Description
This Napa Chicken Salad with Sesame Dressing is a vibrant and flavorful Asian-inspired salad that combines tender chicken, crunchy cabbage, colorful veggies, and a delicious sesame dressing. It’s a perfect balance of textures and flavors, making it a delightful meal or side dish.
Ingredients
Salad:
- 3 cups cooked chicken breast (shredded or chopped)
- 4 cups shredded Napa cabbage
- 1 cup shredded purple cabbage
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- ½ cup thinly sliced red bell pepper
- ¼ cup chopped green onions
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- ¼ cup toasted sliced almonds
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
- ½ cup crispy chow mein noodles (optional)
Sesame Dressing:
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 small garlic clove (minced)
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Salad: In a large bowl, combine the chicken, Napa cabbage, purple cabbage, carrots, bell pepper, green onions, and cilantro.
- Make Sesame Dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together sesame oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, lime juice, mustard, garlic, ginger, and olive oil until well blended. Season with salt and pepper.
- Toss Salad: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until evenly coated.
- Serve: Top with almonds, sesame seeds, and chow mein noodles just before serving for crunch.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, use edamame or crispy tofu in place of chicken.
- This salad holds well in the fridge if you store the dressing and crunchy toppings separately until ready to serve.
