Description
A vibrant and healthy Asian Chicken Cranberry Salad featuring shredded chicken, fresh vegetables, and a flavorful sesame dressing. This salad combines crunchy greens, sweet dried cranberries, and nuts for texture, making it perfect for a light lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced (Use organic chicken for best flavor.)
- 1 cup fresh spinach, chopped
- 1 cup red cabbage, shredded
- 1/2 cup carrots, grated
- 1/2 cup celery, diced
- 1/2 cup green onions, sliced
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds (Optional, for crunch.)
- 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped (Fresh cilantro adds flavor.)
Dressing & Seasoning
- 1/2 cup sesame dressing (Adjust amount to taste.)
- Salt and pepper, to taste (Season to enhance flavor.)
Instructions
- Preparation: If the chicken is not already cooked, grill, bake, or poach it until fully cooked, then shred or dice into bite-sized pieces to ensure easy mixing and eating.
- Combine Vegetables: In a large bowl, mix together the chopped fresh spinach, shredded red cabbage, grated carrots, diced celery, and sliced green onions to create a colorful salad base.
- Add Chicken and Cranberries: Incorporate the shredded chicken and dried cranberries into the vegetable mixture to add protein and a hint of sweetness.
- Add Dressing: Pour the sesame dressing over the salad ingredients, adjusting the amount to your preferred level of flavor.
- Season and Toss: Season the salad with salt and pepper to taste. Toss gently to combine all ingredients and ensure the dressing evenly coats the salad.
- Add Crunch and Herbs: Sprinkle the optional sliced almonds and chopped cilantro over the top of the salad. Give the salad another gentle toss to distribute these final touches.
- Serve or Chill: Serve the salad immediately for freshness, or refrigerate for about 30 minutes to let the flavors meld and intensify before serving.
Notes
- You can use leftover cooked chicken to save time.
- Adjust the amount of sesame dressing depending on your taste preferences for creaminess and flavor intensity.
- For a gluten-free option, ensure the sesame dressing does not contain soy sauce with gluten.
- To make it vegan, substitute chicken with tofu or chickpeas and select a vegan sesame dressing.
- The salad can be kept refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days; add almonds just before serving to retain crunch.
