Description
A vibrant and crunchy Chinese Chicken Salad featuring shredded chicken, Napa and red cabbage, fresh vegetables, and toasted almonds, all tossed in a tangy sesame-ginger dressing. This quick and easy recipe is perfect for a light lunch or dinner and can be made gluten-free or vegan with simple substitutions.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast
- 4 cups Napa cabbage, thinly sliced
- 1 cup red cabbage, thinly sliced
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup green onions, sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/3 cup sliced almonds, toasted
- 1/2 cup crispy wonton strips (optional)
Dressing
- 1/4 cup soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon honey (or maple syrup for vegan)
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon sriracha or chili paste (optional)
Instructions
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together the shredded chicken, Napa cabbage, red cabbage, shredded carrots, red bell pepper, green onions, cilantro, and toasted sliced almonds. Toss them gently to combine the flavors evenly.
- Add Wonton Strips: If desired, sprinkle the crispy wonton strips on top of the mixed salad for added crunch and texture.
- Prepare Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce (or tamari), rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey (or maple syrup), grated ginger, minced garlic, and sriracha or chili paste if using, until the dressing is smooth and well blended.
- Dress the Salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad just before serving. Toss thoroughly to coat all the ingredients evenly with the flavorful dressing.
- Serve: Serve the salad immediately to enjoy the fresh, crisp textures and vibrant flavors at their best.
Notes
- For a gluten-free version, substitute soy sauce with tamari and omit the wonton strips or use gluten-free crispy noodles.
- To make the salad vegan, replace shredded chicken with tofu or chickpeas and use maple syrup instead of honey.
- Toasted almonds add great texture but can be replaced with other nuts or seeds like sesame seeds or cashews.
- Adjust the amount of sriracha or chili paste to control the spice level.
- The salad is best served fresh; the wonton strips should be added just before serving to keep them crispy.
