Asian Chicken Salad With Sesame Dressing

You might think a salad can’t be satisfying, but Asian Chicken Salad with Sesame Dressing proves otherwise. This dish combines tender chicken and crunchy veggies, creating a vibrant meal that’s both nutritious and filling. With its unique blend of flavors from sesame and ginger, it’s sure to elevate your lunch or dinner routine. If you’re curious about how to whip up this quick and easy recipe while impressing your taste buds, you’ll want to keep exploring what makes this salad a standout option for any occasion.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

When it comes to fresh and vibrant meals, you’ll love this Asian Chicken Salad for its incredible combination of textures and flavors. This dish features crunchy snow peas and bell peppers, juicy mandarin oranges, and tender chicken, creating a delightful eating experience. The variety of textures—crunchy, juicy, and tender—makes each bite satisfying.

The salad’s sesame ginger dressing is where the magic happens. It blends honey, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and fresh ginger, resulting in a sweet and tangy flavor that perfectly complements the ingredients. Sesame oil adds a unique taste, but you can adjust the amount or use olive oil as a milder alternative.

Another reason to love this recipe is its quick preparation time. You can whip it up in just 20 minutes. Simply layer and toss your ingredients with the dressing, and you’re ready to go. Additionally, this salad is high in protein from chicken, supporting muscle health and making it a great choice for a satisfying meal.

This salad is also flexible; you can swap out ingredients based on what you have on hand. Plus, it’s a nutritious choice, offering a good source of protein and essential vitamins. Enjoy this vibrant salad as a delicious meal or a side dish!

History

Asian Chicken Salad has a rich history that traces back to its early origins in North America around 1903. The first mention of a Chinese chicken salad appeared in American cookbooks, laying the groundwork for future variations.

By 1929, the Boston Globe published a “Mock Chinese Salad” featuring ingredients like tuna, lettuce, and radishes, resembling what you might find in Chinese chicken salad today.

Throughout the years, recipes evolved, with almonds added in the 1930s and gelatin introduced shortly after. By 1947, a recipe from Safeway included chicken, bean sprouts, pineapple, and cucumber, showcasing a mix of flavors.

The 1960s marked a turning point, as Madame Wu’s Garden in Santa Monica popularized the dish further, although the name “Chinese chicken salad” didn’t emerge until around 1975. This popularization was influenced by Cary Grant’s frequent visits to the restaurant, which brought significant publicity to the dish.

In the 1980s, Wolfgang Puck’s fusion restaurant Chinois on Main transformed the dish into what we now call “Asian salad.” This shift included diverse Asian ingredients and reflected broader culinary trends.

However, it’s crucial to recognize that this evolution often simplifies complex Asian cultures into a single dish, raising questions about cultural representation and appropriation in cuisine.

Recipe

Asian Chicken Salad

This Asian Chicken Salad is a vibrant and invigorating dish that combines tender chicken with a medley of crisp vegetables, all brought together by a creamy, nutty dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or a filling dinner, this salad can be easily customized to suit your taste preferences. The combination of textures and flavors makes this salad a standout. Whether you’re looking for a quick meal prep option or a dish to impress guests, this salad has you covered. The crunchy vegetables, succulent chicken, and a hint of sweetness from the honey create a delightful balance.

Plus, the dressing is simple to make and can be adjusted to your liking, ensuring a delicious result every time. Each serving of this salad provides a wealth of nutrients, making it a healthy choice for any meal.

Ingredients:

• 2 bone-in chicken breasts
• 1-2 cups cooked, shredded, or sliced chicken
• Green cabbage
• Red cabbage
• Shredded carrot
• Romaine lettuce
• Bell pepper
• Green onions
• Cilantro
• 1/4 cup unsweetened almond butter
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon ginger, minced
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
• Optional: chow mein noodles, edamame, snow peas, mandarin oranges, cashews, almonds, walnuts
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper
• Chinese 5 spice seasoning
• Crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Season the chicken breasts with olive oil, kosher salt, black pepper, and Chinese 5 spice seasoning. Place them on a baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).

Once cooked, remove from the oven and let the chicken rest before shredding or slicing.

2. While the chicken cooks, prepare the vegetables. Shred the green and red cabbage, carrots, and romaine lettuce. Slice the bell pepper and green onions, and chop the cilantro. Set aside.

3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the almond butter, honey, rice vinegar, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, minced garlic, minced ginger, and sesame seeds until smooth. Adjust the seasoning if needed with salt, pepper, or more honey.

4. Once the chicken has cooled, marinate it in a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, and ginger for about 10 minutes. In a large bowl, toss the prepared vegetables with the dressing until well coated.

5. Combine the marinated chicken with the dressed vegetables. Serve the salad in bowls and garnish with toasted sesame seeds, chow mein noodles, and any optional ingredients you desire, such as edamame or mandarin oranges.

Extra Tips:

To enhance the flavors of your Asian Chicken Salad, consider marinating the chicken overnight for a deeper taste. Additionally, feel free to mix and match the vegetables based on what you have available; snap peas, cucumbers, or radishes are excellent additions.

For a bit of heat, add crushed red pepper flakes to the dressing or sprinkle them on top before serving. Enjoy your salad fresh, or store the components separately to maintain their crispness until you’re ready to eat!

Final Thoughts

This Asian Chicken Salad isn’t just a meal; it’s a celebration of flavors and textures that can be enjoyed any day of the week. With about 277 calories per serving, it provides a nutritious option that includes 31g of protein, making it excellent for muscle health. The salad is rich in vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B6 and potassium, adding to its health benefits. Additionally, it contains selenium, which plays a crucial role in supporting immune function.

You can customize your salad by choosing different ingredients. Consider adding snow peas or mandarin oranges for extra flavor. The dressing can vary too; try a creamy sesame dressing or a simple combination of sesame oil and soy sauce.

Preparation is straightforward. You’ll need to grate ginger, chop cabbage, and cook chicken—this can take around 25 to 40 minutes, depending on your recipe. Layering your ingredients helps maintain their textures, so add the dressing just before serving.

This dish isn’t only tasty but also versatile. It’s a great option for meal planning, as you can prepare components in advance. Enjoy this delightful salad as a healthy, low-calorie meal that fits various dietary needs.

FAQ

If you have questions about making the perfect Asian Chicken Salad, you’re in the right place. Here are some common inquiries you might have:

How can I guarantee my salad stays fresh?

• Use the freshest produce available.
• Cut all ingredients to roughly the same size for even distribution.
• Prepare the salad just before eating to avoid sogginess.

Can I prep ahead of time?

• Yes, you can marinate the chicken and chop salad ingredients a day in advance.
• Store vegetables and greens separately in airtight containers to keep them crisp.

What are key ingredients?

• A mix of lettuce, cabbage, carrots, and cilantro makes a great base.
• Marinated grilled chicken adds flavor.
• Include almonds and sesame seeds for crunch, and mandarin oranges for sweetness. The salad can be made with various dressing options to suit personal taste.

How do I make the dressing?

• Combine soy sauce, ginger, rice vinegar, and sesame oil.
• Whisk in hoisin sauce and sriracha for extra flavor.
• Drizzle the dressing over the salad right before serving.