Healthy Chinese Chicken Salad

A healthy take on chinese chicken salad, full of nutrients without compromising flavor.

As a little girl my dad would often take me out to dinner for a daddy daughter date. One of the places I remember frequenting was a Chinese restaurant that served sweet and sour chicken. This meal soon became a favorite of mine and I became a fan of Asian cuisine (or at least the Americanized version of Chinese food).

There are certain things that cultures from around the world excel at when it comes to their flavors and spices. I’ve always appreciated the sweet and spicy pairing of so many Chinese dishes and have since enjoyed creating my own healthy versions of some of my favorites growing up.

What Makes This Chinese Chicken Salad So Healthy?

This healthy Chinese chicken salad pulls together nicely with a variety of flavors and textures. Sauteed chicken, sweet mandarins and carrot sticks, crunchy cashews, and fresh greens are drizzled with a delicious ginger orange dressing.

Did you know that 1 medium sized mandarin provides a quarter of your daily Vitamin C needs? It also has a good amount of fiber and even small amounts of Magnesium, Potassium, Copper, and Iron. Not bad for a 3-4 oz. piece of juicy perfection.

In my opinion cashews should be called a super nut! They’re beneficial in blood, heart, and bone health, brain function, skin and hair health, and even eye health thanks to their vast array of vitamins and minerals such as copper, zinc, and selenium.

Coconut aminos is used as a soy sauce replacement in this recipe. It is made from the sap of the coconut tree, is all natural, and has a much lower sodium content than traditional soy sauce.

And we all know that carrots and leafy greens contain multiple nutrients such as beta carotene, fiber, vitamin K1, potassium, and calcium to name a few. So basically, this salad is loaded with nutrients and delicious flavors to make your taste buds happy!

How To Make Your Chicken Salad

Begin by gathering up you chicken ingredients (chicken, coconut aminos, egg, arrowroot powder, garlic and onion powder, and salt and pepper). Cut your chicken up into 1-1.5 inch pieces.

In a large bowl add your chicken and the remaining ingredients. Then gently mix the ingredients together with your hands to thoroughly coat each piece of chicken. Add 1 Tbsp of olive oil (or oil of choice) to a pan set to medium- high heat. Cook the chicken until cooked through and browned on both sides (about 4-5 minutes per side) and then remove from the pan. (The batter may cause the chicken to clump together while cooking. If this happens just cut the pieces apart with a spatula.)

While your chicken is cooking cut up your carrots into matchsticks, peel the mandarins, and dice the green onion.  Next gather up your dressing ingredients. Grate the ginger, zest and juice the mandarin, and add to a small bowl. Stir in the mayonnaise (I like to use Sir Kensington) and sriracha sauce.

Now it’s time to plate! Add your leafy greens (mixed baby greens, kale, or spinach are all great options!) to each bowl or plate, then pile on carrots, mandarins, cashews, and chicken. Drizzle with the orange ginger dressing, and sprinkle on some diced green onion. Enjoy!

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Healthy Chinese Chicken Salad Recipe

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 8 cups mixed greens
• 2 large Carrots (cut into matchsticks)
• 5-6 mandarins
• ½ cup cashews
• 2 tbsp diced green onions

Chicken:

• 1.5 lbs chicken breast
• ¼ cup arrowroot powder
• 1 egg (wisked)
• ¼ cup coconut aminos
• ¼ tsp onion and garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 Tbsp olive oil

Orange Ginger Dressing:

• ¼ cup mayonnaise (I use Sir Kensington)
• ½ tsp freshly grated ginger
• ½ tsp mandarin zest + 1 Tbsp juice
• 1 tsp sriracha sauce

Directions:

1. Begin by gathering up you chicken ingredients (chicken, coconut aminos, egg, arrowroot powder, garlic and onion powder, and salt and pepper). Cut your chicken up into 1-1.5 inch pieces.
2. In a large bowl add your chicken ingredients. Then gently mix the ingredients together with your hands to thoroughly coat each piece of chicken.
3. Add 1 Tbsp of olive oil (or oil of choice) to a pan set to medium- high heat. Cook the chicken until cooked through and browned on both sides (about 4-5 minutes per side) and then remove from the pan.
4. While your chicken is cooking cut up your carrots into matchsticks, peel the mandarins, and dice the green onion.
5. Make your orange ginger dressing- grate the ginger, zest and juice the mandarin, and add to a small bowl. Stir in the mayonnaise (I like to use Sir Kensington) and sriracha sauce.
6. Now it’s time to plate! Add your leafy greens to each bowl or plate, then pile on carrots, mandarins, cashews, and chicken. Drizzle with the ginger orange dressing, and sprinkle on some diced green onion.

Enjoy your healthy Chinese chicken salad!