Description
A vibrant and crunchy Chicken Cashew Crunch Salad featuring shredded chicken breast, toasted cashews, fresh vegetables, and a flavorful sesame-soy dressing, topped with crispy wonton strips and optional peanuts for extra texture.
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, lightly toast the cashews over medium heat until golden brown and fragrant. Stir frequently for even toasting, then remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix together the shredded chicken, mixed salad greens, red bell pepper, shredded carrots, chopped green onions, cilantro, and the cooled toasted cashews.
- Prepare Dressing: In a separate bowl, whisk together sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, grated ginger, and minced garlic until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Toss Salad: Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and gently toss to coat all the ingredients evenly.
- Add Crunchy Toppings: Sprinkle the salad with crispy wonton strips and, if desired, chopped peanuts for extra crunch and flavor.
- Serve: Serve the salad immediately to enjoy its fresh, crisp, and vibrant flavors.
Notes
- For a nut-free version, omit cashews and peanuts and substitute with toasted sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds.
- Use grilled or roasted chicken as an alternative to cooked shredded chicken.
- Adjust the amount of honey depending on your preferred sweetness in the dressing.
- To make the salad gluten-free, use tamari instead of regular soy sauce and ensure wonton strips are gluten-free or omit them altogether.
- This salad is best served fresh to maintain the crispness of the greens and wonton strips.
