Sorry folks, but this is not the 1980's version of Chinese Chicken Salad. You know, the one with a whole can of those delicious fried chow mein noodles in it and a cup of sliced almonds and the 3/4 cup of salad oil in the dressing? Yes, it is true that 1980's Chinese Chicken Salad is a yummy bit of goodness, but it's hella bad for your ass.
The good news? You can still enjoy the flavors of Asian Chicken Salad without all of the fattening doo-dads. And, best of all, this salad is a snap to make.
The dressing for this salad comes from Ellie Krieger's cookbook So Easy. I substituted honey for brown sugar in the dressing, just because I think it emulsifies better.
If you like, you can add mandarin oranges to the salad. I didn't because frankly, I don't like them. Is that weird? Doesn't everyone like mandarin oranges? And just as I write this sentence, I realize that I don't like regular oranges, either. I love the smell of oranges, as I'm peeling them, but I don't really like the way they taste.
Great. Yet another little oddity about myself, revealed in this public space.
Well, despite my quirks, I think you'll like this salad. Best of all, the cabbage is sturdy enough to last a day in the refrigerator, so you can toss it together the night before and take the leftovers to the office for a healthy lunch the next day.
Just step away from that can of chow mein noodles!
Asian Chicken Salad
serves 4
adapted from Ellie Krieger's So Easy
Dressing:
2 tablespoons canola oil
1/3 cup rice vinegar
3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons honey (Kreiger calls for 2 tablespoons brown sugar)
1 1/2 teaspoons Sriracha hot chile sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
Salad:
2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken
1 head napa cabbage, sliced
1 cup shredded carrot
3 scallions, sliced
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1/3 cup slivered almonds
You've inspired me. So, today, while perusing Barnes and Noble, I purchased this cookbook! I also hate, despise mandarin oranges. So, you are not alone and not weird. Unless we both are, which may be very likely!
ReplyDeleteThis one is now on my list! Sadly, I've been stuck in the 80's making the fat ass version for far too long so, thank you for this! My husband (and our asses) will thank you.
ReplyDeleteDelicious, skinnier version! I tend to love any sort of salad named Chinese Chicken Salad...I'm guessing this wouldn't be an exception...though my favorite uses peanut butter and sesame oil in the dressing.
ReplyDeleteI don't like oranges either, any citrus froit for that matter. The texture is weird.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds perfect! I really like Ellie Krieger's recipes too. And let me join in the haters of mandarin oranges...yuck. They always taste so canned. Oh and I can't stand regular oranges either. Love the flavor, hate having any pith in my mouth. =)
ReplyDeleteNormally I don't like fruit in my salad, except for mandarin oranges. Who knows why? My husband thinks I'm the weirdo...
ReplyDeleteOhhhh, that sounds delish, and I think I can even have it on a lower carb diet. I have Ellie's first cook book (at least I think it's her first) and have made many a fabulous recipe out of it:)
ReplyDeleteThis salad looks very refreshing!
ReplyDeleteYes, I like the idea to make the night before and use it for lunch. I've done that with kale (not in a salad though). You a such an inspiration, :P
ReplyDeleteYou mean my mom wasn't the only parent out there to slap chow mein noodles on top of a casserole and call it dinner? Whew...feeling better about my childhood already.
ReplyDeleteLove Napa cabbage and this looks great! I am not a big fan of manderine oranges either.
ReplyDeleteSay I tried your recipe for edamame yesterday for dinner... sooo good, I almost cried. I was trying to figure out a way to get that dressing into a salad.
Looks excellent!
ReplyDeleteMy mom always had those fried chow mein noodles in the pantry and we used to grab handfuls for snacks. I haven't thought about them in years, and suddenly I'm craving them...
This looks super yummy. I'm not a big fan of mandarins either...see, you're not so strange!!
ReplyDeleteI loathe mandarins and oranges. The only oranges I like are blood oranges because, well, they don't taste like oranges (and I only like them juiced and served with vodka). All that to say, you are not alone. Mandarins are nasty.
ReplyDeleteI CANT STAND mandarin oranges..gross gross gross!!! But I do love regular oranges.
ReplyDeleteThis salad looks sooo yummy! And if you're talking the mandarins in the can? Ugh. Fresh ones? YES!
ReplyDeleteYum! Delicious.
ReplyDeleteThe salad sounds delicious, but your posts leaves me wondering...for some weird reason, clearly...if you like orange juice.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I attempt to assemble a dish with rotisserie chicken, I wind up saying screw it to the dish part and eating the chicken right off the rack with a knife and fork. I have the same problem with pineapples except that they don't make it to the grill.
ReplyDeletejc
You know, I don't normally bother with recipes much, but I just might try this one -- with a few substitutions. The rule for this January is to eat what we already have in the fridge, freezer or pantry. I spent so much for food in the last 2-3 months I'm sure this is entirely possible. So, malt or instead of rice vinegar, I have both brown sugar and honey, thawed turkey bits instead of chicken (though I have ckn. breasts on hand), red cabbage, rapeseed and olive oil...I have some kind of nuts around, surely. It won't taste like yours, but I'm sure it will be delicious!
ReplyDeleteI can't step away, chow mein, chow mein, chow mein I love you.
ReplyDeleteOh how I have fond memories of the blue can of Chow Mein noodles. They made everything taste better.
ReplyDeleteI really like fresh mandarin oranges (the Italian market we lived next door to in New Haven would carry them a few weeks out of the year), but I'm not a fan of the canned stuff.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame--Ellie Kreiger's recipes are actually pretty appealing, but I find her so *dull* on camera--she should have you make them instead, because suddenly this seems much more intriguing to me.
Is the idea during this month to BURN off the ass with Siriacha? And does one have to eat Asian food to do any shrinkin'? Just sayin....;)
ReplyDeleteYum! I really want to make this! I will have to wait until next week. You know what sucks? When I am pregnant I cannot eat any form of Asian food. Soy sauce and vinegar were enough to make me...um...I think you can guess.
ReplyDeleteI am so thankful I am not pregnant.
I had to smile at mandarin oranges. Since about the age of 13, my daughter has started a list of all the things she will have in her future apartment - the top of the list? Canned mandarin oranges!
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of this recipe - I hadn't heard of that cookbook before. And you basically had me a sriracha sauce! :D
This is so GREAT because I have not had a Chinese Chicken Salad in years simply because I read in my weight watchers magazine that at restaurants it averages 1200 calories!!!! WTF??? And I love Chinese Chix Salad. So, off to the market I go...
ReplyDeleteLove this recipe - but I'm adding the mandarin oranges! Come to think of it, I think this is the first difference I've noticed between you and me. Guess we aren't the same person, after all. :(
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!! I so need to shrink my behind. I have to say: when I was young, all the grandmothers of the boyfriends love me 'cause of my "son-bearing hips". Hips. Meaning I cannot shrink my behind beyond my bone structure. Like Cartman, I am not fat I am just big-boned. Not an issue if you don't oranges. You can peel them and I will eat them. ;-) BTW, "emulsifies"?! I can't remember the last time I have to look up a word! But I need to now...
ReplyDeleteWhoa. Dude. This word: Emulsion has its own wiki page... Chemistry! What kind of lab are you operating over there?!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I have never had Chow Mein... the kind you are talking about...
ReplyDeleteAbsence--you are cracking me up! I used to be an English teacher, so I know plenty of dorky words!
ReplyDeleteWho cares about the chicken salad of the 80's! This one looks so much better!
ReplyDeleteThat looks and sounds delicious! I can't wait to try that!
ReplyDeleteAs for weird tastes, I feel like I should submit to you a test, taking account of all my family's distates and see what you can come up with. Probably nothing too healthy.
Oh, now that looks doable. As in, "I could totally DO that salad."
ReplyDeleteOooh, another goodie for SMA month! I hate chow mein noodles, actually - but love Mandarin oranges . . . go figure. And sriracha - I eat it on everything - my fav is to dunk a grilled cheese sammy in it. But a grilled cheese isn't on the SMA roster, now, is it?
ReplyDeleteEvery time I read your S.Y.A.M title I laugh.
ReplyDeleteand....I think oranges are high maintance.
I think the SMAM is a perfect name for a great new diet book....For example, the diet book called Skinny Bitch-A book I received via a White Elephant game ( what's wrong with that picture?) was a scream to read - Why can't there be the How to Shrink my Ass diet-I would buy it! The first chapter could be....this post for your Asian Chicken salad post with an intro on why you like the smell of oranges but, not like to eat them. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou don't like oranges and I don't like cabbage, but I'm trying to learn and this salad might do the trick.
ReplyDeleteI love this recipe! I also like your honey substition. I wonder how agave nectar would work.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds so delicious! I'm kinda obsessed with shredded chicken.
ReplyDeleteSounds yum but some of the ingredients I am dubious about finding in the UK...we'll see! Very healthy though! xxx
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Asian salads but have never made one at home! I totally should try.
ReplyDelete