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Large white bowl filled with Mediterranean Style Asian Chicken Salad topped with shredded chicken, cabbage, mandarin oranges, toasted almonds, peanuts, and black sesame seeds.

Mediterranean Style Asian Chicken Salad

A colorful, crunchy Mediterranean-style fusion Asian chicken salad featuring tender shredded chicken, crisp Napa and red cabbage, mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, toasted almonds, peanuts, and a glossy olive oil sesame ginger dressing.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course, Salad
Calories: 420
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Salad Base & Crunch:
  • * 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
  • * 3 cups shredded Napa cabbage
  • * 1 cup shredded red cabbage
  • * 2 cups chopped romaine lettuce
  • * 1/2 cup thinly sliced/julienned carrot
  • * 1 can 11 oz mandarin oranges, drained
  • * 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • * 3 green onions sliced
  • * 1/4 cup fresh cilantro roughly chopped
  • * 1/2 cup total sliced almonds and peanuts toasted
  • * 1 tbsp black sesame seeds
  • Mediterranean-Friendly Sesame Ginger Dressing:
  • * 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • * 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • * 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
  • * 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • * 1 tbsp honey
  • * 1 tsp freshly grated ginger
  • * 1 garlic clove minced

Method
 

Make the Sesame Ginger Dressing:
  1. In a small bowl or glass jar, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, toasted sesame oil, low-sodium soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, freshly grated ginger, and minced garlic until fully emulsified and glossy.
Prepare the Salad Base:
  1. In a large mixing bowl, toss together the shredded Napa cabbage, red cabbage, chopped romaine lettuce, and julienned carrots until evenly mixed.
Incorporate Main Fillings:
  1. Add the shredded chicken, sliced green onions, chopped fresh cilantro, and half of the dried cranberries (1/4 cup) into the greens.
Dress the Salad:
  1. Drizzle three-quarters of the sesame ginger dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly but gently until everything is lightly coated.
Add Mandarin Oranges:
  1. Gently fold in the drained mandarin orange segments so they remain intact.
Finish with Crunch:
  1. Transfer to a serving bowl. Top heavily with toasted sliced almonds, peanuts, the remaining dried cranberries, and black sesame seeds just before serving.

Notes

* Meal Prep Tip: Store the cabbage and chicken mixture, sesame ginger dressing, and toasted nuts in separate containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Assemble and dress right before serving to maintain maximum crunch.
* Dressing Customization: Extra-virgin olive oil serves as the primary oil base to keep the recipe Mediterranean-friendly while keeping a small amount of sesame oil for authentic flavor.