Description
Delightful Asian chicken cranberry salad marries tender chicken with crisp vegetables and tangy cranberries. Zesty dressing and crunchy almonds complete this refreshing meal that delivers bold Asian-inspired flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (473 ml) chicken (cooked, shredded or diced)
- 4 cups (946 ml) mixed greens (spinach, arugula, and romaine)
- 1 cup (237 ml) carrots (shredded)
- 1 cup (237 ml) red cabbage (thinly sliced)
- ½ cup (118 ml) dried cranberries
- ½ cup (118 ml) almonds or peanuts (sliced or chopped)
- ¼ cup (59 ml) green onions (chopped)
- ¼ cup (59 ml) soy sauce
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) sesame oil
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp (5 ml) ginger (fresh, grated)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Greens Foundation: Arrange a lush bed of mixed greens in a spacious serving bowl, creating a vibrant base for the salad.
- Vegetable Layer: Distribute shredded carrots and red cabbage across the greens, introducing a colorful textural landscape.
- Flavor Enhancers: Generously sprinkle dried cranberries and toasted almonds or peanuts over the vegetable base, adding dimensions of sweetness and crunch.
- Aromatic Accent: Intersperse finely sliced green onions throughout the mixture to provide a sharp, refreshing note.
- Protein Integration: Gently incorporate shredded or diced chicken, ensuring even distribution across the salad.
- Dressing Composition: Whisk together soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and honey or maple syrup in a separate bowl, creating a harmonious Asian-inspired vinaigrette.
- Flavor Infusion: Blend grated ginger and minced garlic into the dressing, developing a complex and vibrant flavor profile.
- Final Touch: Season the dressing with salt and pepper, adjusting to taste and ensuring a balanced flavor spectrum.
- Dressing Application: Delicately drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad, coating ingredients without saturating them.
- Serving Preparation: Gently toss the salad to marry flavors, then serve immediately or chill briefly to allow flavors to meld.
Notes
- Optimize Chicken Prep: Ensure chicken is thoroughly cooled and shredded into uniform pieces for even flavor distribution and ideal texture.
- Dressing Balance: Whisk dressing ingredients thoroughly to create a smooth, emulsified sauce that coats ingredients evenly without pooling.
- Nut Toasting Technique: Lightly toast nuts in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes to enhance their nutty flavor and prevent sogginess in the salad.
- Serving Strategy: Best consumed within 2 hours of preparation to maintain crisp vegetables and prevent wilting or dressing saturation.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg