Do you find yourself constantly searching for a satisfying and healthy lunch option? Or maybe you want a light dinner option.
Look no further than the delicious and versatile Asian Chicken Salad. Packed with bold flavors and nutritious ingredients, this recipe takes chicken and lettuce to the heights of deliciousness.
This salad is a great way to serve one of the store bought rotisserie chickens. Or use leftover chicken. How much chicken you add is dependent on how you serve it. For lunch or a side dish, use less chicken. If you want the salad to be the meal, add more chicken.
If you don't grow your own lemongrass like I do, you can usually find it in the produce section in tubes alongside other herbs. Use the rest of the lemongrass in tea, hot or iced, or in marinades.
How to make Quinoa Sprouts
The Quinoa Sprouts are optional, but add a lovely crunch to the salad. By sprouting the quinoa, you reduce the carbs and calories since seeds use up the stored carbohydrates for energy to sprout.
Making your own sprouts is so easy and much more cost effective than buying in the store! It just takes some quinoa (or lentils or beans or...), some water and a jar to put them in. A day or two later you have healthy crunchy goodness. The full instructions for the sprouts can be found here.
Homemade Salad Dressing
Another great feature of this salad is the homemade dressing.
I never buy salad dressing. It is so easy to make at home with simple ingredients. Adjust it to your taste or what you have on hand.
For this salad I went with a simple combination of olive oil, sesame oil, lemon juice, honey and lemongrass. Put it in a jar, or bowl if you prefer, and mix it up.
Ingredients for Asian Chicken Salad
This is a salad not a cake that needs a precise ratio of ingredients in order to be successful. No need to follow the recipe below exactly. Mix and match ingredients adding more or less of those you want.
What makes this salad Asian? Ingredients like:
- carrots and daikon (like Vietnamese Do Chua)
- Mandarin oranges
- crunchy chow mein noodles
- and a Thai inspired lemongrass dressing
The arugula, beets and quinoa are not Asian in origin, but they are what I had on hand and added color and flavor to the salad.
Other ingredients to consider:
- green onions
- cucumbers
- cabbage
- celery
- edamame
- cilantro
- bean sprouts
- fried wonton strips
More Rotisserie Chicken Recipes
We pick up a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store at least once a month, more during marching band season. They make dinner so easy. Here are a few more ideas for serving them:
Rotisserie Chicken Recipes
- Broccoli & Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells from Creative Cynchronicity
- Smothered Skillet Chicken Burritos from A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
- Spicy Peanut Noodles from Art of Natural Living
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Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 medium carrot (grated)
- 1 small daikon radish (grated)
- 1-2 tangerines, peeled and separated in segments (or 1 small can Mandarin oranges drained)
- ΒΌ cup cooked or canned beets (drained, patted dry and sliced)
- ΒΌ cup almonds
- 1-3 cups leftover rotisserie chicken (see note)
- 4 cups arugula (or other lettuce)
- Lemongrass salad dressing (recipe below)
- ΒΌ cup crunchy chow mein noodles (optional)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the carrots, daikon, tangerines, beets, almonds. chicken and arugula.
- Top with about β of the salad dressing and toss to combine. Add more dressing if desired. Top with chow mein noodles before serving, if desired.
Notes
Recipe
Ingredients
- Β½ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- Β½ cup lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemongrass (crushed)
- 1 tablespoon honey
Instructions
- In a jar or bottle add olive oil and a little sesame oil. Add an equal amount of lemon juice.
- Add lemongrass and honey to taste. Shake until emulsified. Taste and add additional ingredients as needed.
Until next time, happy eating.
~Audrey
Ashley@cheesecurdinparadise
This sounds refreshing and wonderful. Perfect for a little detox after the holidays!
Audrey
Thanks, Ashley. I need to eat more of these to make up for my holiday eating.
Wendy, A Day in the Life on the Farm
It looks delightful and delicious.
Audrey
thanks, Wendy.
Lori Hart
Sounds likea great spring or summer salad to eat while sitting on the patio. YUM
Audrey
It's great any time with whatever is in season.
Denise Wright
This looks so good to me! I bought lemongrass for the first time last month and just love the smell and flavor of it. I'll be making this for sure. Pinning too! (found you on Tasty Tuesdays)
Audrey
Thanks for stopping by, Denise. My friend gave me a few other suggestions for the lemongrass I need to check out and write about.
Dawn ~ Spatulas On Parade
I LOVE it, Asian dishes are on the top of the list for me and I love that this is so healthy and fresh. Great job.
jennifer Abel
Audrey another great recipe and thanks for linking up, can't wait to see what you bring us next week!
Amberjane
This recipe sounds fantastic I must try it - Thanks for linking up to Pin Worthy Wednesday, I have pinned your post to the Pin Worthy Wednesday Pinterest Board.
Julia
I am enchanted by the idea of lemongrass in a salad dressing! I must try it!
Simple Hacks Living
Yummy! I love lemongrass! Thanks for sharing on Tasty Tuesdays.
Kelly @ Mum-bo-Jumbo
Wow, that dressing sounds so tasty and how easy is it to make? I love how you are honest about how much of each ingredient you use - I often cook that way myself. Thanks for linking up at Mum-bo Monday
Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai
The salad sounds delicious! And my Thai neighbor grows lemongrass in her front yard! She's always telling me to grab some if I want it--now I know what to use it for. π I'm going to have to check out your post on sprouting quinoa. What fun--a Crazy Ingredient Challenge. Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty π
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
Lou Lou Girls
You always bring delicious things to our party! Thank you. Pinned and tweeted. We feel honored that you take the time to stop by our party. I hope to see you on tonight at 7 pm. We love to party with you! Happy Monday! Lou Lou Girls