Description
A vibrant and crunchy Chicken Cashew Crunch Salad featuring shredded chicken, toasted cashews, fresh vegetables and a flavorful sesame-soy dressing, topped with crispy wonton strips for added texture. This quick and easy salad is perfect for a light lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 4 cups mixed salad greens
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions
- 1/4 cup cilantro leaves, chopped
- 1/4 cup peanuts, chopped (optional)
- 1/2 cup crispy wonton strips
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/3 cup sesame oil
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Toast Cashews: In a small pan over medium heat, lightly toast the raw cashews until golden brown and fragrant. Stir frequently to ensure even toasting. Once toasted, set them aside to cool.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, add the shredded cooked chicken, mixed salad greens, thinly sliced red bell pepper, shredded carrots, chopped green onions, chopped cilantro, and the cooled toasted cashews. Mix gently to combine.
- Make Dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, grated ginger, and minced garlic until smooth and well incorporated. Season the dressing with salt and pepper according to your taste preferences.
- Toss Salad with Dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad mixture. Gently toss everything together ensuring that all the ingredients are evenly coated with the flavorful dressing.
- Add Crunchy Toppings: Sprinkle the salad with crispy wonton strips and, if desired, add the chopped peanuts on top to enhance texture and add an extra nutty crunch.
- Serve: Serve the salad immediately to enjoy its fresh, vibrant flavors and crunchy textures at their best.
Notes
- For a gluten-free version, substitute soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos and ensure wonton strips are replaced with gluten-free crunchy alternatives.
- To make this salad vegetarian, replace chicken with tofu or tempeh and use vegetarian-friendly dressings.
- Store leftover salad and dressing separately to maintain texture.
- Adjust honey quantity to taste for more or less sweetness.
- You can add a squeeze of fresh lime juice for an additional zing.
