Chinese Chicken Salad

This salad has become a family favorite.  In fact, it is one of the only salads that my Littles will eat.  I have gotten many compliments from this salad when I bring it to luncheons or serve it to family or friends.  It has some surprising ingredients.  The first time I made the salad, I thought it was odd that it used crunched up Ramen Noodles on top and I didn't know what to do with the seasoning packets.  Instead of throwing them away, I put the packets in to the dressing and voila!  Flavor galore!  If you are anti-Ramen, or a purist, you may find that offensive.  But I like to live on the edge of whole foods and junk foods, so we combined them both in this delicious salad, ha!  Seriously though, I think a lot about feeding my family nutritious foods and I love that they will eat this salad and have dubbed it one of their favorite foods.  Maybe it will become a gateway drug to more salads in their future...

Chinese Chicken Salad Recipe

First, make the dressing because the longer the ingredients sit together the better the dressing will taste.

I like to use a mason jar to mix the dressing.  If you're privileged to own a salad dressing mixer, pull it out.  Pour 1/2 cup of olive oil in first.  I like to use the cold pressed version (see, I do care about healthy foods ;) from Costco.  Add 1 Tbs. of sugar, 3 Tbs. of red wine vinegar (no, it is not alcoholic) and did you notice that I told you to add the sugar first so you can use the same tablespoon to measure out the vinegar?  You're welcome.  Add 1/4 tsp of fresh cracked black pepper and a pinch of salt.  Now add 2 packets of Chicken Ramen Noodle seasoning and set the noddles aside to use for later.  Put the lid on the jar and shake it up until all of the ingredients are combined.  Now set it aside while you prepare the salad.

Get a large bowl and add in a few handfuls of spinach or romaine lettuce (to your liking).  You can cut the spinach up into smaller pieces, because salads it always tastes better that way.  You can also omit the spinach if you want.  I find that it adds a pretty green color to the salad and more iron and nutrients. 

Now add a bag of coleslaw or broccoli slaw.  We usually use coleslaw.  You can also add in some shredded carrots if you want to be more fancy and add more color. I usually add 1/2-1 cup of shredded carrots.  Instead of bagged coleslaw, I have also just cut up a green and purple cabbage.  Just make sure you cut it into thin slices (like coleslaw) so people don't have to chew on huge pieces of cabbage.

Next slice up 1 bunch of green onions.  The entire bunch that you get at the store.  Slice thinly and on the diagonal if you want them to look fancy.  

Now, grab two cans of chicken from the pantry.  I buy mine from Costco.  You can also shred and de-bone a rotisserie chicken or grilled up some chicken if you like.  I find that the canned chicken is soft and combines well in the salad.  It is also super easy and I like easy when it doesn't sacrifice flavor.  I take a fork and chunk it out of the can onto the salad in bite size pieces.  Not too small or you won't get that bite of yummy chicken when you eat the salad.  Now sprinkle the chicken with cracked black pepper because it's just yummier that way.   

Next, take the delicious dressing you make and pour it on top of the salad and toss.  Make sure the dressing is completely combined and all over the salad.  Depending on how much spinach you added and how big your bag of coleslaw was, you will want to add 1/2 of the dressing and combine, then see if you need more.  If you add too much dressing, just add in some more coleslaw of spinach to soak it up.  If there is liquid in the bottom of the bowl, you added too much dressing.

Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds all over the salad.  They're pretty and they're yummy.  They aren't necessary, so if you run out or don't have them, then just skip it.

Then, crunch up the Ramen noodles.  I put them into a large Ziplock bag and hit them with a rolling pin or anything hard.  Sometimes I use the jar with the dressing in it.  Just make sure they are crunched up into small bite sized pieces.  Then pour them on top of the salad. 

Now Toss!  It's important to toss the Ramen noodles in last because if you pour the dressing on top of them, they get soggy and no one likes a soggy salad.  

Sprinkle with some fresh black pepper for good measure and bam, you have you're self a delicious salad.  

We have even eaten this salad the next day. If it's a little soggy, throw it on top of some fresh spinach and combine.

Serves approx. 6

Chinese Chicken Salad Recipe

1 Bag of coleslaw or broccoli slaw or equivalent of sliced up green and purple cabbage

1-2 Handfuls of fresh spinach or Romaine lettuce

1/2-1 cup shredded carrots (optional)

1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced on the diagonal

2 large cans of chicken (or equivalent of cooked chicken breast)

3-4 tsp. toasted sesame seeds

2 packages of chicken flavored Ramen noodles

Fresh cracked pepper to taste

Dressing Recipe

1/2 C. Olive oil

1 Tbs. Sugar

3 Tbs. Red Wine Vinegar

1 pinch salt

1/4 tsp fresh cracked black pepper

2 pkgs chicken Ramen Noodle Seasoning

 

Serves approx. 6 people