Description
Homemade Asian Chicken Cranberry Salad combines zesty flavors for quick weeknight dinners. Crisp greens, tender chicken, and tangy cranberries blend seamlessly, providing you a delightful meal in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cups rotisserie chicken, finely chopped
- 12 cups (2 small bags) coleslaw mix
- 1.5 cups toasted sliced almonds, or cashews
- 1.5 cups dried cranberries
- 1–2 small cans mandarin oranges, drained
- 1.5 cups chopped cilantro
- 0.75 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1 cup sesame sticks (optional)
- 0.25 cup black sesame seeds
- 3–4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 4 tbsps minced ginger
- 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 0.5 cup balsamic vinegar
- 4 tbsps low-sodium soy sauce
- 4 tbsps honey or brown sugar
- 2 tsps toasted sesame oil
Instructions
- Salad Foundation: Layer the coleslaw mix as a crisp base in a large mixing bowl, creating a vibrant canvas for the salad.
- Protein and Crunch Layer: Distribute shredded chicken evenly, then sprinkle almonds and cashews across the surface to introduce textural contrast.
- Flavor Amplification: Disperse dried cranberries, red onion slices, sesame seeds, and optional sesame sticks throughout the salad, generating visual appeal and complex taste profiles.
- Herbal Accent: Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro and optional mandarin orange segments to elevate the dish’s brightness and citrus undertones.
- Dressing Preparation: Combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, honey, ginger, and sesame oil in a blender, pulsing until achieving a harmonious, smooth consistency.
- Final Assembly: Drizzle the prepared dressing over the salad, gently tossing to ensure comprehensive coating, then serve immediately with additional dressing reserved for individual preferences.
Notes
- Customize Crunch: Swap or mix nuts based on personal preference or pantry availability for unique texture variations.
- Prep Ahead Strategy: Cook chicken and chop ingredients in advance to streamline last-minute assembly and reduce total preparation time.
- Dressing Versatility: Extra dressing can be stored up to 5 days refrigerated, making it perfect for meal prepping and quick lunch additions.
- Balance Flavor Profile: Adjust honey or vinegar quantities to control sweetness and tanginess according to individual taste preferences.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 19 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 29 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg