Description
This flavorful Chinese Chicken Salad combines crisp romaine lettuce, shredded chicken breast, toasted almonds, green onions, seasoned pasta, and crunchy homemade crispy wonton strips, all tossed in a tangy and slightly sweet sesame-soy dressing. It’s a refreshing, satisfying salad perfect as a main course or a hearty side.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Salad:
- 6 3-inch wonton skins, sliced into 1/4″ strips
- 2 tablespoons canola or corn oil, for frying
- 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 cooked chicken breast, shredded
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted lightly
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 2 cups cooked fusilli pasta noodles, cooled
For the Dressing:
- 1 1/2 tablespoons grapeseed oil (or canola oil)
- 6 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil (add more to taste if you prefer a strong sesame flavor)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons light soy sauce
- 2 tablespoon sesame seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- Fry the Wonton Strips: Heat the canola or corn oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil starts to shimmer, add the wonton strips in batches of 5-7. Fry each side for about 30 seconds or until lightly browned, being careful not to burn them. Transfer the fried strips to a plate lined with paper towels to drain and cool.
- Prepare the Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped romaine lettuce, shredded chicken breast, chopped green onions, toasted sliced almonds, and cooled fusilli pasta. Toss gently to blend the ingredients.
- Make the Sesame Dressing: In a jar with a tight-fitting lid (or a small bowl), add grapeseed oil, seasoned rice vinegar, sesame oil, granulated sugar, light soy sauce, sesame seeds, ground pepper, and kosher salt. Shake vigorously or whisk until the sugar is fully dissolved and dressing is well combined.
- Toss and Serve: Drizzle 2-3 tablespoons of the sesame dressing over the salad mixture and toss to coat. Top the salad with additional sesame seeds and the crispy wonton strips. Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Allow both the cooked chicken and pasta to fully cool before adding to the salad for best texture.
- Wonton strips can be made ahead; store in an airtight container to keep them crispy.
- Customize the flavor by adjusting the amount of sesame oil in the dressing.
- For extra crunch, double the amount of wonton strips or almonds.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 458 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 577 mg
- Fat: 43 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 42 g
- Cholesterol: 73 mg
