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Asian Chicken Crunch Salad Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 111 reviews

This Asian Chicken Crunch Salad features tender, marinated chicken breast cooked to perfection and served atop a vibrant mix of shredded purple and green cabbage, carrots, and crisp vegetables. Tossed with a flavorful, creamy peanut sesame dressing and garnished with fresh cilantro, sesame seeds, and peanuts, this salad offers a delightful balance of savory, sweet, and spicy flavors with a satisfying crunch.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Chicken Marinade:

  • 1 pound chicken breast
  • 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce or tamari
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1–2 tablespoons brown sugar (depending on preference)
  • 1 tablespoon tahini
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

For the Salad:

  • 3 cups shredded purple cabbage
  • 3 cups shredded green cabbage
  • 1 cup shredded carrot
  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced into strips
  • 1/2 cup shelled edamame
  • 1/2 cup diced green onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1/4 cup chopped peanuts

For the Dressing:

  • 3 tablespoons natural creamy peanut butter
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce or tamari
  • 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 2 teaspoons sriracha
  • 2 tablespoons warm water (or more as needed to thin)

Instructions

  1. Cut the chicken: Cut the chicken breast into small cubes, about 1 inch in size, ensuring even pieces for uniform cooking.
  2. Whisk marinade: In a shallow bowl, whisk together all the chicken marinade ingredients: soy sauce, minced garlic, brown sugar, tahini, toasted sesame oil, rice vinegar, fresh grated ginger, sriracha, and sesame seeds. Add the chicken cubes and let them marinate while you prepare the vegetables and dressing.
  3. Whisk dressing: Whisk together all the dressing ingredients: natural creamy peanut butter, rice vinegar, honey, toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, fresh grated ginger, minced garlic, sriracha, and warm water. Set the dressing aside until ready to use.
  4. Shred veggies: Use a mandoline slicer or a sharp knife to shred the purple and green cabbage finely. Prepare the shredded carrot, sliced red bell pepper, shelled edamame, diced green onion, and chopped cilantro.
  5. Add to bowl: Combine all the shredded and chopped vegetables in a large mixing bowl.
  6. Cook chicken: Heat a skillet over medium heat with a splash of oil. Remove chicken cubes from the marinade, reserving the remaining marinade for later. Add the chicken to the skillet and brown on all sides, about 3 minutes.
  7. Add marinade and cook: Pour the reserved marinade over the chicken in the skillet. Continue cooking the chicken until fully cooked and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), allowing the sauce to thicken and coat the chicken.
  8. Let cool: Remove the skillet from heat and let the chicken cool slightly to prevent wilting the salad when mixed.
  9. Toss and serve: Toss the shredded vegetables with your desired amount of the peanut sesame dressing. Add the cooked chicken and gently toss to combine the flavors evenly. Garnish with additional chopped cilantro, sesame seeds, and chopped peanuts for added crunch and flavor. Serve immediately and enjoy your Asian Chicken Crunch Salad!

Notes

  • Using low sodium soy sauce or tamari helps control the saltiness of the dish.
  • Adjust brown sugar and honey quantities to balance sweetness to your preference.
  • If you prefer a spicier salad, add more sriracha to both the marinade and dressing.
  • Allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes after cooking to retain juiciness.
  • This salad can be served cold or at room temperature, making it a great make-ahead option.
  • For a nut-free version, omit peanuts and peanut butter and substitute with sunflower seed butter.
  • Mandoline slicer helps create uniformly thin shredded vegetables but a sharp knife works well too.

Keywords: Asian chicken salad, crunchy chicken salad, sesame chicken salad, peanut dressing salad, cabbage salad with chicken, healthy chicken salad, quick Asian salad

Find it online: https://jedentaglecker.com/asian-chicken-crunch-salad-recipe/