Chinese Chicken Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing Recipe

Introduction

This Chinese Chicken Salad is a refreshing and flavorful dish that combines crisp vegetables with tender chicken and a tangy, savory dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or a delicious side, it offers a delightful mix of textures and tastes.

Ingredients

• 3 cups chopped lettuce
• 2 cups shredded Napa or cabbage slaw
• 1 cup shredded carrot
• ⅓ cup chopped green onion
• 5 cooked chicken thighs, shredded
• ¼ cup rice wine vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. sesame oil
• 3 tsp. soy sauce
• 2 and ½ tsp. sugar
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• ½ tsp. grated fresh ginger
• 1 cup crunchy noodles, optional
• ½ cup peanuts, optional

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine the chopped lettuce, shredded Napa or cabbage slaw, shredded carrot, and chopped green onion. Add the shredded cooked chicken thighs and toss everything together evenly.
2. Step 2: Prepare the dressing by whisking together the rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, minced garlic, and grated fresh ginger in a small bowl.
3. Step 3: Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss well to coat everything thoroughly.
4. Step 4: Serve the salad topped with crunchy noodles and peanuts if desired for extra texture and flavor.

Tips & Variations

• For a vegetarian version, replace chicken with tofu or extra shredded cabbage and use tamari instead of soy sauce.
• Add fresh herbs like cilantro or mint to brighten the flavors.
• Use lime juice instead of rice wine vinegar for a citrusy twist.
• Toast the peanuts lightly for a deeper nutty flavor.

Storage

Store the salad and dressing separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Toss the salad with the dressing just before serving to keep the vegetables crisp. Leftover salad is best consumed fresh, but can be gently reheated if preferred.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use other types of chicken?

Yes, chicken breasts or rotisserie chicken work well too. Just shred or slice according to your preference.

What can I substitute for crunchy noodles?

You can use fried wonton strips, crispy fried onions, or toasted nuts as alternatives to add crunch to the salad.

Chinese Chicken Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.5 from 72 reviews

This Chinese Chicken Salad is a refreshing, crunchy, and flavorful dish perfect for a light lunch or dinner. Packed with shredded chicken, fresh lettuce, Napa cabbage, and crisp carrots, it’s tossed in a tangy, aromatic dressing made from rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. Optional crunchy noodles and peanuts add extra texture and a nutty finish, making this salad irresistibly satisfying.

• Author: Daniel
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes (assuming pre-cooked chicken)
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Salad
• Method: No-Cook
• Cuisine: Chinese
• Diet: Halal

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Salad Ingredients

• 3 cups chopped lettuce
• 2 cups shredded Napa or cabbage slaw
• 1 cup shredded carrot
• ⅓ cup chopped green onion
• 5 cooked chicken thighs, shredded

Dressing Ingredients

• ¼ cup rice wine vinegar
• 1 Tbsp. sesame oil
• 3 tsp. soy sauce
• 2 and ½ tsp. sugar
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• ½ tsp. grated fresh ginger

Optional Toppings

• 1 cup crunchy noodles
• ½ cup peanuts

Instructions

1. Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine chopped lettuce, shredded Napa or cabbage slaw, shredded carrot, and chopped green onion. Add the shredded cooked chicken thighs and toss everything together until evenly mixed.
2. Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, minced garlic, and grated fresh ginger until the sugar is dissolved and the dressing is well blended.
3. Toss the salad with dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad mixture. Toss thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are coated with the flavorful dressing.
4. Add toppings and serve: If desired, sprinkle crunchy noodles and peanuts over the salad for extra texture and nutty taste. Serve immediately for the best freshness and crunch.

Notes

• You can substitute cooked chicken thighs with cooked chicken breast if preferred.
• For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari.
• If you don’t have crunchy noodles, toasted wonton strips or fried rice noodles work great as alternatives.
• To enhance the salad, add chopped cilantro or fresh mint leaves.
• Keep the crunchy noodles and peanuts separate until serving to maintain their crispness.

Keywords: Chinese Chicken Salad, Asian salad, chicken salad recipe, healthy salad, sesame dressing, crunchy chicken salad