Description
Fresh and flavorful sesame chicken cabbage crunch salad packed with bright, crunchy vegetables, juicy grilled chicken, and a zesty sesame ginger dressing. Perfectly balanced for a healthy lunch or dinner, this salad is easy to customize with your favorite veggies and proteins for a satisfying meal any time of the week.
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- Grilled Sesame Chicken (recipe for marinated and grilled chicken)
For the Salad:
- 4 cups shredded green cabbage
- 2 cups shredded red cabbage
- ½ cup diced green onion
- ¾ cup freshly diced cilantro
- 1 cup shredded carrots (bagged or cut into matchsticks)
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly julienned
- 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
For the Dressing:
- 1 batch Sesame Ginger Dressing (see recipe)
For Serving:
- ⅓ cup toasted sliced almonds
- ⅓ cup roasted cashews halves
- Sesame seeds, to sprinkle
- Extra cilantro, for garnish
- Extra green onion, chopped
- A few jalapeno slices
- Optional: Crispy wonton strips
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken: Use the grilled sesame chicken recipe to marinate your chicken thoroughly so it absorbs all the bold sesame flavors.
- Prepare the dressing: Make the sesame ginger dressing and set it aside for later use to coat the salad.
- Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine the shredded green and red cabbage, diced green onion, freshly chopped cilantro, shredded carrots, julienned red bell pepper, and diced jalapeno. Pour the sesame ginger dressing over the veggies and toss well to evenly coat everything. Cover and set aside while you cook the chicken.
- Cook the chicken: Bake or grill the marinated chicken according to the original grilled sesame chicken recipe instructions until fully cooked and juicy.
- Serve the salad: Arrange the dressed salad on a large platter. Garnish with toasted sliced almonds, roasted cashews, extra cilantro, a sprinkle of sesame seeds, a few jalapeno slices, and chopped green onion. Optionally, add crispy wonton strips for extra crunch. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- For a vegetarian or vegan option, omit the chicken or substitute with tofu or rinsed and drained chickpeas.
- You can customize this salad with additional vegetables or proteins as you prefer.
- To enhance crunch, consider adding crispy wonton strips as a garnish.
- The combined red and green cabbage provides vibrant color and excellent texture contrast.
