Description
Zesty Thai-Inspired Chicken Salad Delight is a fresh and vibrant dish that combines tender chicken, crunchy vegetables, and a flavorful Thai-inspired dressing. This salad is full of bold flavors like lime, ginger, and peanut, making it a perfect light meal or side dish. It’s healthy, refreshing, and absolutely packed with nutrients.
Ingredients
Units
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- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or chopped
- 1 cup shredded cabbage (green or purple)
- 1 cup carrots, julienned or shredded
- 1/2 cup cucumber, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped peanuts (optional for crunch)
For the Dressing:
- 3 tbsp lime juice (freshly squeezed)
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 1 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 tsp ginger, grated
- 1/2 tsp garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp chili flakes (adjust to taste for spice level)
Instructions
Prepare the Vegetables and Chicken:
- In a large mixing bowl, add the shredded chicken, cabbage, carrots, cucumber, red bell pepper, cilantro, and green onions. Toss together gently to combine.
Make the Dressing:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, fish sauce, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, grated ginger, minced garlic, and chili flakes until smooth and well combined.
Assemble the Salad:
- Pour the dressing over the prepared chicken and vegetable mixture. Toss until everything is evenly coated in the dressing.
- If using, sprinkle the chopped peanuts on top for added texture and crunch.
Serve:
- Serve immediately as a light lunch or dinner. Garnish with additional cilantro or lime wedges, if desired.
Notes
- This salad is naturally gluten-free if you use tamari in place of soy sauce.
- For extra protein, you can add tofu or shrimp instead of chicken.
- The salad can be made ahead of time, but for best results, add the dressing right before serving to keep the ingredients fresh and crisp.
- You can adjust the sweetness or spiciness of the dressing to suit your taste.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/5 of the salad
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg