Chinese Chicken Salad with Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette Recipe

By
Jennifer Segal
Jennifer Segal is a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Jennifer Segal

Jennifer Segal is the chef and photographer behind Once Upon a Chef and the author of two cookbooks: Once Upon a Chef and Once Upon A Chef: Weeknight/Weekend.

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Updated Mar. 11, 2019
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Jennifer Segal

Crisp and colorful vegetables, crunchy cashews, and roasted chicken in a punchy sesame ginger vinaigrette make a light yet satisfying summer meal. Though the recipe looks long, it's actually easy to make, especially if you use leftover or rotisserie chicken.

Recipe Details

Chinese Chicken Salad with Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette Recipe

Active 30 mins
Total 60 mins
Serves 4 servings

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

  • 2 bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts (or 2 cups shredded cooked chicken)

  • 1 tablespoon peanut oil

  • Kosher salt and pepper

For the Dressing:

  • 1/3 cup unseasoned rice vinegar

  • 1/4 cup soy sauce

  • 3 1/2 tablespoons honey

  • 1/4 cup sesame oil

  • 1/3 cup peanut oil

  • 3 medium cloves garlic, peeled and roughly chopped (about 1 tablespoon)

  • 1 1/2-inch square piece fresh ginger, peeled and roughly chopped

For the Salad:

  • 4 to 5 romaine lettuce hearts, chopped

  • 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

  • 2 scallions, white and green parts, thinly sliced

  • 1/2 cup grated carrots, from 2 carrots

  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

  • 1/3 cup salted cashews or peanuts

Directions

  1. Adjust oven rack to center position and preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the chicken breasts on a foil lined sheet pan. Rub the skin with 1 tablespoon oil and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper. Roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until the chicken is cooked and juices run clear. Set aside until cool enough to handle.

  2. Meanwhile, make the dressing. Combine vinegar, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, 1/3 cup peanut oil, garlic, and ginger. Blend in blender until homogenous.

  3. When chicken is cool enough to handle, remove the skin and discard. Slice or shred meat into bite-size pieces. Combine chicken, lettuce, bell peppers, scallions, carrots, cilantro, and nuts. Add dressing to taste, toss, and serve.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
591 Calories
44g Fat
31g Carbs
22g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 591
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 44g 56%
Saturated Fat 8g 40%
Cholesterol 63mg 21%
Sodium 1011mg 44%
Total Carbohydrate 31g 11%
Dietary Fiber 6g 23%
Total Sugars 21g
Protein 22g
Vitamin C 73mg 364%
Calcium 113mg 9%
Iron 4mg 24%
Potassium 972mg 21%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)