Crisp Asian-Style Chicken Salad with Cranberries - A Symphony of Flavors in Just 15 Minutes
The Asian Chicken Cranberry Salad is a favourite quick-fix lunch, taking only 15 minutes from fridge to table. This salad offers a delightful balance of flavours, featuring savoury chicken, sweet cranberries, and a nutty crunch from almonds.
Preparing the Salad
To make the salad, start by whisking the dressing first. The dressing, a key component of the salad's flavour, is made with soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and grated ginger. For a slight change in flavour, you can use maple syrup or agave instead of honey. It's best to chill the dressing for 15 minutes to allow the flavours to marry beautifully.
While the dressing chills, prep the vegetables. You'll need 2 cups of mixed greens, 1/2 cup of shredded red cabbage, and 1/4 cup of chopped green onions. Salad greens should be very dry, so a salad spinner is recommended.
Cook 2 cups of chicken and let it cool. You can use cooked, diced or shredded chicken breast. Nuts like almonds or walnuts can also be used, and they can be toasted separately to maintain their crunch.
Once everything is prepped, gently combine the chicken, vegetables, dried cranberries, and nuts. Keeping the salad and dressing separate until serving helps keep the greens fresh.
Customising the Salad
Cooking should be fun and flexible, and various substitutions are possible for ingredients such as chicken, cranberries, almonds, and dressing components. For a vegan version, you can use tofu, chickpeas, agave, and jackfruit as substitutes.
For added heat, minced Thai chilies or crushed red pepper flakes can be added. A squeeze of orange juice in the dressing or a teaspoon of sriracha can also be added for extra flavour.
The salad can be served on top of jasmine rice for a heartier meal, or chilled sesame noodles can be served alongside it.
Nutritional Information
For one generous serving, the salad contains approximately 280 calories, 22g protein, 25g carbs, and 10g fat.
The Asian Chicken Cranberry Salad is a meal prep superstar, as the dressing stays fresh for days. It's a healthy but hearty salad, packed with protein and vegetables, yet tastes indulgent. Crispy wonton strips can be added for extra crunch, making it a perfect choice for a quick, delicious, and nutritious lunch.
