Hi loves, with spring finally arriving in the most lockdown city in the world and Christmas time nearing, we all need more delicious salad recipes. This is why I would like to show you how to make this delicious Chinese Chicken and Orange Salad.
Ok, as much as I know this salad doesn't really come from China, but this doesn't concern me much. It still has all the flavours you expect an Asian salad to have and is absolutely delicious. It is fresh, colourful, crunchy, nourishing, and is easy to make, for me a winning combination.
Is this Chicken and Orange Salad healthy?
Is this salad healthy? See the health benefits of some of the ingredients below and tell me what you think.
Cabbage. Many people assume that cabbage is a type of lettuce, but cabbage actually belongs to the Brassica family which includes broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, and turnips. And just like the other members of this impressive family cabbage has a lot of health benefits. Only one cup of cabbage will supply you with:
- Vitamin K: 85% of the RDI
- Vitamin C: 54% of the RDI
Carrots. Have you ever wondered if your grandma was right in suggesting that carrots are good for your eyes? Turns out she was right! Carrots are a rich source of beta carotene and lutein, which are antioxidants that can help prevent eye damage caused by free radicals (source).
Snowpeas. There are many impressive health benefits of snow peas, including weight loss, improved heart health, reduced constipation, stronger bones, optimized immunity, and lower levels of inflammation, among others.
Oranges. Only one medium-sized orange comes with whopping 70 milligrams of Vitamin C. Daily recommended intake for vitamin C for a woman 19+ is 75 milligrams.
As you can see, apart from being delicious, this salad is a real bowl of goodness. If you know anything about nutrition you will know that the more colorful the food is the more nutrients it contains. And, no, I am not talking about smarties and M&Ms. 🙂 Just look at these colours!
The Asian Salad Dressing
While I love vegetables in all their forms, dressings and sauces are those little extras that bring the best out of any recipe. And this Asian-style dressing pairs everything together perfectly. It is nice and sweet, and a little tangy. It has all ingredients a good Asian dressing must have, rice vinegar, soy sauce (or coconut aminos), sesame oil, mmmm... so good....
Is this salad easy to make?
The answer is yes, however it requires a little bit of grating and chopping. If you are in a real hurry you can use premade salad bags from your local supermarkets. I know my local Coles has a good variety of pre-made salads. And speaking of Coles, they have beautiful free-range roast chicken too. So there is no need to cook chicken either. All you are left to do is to mix up the dressing and cut the oranges. Nice and simple.
Can I make this salad ahead of time?
Absolutely. Vegetables will stay fresh in an airtight container for up to 4 days, so will the dressing. You can shred the chicken and freeze it in a zip-lock bag. The only thing I would recommend doing on the day are the oranges.
How to serve the Chicken and Orange Salad
This salad is so versatile and this is why I like it so much. It is certainly a meal on its own because it has all ingredients a well-balanced meal requires. But you can also make it for a BBQ or serve it as part of a Christmas lunch or dinner.
How to make the best Chinese Chicken and Orange Salad
Ingredients
The salad:
- 2 cups thinly sliced white or Chinese cabbage
- 1 cup thinly sliced red cabbage
- 1 cup grated or julienned carrots
- ½ cup sugar snap peas thinly sliced
- 2 cups cooked chicken shredded
- 1 cup orange segments
- ½ cup fresh coriander leaves cilantro, roughly chopped
- 2 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
The Dressing:
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 3 tablespoons of coconut aminos or use Tamari gluten-free soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Combine all dressing ingredients in a glass jar or a mixing bowl and shake or whisk to combine. Set aside.
- In a large salad bowl combine cabbage, carrots, and snow peas.
- Add half of the dressing to the salad bowl and mix well, so everything is nicely combined.
- Add shredded chicken, orange pieces, and coriander (cilantro) leaves with the remaining dressing and gently mix everything together.
- Sprinkle sesame seeds on top and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
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Please do not use my photos without prior written permission.
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More Asian Salads for you to explore:
DELICIOUS CUCUMBER AND AVOCADO SALAD WITH LIME DRESSING
AMAZINGLY CRUNCHY ASIAN COLESLAW WITH A DELICIOUS DRESSING
DELICIOUS THAI NOODLE SALAD IN 20 MINUTES
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