chinese chicken salad dressing recipe
Table of Contents
A Salad That Turns Into a Full Meal
Some salads feel like a side dish, and some salads feel like the whole point of dinner. This chinese chicken salad dressing recipe is firmly the second kind. Crunchy shredded lettuce and cabbage, tender grilled chicken, crispy wonton strips, and toasted almonds all come together under a bold sesame ginger dressing that ties everything into one satisfying bowl.
Chinese chicken salad is often credited to Chinese American restaurant kitchens in California, where cooks blended classic Cantonese ingredients like crispy wontons and sesame oil with the fresh produce and lighter dressings popular in American cooking. For a bit more background on the dish’s roots and common ingredients, this overview of Chinese chicken salad covers how it became a staple on restaurant menus throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
Napa cabbage is doing a lot of the textural work here, and it brings real nutrition along with its crunch. Beyond its mild, slightly sweet flavor, napa cabbage is a good source of vitamin C, vitamin K, and fiber, which is part of why it holds up so well in a salad that needs to stay crisp.
The dressing is really the heart of the dish, and fresh ginger is a big part of what gives a good salad dressing recipe its bright, warming kick. Beyond flavor, ginger contains bioactive compounds called gingerols with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, giving this dressing a bit more going for it than just taste.
Toasted sesame oil rounds out the dressing with a nutty finish, and it carries some nutritional value of its own. Sesame oil is rich in antioxidant compounds like sesamol along with heart healthy unsaturated fats, making it a small addition with real upside beyond flavor.
Edamame adds a pop of color along with a genuine protein boost to the bowl. It is a complete plant protein, since edamame is rich in fiber and provides all nine essential amino acids, rounding out the nutrition in this dish well beyond the chicken alone.
Because this recipe involves raw chicken during prep, it’s worth handling it with a bit of care. Keeping the chicken chilled until cooking and following the USDA’s guidance on safe poultry handling helps this dish come together safely as well as deliciously. Once that part is squared away, this recipe really just comes down to a few minutes of chopping and a quick whisk of the dressing.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Packed with crunchy vegetables and tender grilled chicken, this salad delivers a filling, protein rich meal in every bowl.
It comes together with simple, easy to find ingredients and no complicated techniques required.
The homemade chinese chicken salad dressing recipe tastes far fresher than anything bottled, with a bright balance of salty, sweet, and tangy flavors.
It’s a naturally lighter meal option since it skips heavy creamy dressings in favor of a bright sesame ginger blend, and it holds up beautifully for meal prep throughout the week.
What to Serve With Chinese Chicken Salad
This salad is hearty enough to be a full meal on its own, but steamed dumplings or potstickers make a fun appetizer pairing.
A light miso soup is a nice way to start the meal off warm, and sliced fresh fruit like mandarin oranges or mango adds a sweet contrast to the savory dressing.
Crispy spring rolls bring extra crunch to the table, and a cold glass of iced green tea or sparkling water with lime rounds out the meal nicely.
How This Chinese Chicken Salad Dressing Comes Together
This recipe leans on two simple parts, a quick whisked dressing and a pile of fresh, crunchy vegetables, coming together with almost no cooking beyond the chicken itself.
While the chicken grills or sears, the lettuce, cabbage, and carrots get shredded and set aside, ready to be tossed the moment the dressing is whisked.
Soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, ginger, and garlic come together in just a couple of minutes, and once tossed with the vegetables, the salad gets topped with the sliced chicken, wonton strips, and almonds right before serving. Here is everything you will need to bring it together.
chinese chicken salad dressing recipe
chinese chicken salad dressing recipe
Equipment
- Grill or skillet
- Large mixing bowl
- Small whisking bowl
- Cutting board
- Tongs
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 6 cups romaine lettuce shredded
- 4 cups Napa cabbage shredded
- 2 cups red cabbage shredded
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast sliced or shredded
- 1 cup carrots julienned
- 1 cup edamame shelled
- 1 cup crispy wonton strips
- ½ cup sliced almonds toasted
- ⅓ cup fresh cilantro chopped
- ¼ cup green onions sliced
- 2 tsp sesame seeds toasted
For the Dressing:
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger grated
- 2 garlic cloves minced
Instructions
- Cook the Chicken and Prep the VegetablesSeason the chicken breasts and grill or pan sear them over medium high heat for five to six minutes per side, until fully cooked and lightly charred. Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before slicing.While the chicken cooks or rests, shred the romaine lettuce, napa cabbage, and red cabbage, then julienne the carrots and set everything aside.
- Whisk the Dressing and Toss the SaladIn a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, grated ginger, and minced garlic until smooth and glossy.In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded lettuce, cabbage, carrots, and edamame, then pour the dressing over the top and toss well with tongs until everything is evenly coated.
- Top and Garnish the SaladTransfer the dressed salad to a large serving bowl and arrange the sliced chicken over the center.Finish with the crispy wonton strips, toasted almonds, sesame seeds, chopped cilantro, and sliced green onions scattered generously over the top, then serve immediately.
Notes
- Toast the almonds and sesame seeds in a dry skillet for a minute or two to deepen their flavor before adding them to the salad.
- Slice the chicken against the grain for the most tender bite.
- Add the wonton strips right before serving so they stay crisp instead of softening in the dressing.
- Taste the dressing before tossing and adjust the honey or vinegar to your preference.
- If you like a spicier dressing, whisk in a small spoonful of chili garlic sauce or a pinch of red pepper flakes.
- For the best texture, shred the cabbage and lettuce as thinly as you can so the dressing coats evenly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes this a chinese chicken salad instead of a regular chicken salad?
The combination of ingredients is what sets it apart. Shredded napa cabbage, crispy wonton strips, toasted almonds, and a sesame ginger dressing give this salad its distinct flavor profile, rather than the mayonnaise based dressing used in a typical American chicken salad.
Can I make the chinese chicken salad dressing ahead of time?
Yes. The dressing keeps well in a sealed jar in the refrigerator for up to five days. Give it a good shake or whisk before using, since the sesame oil can separate slightly as it sits.
What is the best way to cook the chicken for this recipe?
Grilling or pan searing the chicken breasts gives the best flavor and a bit of char, but rotisserie chicken or poached chicken breast both work well if you want to save time.
Can I make this salad ahead of time for meal prep?
Yes, with one adjustment. Keep the dressing separate from the salad until you are ready to eat, and store the wonton strips and almonds in a separate container so they stay crisp instead of softening in the fridge.
Is this Chinese chicken salad healthy?
It can absolutely fit into a healthy eating plan. The base relies on fresh vegetables and lean chicken breast, and the dressing uses a modest amount of oil compared to creamy dressings, so portioning is easy to control.
Can I make this recipe vegetarian?
Yes. Swap the chicken for crispy baked tofu or extra edamame, and the rest of the salad and dressing stay exactly the same.
What other vegetables can I add?
Bell peppers, snap peas, or shredded broccoli slaw all work nicely if you want to add more color and crunch to the bowl.
How long do leftovers keep in the fridge?
Once dressed, the salad is best eaten within a day, since the lettuce softens over time. Stored undressed, the prepped vegetables keep well for up to three days.
Can I use a store bought dressing instead of making the chinese chicken salad dressing from scratch?
You certainly can if you are short on time, but the homemade version comes together in just a few minutes and gives you far more control over the balance of salty, sweet, and tangy flavors than most bottled options.
What can I use instead of wonton strips?
Chow mein noodles or crushed rice crackers both make a good substitute if you cannot find wonton strips at your grocery store, and they add a similar crunchy finish to the top of the salad.
Twists & Ideas
You Can Add
A drizzle of chili garlic sauce or a spoonful of crushed peanuts scattered over the top adds extra heat and crunch beyond the wonton strips and almonds.
Mandarin orange segments tossed into the salad add a juicy, sweet contrast against the savory sesame ginger dressing.
A soft-boiled egg sliced over the top turns this into an even heartier, more filling meal, adding richness alongside the crunchy vegetables.
A sprinkle of crispy fried shallots over the finished salad adds an extra savory crunch alongside the wonton strips.
You Can Replace
Crispy baked tofu or extra edamame can replace the chicken entirely for a vegetarian version, as mentioned in the FAQ above.
Chow mein noodles or crushed rice crackers can replace the wonton strips, as covered in the FAQ, for a similar crunchy topping.
Cashews or peanuts can replace the sliced almonds for a different but equally satisfying crunch and nutty flavor.
Maple syrup or agave can replace the honey in the dressing for a vegan-friendly version without changing the overall flavor much.
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A Salad You’ll Want to Make All Season Long
Chinese chicken salad proves that a salad can absolutely be the main event at dinner. Between the crunchy vegetables, tender chicken, and bold sesame ginger dressing, every bite delivers something different, and the whole bowl comes together in well under an hour.
Whether you’re packing it for lunch, serving it at a summer gathering, or just craving something fresh and satisfying on a weeknight, this recipe is flexible enough to fit right into your routine. Once you make this recipe dressing from scratch, you may never reach for a bottled version again.
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