Chinese language Hen Salad

That is my go-to once I’m on the lookout for one thing gentle and recent however nonetheless flavorful. What makes this salad nice is my home made, tangy Asian dressing. All the elements of this salad make for the proper mixture of taste and textures. It’s crispy, crunchy, and colourful.

For extra Asian-inspired salads, attempt our Thai Shrimp Salad or our Spicy Thai Pasta Salad.

Chinese language Hen Salad, whereas fashionable, isn’t conventional Chinese language cooking in any respect. It’s extra of a fusion dish, originating from California within the Thirties. The salad blends Asian-inspired flavors with components extra generally present in American salads. Its creation is usually attributed to cooks in California who mixed components from Chinese language cooking with extra Western-style salads, ensuing on this distinctive and flavorful dish.

Ingredient Notes

• Pre-Cooked Hen: Use leftover hen, rotisserie hen, or bake and shred hen breasts.
• Cabbage: Crimson and inexperienced cabbage are used for shade and variation. Thinly slice.
• Shredded Carrots: For a candy, earthy style. Substitution: bell peppers for a distinct taste profile.
• Mandarin Oranges: Can use recent or canned. If utilizing canned, select those canned in water, quite than syrup. Drain and rinse.
• Sliced Almonds: Toasted for a nutty crunch. Substitution: sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, peanuts, or cashews.
• Sesame Seeds: Can use toasted or un-toasted white seeds.
• Received Ton Strips or Chow Imply Noodles: Gives a pleasant crunch. Use both—or each!
• Soy Sauce: Low sodium works or coconut aminos.
• Rice Vinegar: use seasoned rice vinegar for added taste, or unseasoned for decrease energy. You possibly can substitute apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar, however the taste shall be barely totally different.
• Toasted Sesame Oil: Be sure that to make use of toasted sesame oil for its distinct, intense taste.
• Garlic: use freshly minced for the most effective taste. Can use 1 teaspoon garlic powder in a pinch.
• Ginger: Can both use 1/2 teaspoon floor ginger or 1 tablespoon of freshly grated ginger.

Hen Choices

This recipe requires shredded cooked hen. You’ve bought a couple of choices to select from, so take your choose! We’ve used all of them.

Rotisserie Hen – many grocery shops these days promote cooked rotisserie chickens that you could purchase and shred. Professional tip: it’s often offered as a “loss chief,” which means they promote it for lower than it prices, making it the most effective bang on your buck in the case of hen. Some shops are additionally now providing the rotisserie hen pre-shredded and packaged, too, which is fairly handy.

Frozen Cooked Hen – take a look at the freezer part of your grocery retailer for pre-cooked hen strips and chunks offered in baggage.

Bake Your Personal Hen – lay hen breasts out right into a frivolously greased 9×13 pan. Season with salt and pepper. Bake at 350 levels for 25 to half-hour till cooked by. Chop into chunks and use instantly, or freeze for later use.

Fast Skillet Hen – warmth a big heavy skillet over medium-high warmth. Add in 1 tablespoon vegetable oil. Place hen breasts into the skillet. Season with salt and pepper. Prepare dinner 5 to 7 minutes per facet. Let cool after which shred.

Serving Strategies

Serve the Chinese language Hen Salad as a important dish for lunch or dinner. It pairs nicely with a wide range of sides.

Rice or Quinoa: Merely pair with a facet of white or brown steamed rice. Quinoa is a good selection as nicely. Use crimson or a tri-color combine for added shade and texture.

Soup and Appetizer: Pair with an egg drop soup or wonton soup. Our home made spring rolls and cream cheese wontons are nice choices as nicely.

Make it a Aspect: Take into account providing it as a part of a buffet-style unfold alongside different Asian-inspired dishes.