This vibrant and easy Chinese Chicken Salad is a quick, nutritious meal packed with fresh veggies, tender chicken, and a creamy red chile peanut dressing that’s bursting with flavor. Perfect for lunch or dinner, it’s flexible enough to use ingredients you already have on hand. Top with roasted peanuts for a satisfying crunch!
Recipe Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
- 2 teaspoons chipotle pepper puree
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1/2 head Napa cabbage, shredded
- 1/2 head romaine lettuce, shredded
- 2 carrots, shredded
- 1/4 pound snow peas, julienned
- 1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onion
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1/2 cup chopped roasted peanuts
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
- Chili oil, optional
- Grilled lime halves, for garnish
How To Make Chinese Chicken Salad With Red Chile Peanut Dressing?
- Make the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the rice wine vinegar, peanut butter, ginger, chipotle pepper puree, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, and canola oil until smooth. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.
- Prepare the salad base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the Napa cabbage, romaine lettuce, carrots, snow peas, cilantro, and green onion.
- Dress the salad: Pour the dressing over the salad base and toss everything together until evenly coated.
- Assemble and garnish: Transfer the dressed salad to a serving platter. Top with shredded chicken, chopped peanuts, and fresh mint leaves. Drizzle with chili oil if desired.
- Serve and enjoy: Garnish with grilled lime halves on the side for an extra citrus burst and serve immediately.
Recipe Tips:
- Use fresh and crisp veggies: For the best texture and flavor, ensure your cabbage, lettuce, carrots, and snow peas are fresh and crunchy. Avoid using wilted greens as they can make the salad less appealing.
- Balance the dressing: Taste the dressing before adding it to the salad. If it’s too tangy, add a little more honey. If it’s too thick, thin it with a splash of water or rice wine vinegar.
- Shred the chicken properly: Use a fork or your hands to shred the rotisserie chicken into bite-sized pieces. This ensures it mixes evenly with the salad and absorbs the dressing better.
- Toast the peanuts: Toasting the peanuts enhances their flavor and adds an extra layer of nuttiness. You can toast them in a dry pan over medium heat for a few minutes until golden.
- Dress just before serving: To keep the salad crisp, only toss it with the dressing right before serving. If making ahead, store the dressing and salad separately.
How To Store Leftovers?
First, let the leftover Chinese Chicken Salad cool to room temperature. Then, transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Keep the dressing separate if possible to maintain the salad’s crisp texture.
Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 64
- Total Fat: 3.4g
- Saturated Fat: 2.2g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
- Sodium: 6mg
- Potassium: 6mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 8.5g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Sugars: 8.5g
- Protein: 0.1g
Check out More Recipes:
Chinese Chicken Salad With Red Chile Peanut Dressing
Description
This vibrant and easy Chinese Chicken Salad is a quick, nutritious meal packed with fresh veggies, tender chicken, and a creamy red chile peanut dressing that’s bursting with flavor. Perfect for lunch or dinner, it’s flexible enough to use ingredients you already have on hand. Top with roasted peanuts for a satisfying crunch!
Ingredients
Instructions
- Make the dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the rice wine vinegar, peanut butter, ginger, chipotle pepper puree, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, and canola oil until smooth. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper to taste.
- Prepare the salad base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the Napa cabbage, romaine lettuce, carrots, snow peas, cilantro, and green onion.
- Dress the salad: Pour the dressing over the salad base and toss everything together until evenly coated.
- Assemble and garnish: Transfer the dressed salad to a serving platter. Top with shredded chicken, chopped peanuts, and fresh mint leaves. Drizzle with chili oil if desired.
- Serve and enjoy: Garnish with grilled lime halves on the side for an extra citrus burst and serve immediately.
Notes
- Use fresh and crisp veggies: For the best texture and flavor, ensure your cabbage, lettuce, carrots, and snow peas are fresh and crunchy. Avoid using wilted greens as they can make the salad less appealing.
- Balance the dressing: Taste the dressing before adding it to the salad. If it’s too tangy, add a little more honey. If it’s too thick, thin it with a splash of water or rice wine vinegar.
- Shred the chicken properly: Use a fork or your hands to shred the rotisserie chicken into bite-sized pieces. This ensures it mixes evenly with the salad and absorbs the dressing better.
- Toast the peanuts: Toasting the peanuts enhances their flavor and adds an extra layer of nuttiness. You can toast them in a dry pan over medium heat for a few minutes until golden.
- Dress just before serving: To keep the salad crisp, only toss it with the dressing right before serving. If making ahead, store the dressing and salad separately.
Chinese Chicken Salad With Red Chile Peanut Dressing