Description
Cool Chinese-inspired Asian Chicken Crunch Salad delivers crisp vegetables and zesty proteins in perfect harmony. Crunchy textures and bold flavors invite you to savor each refreshing bite of this delightful culinary experience.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups chicken, shredded (rotisserie or grilled)
- 3 cups cabbage, green, shredded (or coleslaw mix)
- 1 cup cabbage, purple, shredded
- 1 cup carrots, julienned or shredded
- 1 bell pepper, red, thinly sliced
- ½ cup cucumbers, sliced
- ¼ cup almonds or peanuts, sliced or crushed
- ¼ cup green onions, chopped
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 3 tbsps rice vinegar
- 2 tbsps soy sauce (or coconut aminos for gluten-free)
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp honey (or maple syrup for vegan)
- 1 tsp ginger, fresh, grated
- 1 tsp garlic, minced
- ½ tsp sriracha or red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Dressing Fusion: Whisk rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, ginger, garlic, sriracha, lime juice, and olive oil in a small bowl until harmoniously blended, allowing flavors to meld and intensify.
- Vegetable Symphony: Combine shredded cabbage, julienned carrots, diced bell pepper, sliced cucumber, chopped green onions, and fresh cilantro in a spacious mixing bowl, creating a vibrant and textural vegetable base.
- Protein Integration: Gently fold shredded chicken into the vegetable mixture, ensuring even distribution and complementary flavor profiles.
- Final Composition: Cascade the prepared sesame-ginger dressing over the salad, thoroughly tossing to coat every ingredient with the aromatic liquid. Garnish with toasted almonds (or crunchy peanuts) and a sprinkle of sesame seeds for added texture and nutty dimensions. Serve immediately to preserve the salad’s crisp and fresh character.
Notes
- Blend dressing ingredients 1-2 hours before serving to intensify flavor profiles and allow ingredients to marry perfectly.
- Adjust sriracha amount based on personal heat tolerance, adding gradually to maintain balanced taste without overwhelming other ingredients.
- Add nuts and seeds just before serving to prevent soggy texture and preserve crisp, fresh vegetable integrity.
- Easily swap chicken with tofu, shrimp, or edamame for vegetarian or alternative protein options, ensuring consistent taste and texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg