Mayo-Free Chicken Salad With Kimchi, Ginger, and Scallions Recipe

By
Daniel Gritzer
Daniel Gritzer
Daniel Gritzer
Senior Culinary Director
Daniel joined the Serious Eats culinary team in 2014 and writes recipes, equipment reviews, articles on cooking techniques. Prior to that he was a food editor at Food & Wine magazine, and the staff writer for Time Out New York's restaurant and bars section.
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Updated Sep. 16, 2020
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You don't need mayo to make a great chicken salad sandwich. . Daniel Gritzer

Mixing mayonnaise into chicken salad is the most common way to add moisture, but it's not the only way. Vinaigrette works well too, like this tangy Korean-inspired rendition with kimchi, pine nuts, and lots of fresh ginger.

Why this recipe works:

  • A tart vinaigrette that includes sesame oil and kimchi pickling liquid adds flavor and moisture, minus the mayo.
  • Plenty of fresh ginger, scallion, and celery adds texture and flavor to the salad.

Recipe Details

Mayo-Free Chicken Salad With Kimchi, Ginger, and Scallions Recipe

Active 10 mins
Total 10 mins
Serves 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 cups shredded cooked chicken meat (from about a 3-pound roast chicken)

  • 1 cup drained kimchi, chopped

  • 1/2 cup diced celery (about 1 large rib)

  • 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts or sesame seeds

  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced scallion, white and light green parts only (about 2 scallions)

  • 3 tablespoons kimchi liquid

  • 3 tablespoons distilled white vinegar

  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger

  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • Sliced bread and frisee, if serving as a sandwich

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, toss together all ingredients to combine thoroughly. Season with salt and pepper and serve as a light salad or on bread as a sandwich. Salad can be refrigerated in an airtight container overnight.

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
235 Calories
17g Fat
2g Carbs
17g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 235
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 17g 22%
Saturated Fat 3g 16%
Cholesterol 63mg 21%
Sodium 309mg 13%
Total Carbohydrate 2g 1%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 17g
Vitamin C 2mg 8%
Calcium 23mg 2%
Iron 2mg 11%
Potassium 234mg 5%
*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.)