Sandra This delicious Bobby Flay Chinese Chicken Salad is a quick and healthy meal that’s perfect for lunch or dinner. Packed with tender chicken, crunchy veggies, and a tangy sesame dressing, it’s bursting with flavor and texture. Customize it with common ingredients like chow mein noodles or crispy wontons for an irresistible, satisfying crunch! This entire meal comes together in about 20 minutes.
Bobby Flay Chinese Chicken Salad Ingredients
For the Sesame Vinaigrette:
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
For the Salad:
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or chopped
- 4 cups shredded cabbage (Napa or regular green cabbage)
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup thinly sliced cucumber
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted
- 1/4 cup crispy wonton strips or chow mein noodles (optional)
How To Make Bobby Flay Chinese Chicken Salad
- Make the Vinaigrette: In a small bowl or a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, and minced garlic. Whisk or shake vigorously until the dressing is well combined and emulsified. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Toast the Almonds: Place the sliced almonds in a small, dry skillet over medium heat. Toast for 2-3 minutes, stirring or tossing frequently, until they are golden brown and fragrant. Watch them carefully as they can burn quickly.
- Combine the Salad: In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, shredded cabbage, carrots, cucumber, green onions, and fresh cilantro.
- Dress and Serve: Just before serving, pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat everything evenly. Add the toasted almonds and the optional crispy wonton strips, give it one final gentle toss, and serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Recipe Tips
- How to get the most flavor? The most important tip is to toast the almonds. This simple step takes only a couple of minutes but brings out a deep, nutty flavor that adds a huge amount of complexity to the salad.
- How to get the crunchiest salad? The secret is to not add the dressing or the crispy wonton strips until the very last moment before you serve it. This ensures that the cabbage, almonds, and wontons stay perfectly fresh and crunchy, not soggy.
- Can I make this ahead of time? Absolutely! This salad is perfect for meal prep. For the best result, prepare all the components—the dressing, the chopped vegetables, the cooked chicken, and the toasted nuts—and store them in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. Combine and toss everything together just before eating.
- What’s the best chicken to use? A store-bought rotisserie chicken is a fantastic and flavorful shortcut that’s perfect for this recipe! Simply shred the breast meat and you’re ready to go.
What To Serve With Chinese Chicken Salad
This is a wonderfully versatile dish that is a complete and satisfying meal on its own. It’s a perfect light lunch or dinner. If you want to serve it with something extra, it pairs nicely with:
- Light, crispy spring rolls
- A bowl of steamed edamame
- A cup of hot and sour or egg drop soup
How To Store Chinese Chicken Salad
- Best Eaten Fresh: A dressed Chinese Chicken Salad is at its best when served immediately.
- Store Components Separately: The best way to store leftovers is to keep the dressing and the salad components in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for up to 3 days this way.
Chinese Chicken Salad Nutrition Facts
- Serving: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Protein: 32g
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Sodium: 850mg
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Napa cabbage is the classic choice for Chinese Chicken Salad because it has a wonderfully tender and crisp texture. However, a standard bag of pre-shredded coleslaw mix (with green cabbage, red cabbage, and carrots) is a perfect and easy substitute.
Yes, this is a very adaptable recipe! Canned mandarin orange segments (drained well) are a classic and delicious sweet addition. Thinly sliced water chestnuts or snow peas would also add a wonderful, authentic crunch.
No, this dressing is savory, tangy, and slightly sweet. If you’d like to add a spicy kick, you can whisk a teaspoon of sriracha or a pinch of red pepper flakes into the dressing.
Try More Recipes:
Bobby Flay Chinese Chicken Salad Recipe
Description
A classic and refreshing restaurant-style salad packed with shredded chicken, crisp cabbage, and crunchy vegetables, all tossed in a zesty homemade sesame vinaigrette.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Make the dressing by shaking all the vinaigrette ingredients together in a jar until well combined.
- Toast the sliced almonds in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes until golden and fragrant.
- In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, cabbage, carrots, cucumber, green onions, and cilantro.
- Just before serving, pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat.
- Top with the toasted almonds and crispy wonton strips and serve immediately.
Notes
- Don’t Dress Early: The most important tip for a crunchy salad is to toss it with the dressing and the crispy wontons at the very last minute before serving.
- Use Rotisserie Chicken: For a delicious and super-fast meal, use the shredded meat from a store-bought rotisserie chicken.
- Toast Your Almonds: Don’t skip toasting the almonds! This simple step is a key flavor booster that adds a wonderful, nutty depth to the salad.
- Make it for Meal Prep: This is a perfect salad for meal prep. Just keep the dressing, the chicken/veggie mix, and the crunchy toppings in separate containers and combine them right before you’re ready to eat.
