I often serve salads when I’m entertaining, especially during the warmer months. Some of my favorites include burrata salad, mango salad, Tuscan kale salad, ramen noodle salad, BBQ chicken salad and this fresh and delicious Chinese chicken salad. You can never have too many salad recipes! I love to order Chinese chicken salad at restaurants, but I had never attempted to make it myself at home. I’m a big salad eater, especially at lunch time, and I decided it was time to create my own version of the restaurant favorite. Dare I say this is even better than the restaurant version? It has plenty of crunch and the perfect balance of flavors.
Chinese Chicken Salad Ingredients
To make this recipe, you will need green and purple cabbage, carrots, green onions, cooked chicken, almonds, wontons and sesame seeds. You will also need vegetable oil, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, ginger and sesame oil for the dressing.
How Do You Make Chinese Chicken Salad?
Place both types of cabbage along with the carrots, green onions, chicken and almonds in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the salad dressing ingredients. Pour the dressing over the salad, and gently toss to combine. Add wonton strips, sesame seeds and additional green onions on top, then serve and enjoy.
Tips For The Perfect Salad
Hoisin sauce is a sweet and savory Asian condiment that can be found in the ethnic aisle of most grocery stores. You’ll want to grate your ginger on a the fine edge of a box grater, or on a microplane so that it’s in tiny pieces that blend into the dressing. I like to shred my own cabbage using a mandoline. If you’re looking to save some time, you can buy a bag of coleslaw mix instead. You can use any cooked chicken you have on hand – I used diced grilled chicken breast but rotisserie chicken and leftover roasted chicken also work just as well. Wonton strips can be found in the salad dressing aisle near the croutons. Not a fan of green onions? Cilantro is also a nice addition.
Asian Chicken Salad Variations
There are so many ways to alter the ingredients in this recipe to suit your tastes.
Protein: Try grilled shrimp or cubed tofu instead of chicken. Greens: Use shredded romaine lettuce, napa cabbage or iceberg lettuce instead of red cabbage and green cabbage. Avocado: Add one diced avocado to the mix for a fresh new flavor. Oranges: Add one small can of drained mandarin oranges for a sweet and savory salad. Noodles: Try using chow mein noodles or broken up ramen noodles instead of the wonton strips. Veggies: Feel free to add other vegetables such as bean sprouts, red bell pepper, snap peas or snow peas, baby corn or water chestnuts. Dressing: Stir in some fresh garlic or hot sauce for extra kick! Nuts: Try using cashews or peanuts instead of the almonds.
I make this salad constantly – it’s great for a ladies lunch, the perfect potluck offering and makes for a simple yet satisfying dinner.
Chinese Chicken Salad Video
