minced
- 1 cup wonton strips, fried
- 2 tbsps sesame seeds
- 2 tbsps canola oil
- ⅓ cup rice vinegar
- ¼ cup hoisin sauce
- 1 ½ tbsps soy sauce
- 1 tbsp ginger, fresh and grated
- ½ tsp sesame oil, toasted
Instructions
- Dressing Preparation: Combine canola oil, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, grated ginger, and toasted sesame oil in a sealed jar, vigorously whisking until fully emulsified and set aside to allow flavors to meld.
- Salad Foundation: In a large mixing bowl, layer shredded chicken as the primary protein, then build layers of finely sliced green and purple cabbage for a robust textural base.
- Vegetable Integration: Add julienned carrots for vibrant color and crisp freshness, then gently fold in sliced scallions and minced cilantro to distribute herbs evenly throughout the mixture.
- Dressing Application: Drizzle the prepared dressing over the assembled ingredients, tossing meticulously to ensure comprehensive and uniform coating of all components.
- Finishing Touches: Immediately before serving, enhance the salad by scattering toasted sesame seeds across the surface for nutty undertones and crown with crispy fried wonton strips to provide a delightful contrasting crunch.
- Serving: Present the salad chilled or at ambient temperature to maximize flavor profile and textural complexity.
Notes
- Whisk Dressing Thoroughly: Combine ingredients in a sealed jar and shake vigorously to create a perfectly emulsified, flavor-packed dressing that blends seamlessly.
- Rest for Flavor Infusion: Let dressing sit at room temperature to allow ingredients to mingle and develop a rich, complex taste profile.
- Layer Ingredients Strategically: Build the salad in a specific order, starting with shredded chicken as the protein base, then adding cabbage for texture and carrots for vibrant color.
- Finish with Crunch: Top the salad with toasted sesame seeds and crispy wonton strips just before serving to maintain maximum crispness and add an irresistible textural contrast.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: None
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg