Chinese Chicken Salad with Ginger Soy Dressing Recipe
A crisp and refreshing Chinese Chicken Salad featuring a vibrant mix of napa and red cabbage, shredded carrots, and tender chicken, tossed with a tangy ginger-soy dressing. Topped with crunchy almonds and sesame seeds for additional texture and flavor. Perfect for a light lunch or dinner.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Chinese
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Salad:
- 4 Cups Napa Cabbage, finely shredded
- 1 Cup Red Cabbage, finely shredded
- 1 Cup Carrots, shredded
- 1/2 Cup Green Onions, chopped
- 1/2 Cup Fresh Cilantro, chopped
- 2–3 Cups Chicken, shredded
Dressing:
- 3 Teaspoons Ginger, grated
- 3 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 3 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
- 3 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon Sesame Oil
- 4 Teaspoons Avocado or Vegetable Oil
- 2 Teaspoons Sugar or your favorite sugar substitute
Toppings:
- Sesame Seeds, to taste
- 1 Cup Crispy Noodles (or slivered almonds as a substitute)
Instructions
- Prepare the dressing: Combine all dressing ingredients — grated ginger, minced garlic, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, avocado or vegetable oil, and sugar or sugar substitute — in a salad shaker or small bowl. Shake or whisk well until fully incorporated, then set aside.
- Mix the salad ingredients: In a large bowl, add the finely shredded napa cabbage, red cabbage, shredded carrots, chopped green onions, fresh cilantro, and shredded chicken. Toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Toss with dressing: Pour half of the prepared dressing over the salad mixture. Toss thoroughly to coat the salad evenly. Taste and gradually add more dressing according to your preference, ensuring balanced flavor without overdressing.
- Add toppings and serve: Sprinkle the salad with chopped cilantro, sesame seeds, and your choice of crunchy toppings such as slivered almonds or crispy noodles. Serve immediately and enjoy the fresh, vibrant flavors.
Notes
- For sugar substitutes, Lakanto and Swerve can be used as a 1:1 replacement with traditional sugar. If using other erythritol brands, note they are about 70% as sweet as sugar, so adjust amount to taste.
- Choose a neutral oil with a high smoke point for the dressing such as avocado, vegetable, safflower, sunflower, or peanut oil. Avoid extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, or additional sesame oil for the dressing to maintain the intended flavor balance.
Keywords: Chinese chicken salad, napa cabbage salad, chicken salad with ginger dressing, Asian-inspired salad, healthy chicken salad, crunchy chicken salad