Description
This vibrant Asian Chicken Cranberry Salad combines a crunchy coleslaw base with tender rotisserie chicken, toasted nuts, dried cranberries, and refreshing mandarin oranges. Tossed with a flavorful, homemade Asian-inspired dressing, this salad is both satisfying and light, perfect for a quick lunch or a delightful dinner side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 12 cups coleslaw mix (2 small bags)
- 4 cups rotisserie chicken, finely chopped
- 1 ½ cups toasted sliced almonds (or cashews)
- 1 ½ cups dried cranberries
- ¾ cup red onion, finely diced
- 1 cup sesame sticks (optional)
- 1 ½ cups chopped cilantro
- 1-2 small cans mandarin oranges, drained
- ¼ cup black sesame seeds (or regular sesame seeds)
Dressing Ingredients
- 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
- 4 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 4 tablespoons honey (or brown sugar)
- 4 tablespoons minced ginger
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- About 3 tablespoons water (to thin dressing)
Instructions
- Assemble Salad Base: In a large bowl, layer the coleslaw mix, finely chopped rotisserie chicken, toasted almonds or cashews, dried cranberries, diced red onion, optional sesame sticks, chopped cilantro, and sesame seeds evenly to create the hearty salad foundation.
- Add Mandarins: Gently fold in the drained mandarin oranges, taking care not to crush them, distributing their sweet citrus flavor throughout the salad.
- Prepare Dressing: In a blender, combine the extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, low-sodium soy sauce, chopped garlic, honey or brown sugar, minced ginger, and toasted sesame oil. Blend on high speed until smooth. Add about 3 tablespoons of water gradually to reach a pourable consistency perfect for dressing the salad.
- Toss Salad: Drizzle the blended dressing evenly over the salad ingredients. Toss gently but thoroughly to ensure every component is coated with the flavorful dressing.
- Serve or Chill: Serve the salad immediately to enjoy fresh flavors, or chill it briefly in the refrigerator to allow the flavors to meld for enhanced taste before serving.
Notes
- Using rotisserie chicken saves time and adds great flavor; you can substitute with cooked shredded chicken breast if preferred.
- To toast nuts, spread sliced almonds or cashews on a baking sheet and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes until golden.
- Mandarin oranges add a bright sweetness; ensure they are well drained to avoid sogginess.
- For a nut-free version, omit almonds or cashews and sesame sticks.
- This salad is best consumed within 24 hours for optimal freshness.
