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Asian Chicken Cranberry Salad Recipe

4.7 from 627 reviews

A refreshing and vibrant Asian Chicken Cranberry Salad featuring tender cooked chicken, mixed greens, and crunchy vegetables tossed with a tangy sesame ginger dressing. This salad combines sweet dried cranberries and nuts for texture and flavor, making a perfect light meal or side dish.

Ingredients

Scale

Salad Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded or diced)
  • 4 cups mixed greens (such as spinach, arugula, and romaine)
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 1 cup red cabbage (thinly sliced)
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup sliced almonds or chopped peanuts
  • 1/4 cup green onions (chopped)

Dressing Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
  • 1 tsp fresh ginger (grated)
  • 1 clove garlic (minced)
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Salad Base: In a large salad bowl, combine the mixed greens, shredded carrots, thinly sliced red cabbage, dried cranberries, sliced almonds or chopped peanuts, and chopped green onions. Mix gently to blend all the ingredients evenly.
  2. Add the Chicken: Add the cooked, shredded or diced chicken to the salad bowl. Toss gently with the greens and vegetables to distribute the chicken throughout the salad.
  3. Make the Sesame Ginger Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey or maple syrup, grated fresh ginger, and minced garlic until fully combined. Season the dressing with salt and pepper according to your taste.
  4. Dress the Salad: Pour the sesame ginger dressing over the salad ingredients. Toss gently to coat all components evenly with the dressing.
  5. Serve: Serve the salad immediately to enjoy fresh flavors and crisp texture. Alternatively, cover and refrigerate the salad for up to 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Use any cooked chicken such as rotisserie, grilled, or poached chicken for convenience.
  • For a vegetarian version, substitute chicken with tofu or chickpeas.
  • Adjust the sweetness of the dressing by varying the amount of honey or maple syrup.
  • For extra crunch and flavor, consider adding toasted sesame seeds on top before serving.
  • This salad is best consumed fresh but can be refrigerated for up to 2 hours without the greens becoming soggy.

Keywords: Asian chicken salad, cranberry salad, sesame ginger dressing, healthy salad, easy chicken recipe, mixed greens salad