Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Chinese Chicken Salad



 I have two things to say about this recipe: 1)This is only like the best salad ever. 2) The above picture actually isn't horrible.  I know! Miracles can happen with a cheap digital camera! This seriously is the epitome of summer all in a healthyish meal (yes I made up that word). It is a bit more tedious to put together compared to most salads, but well worth it. This recipe is adapted from (foodiecrush.com)

Ingredients for salad
12  3-inch wonton skins, sliced into 1/4″ strips
1/2 cup canola or corn oil for frying
4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 chicken breast, shredded (I used rotisserie)
2 green onions, chopped
1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted lightly
1 tablespoon sesame seeds
2 cups cooked fusilli pasta noodles, cooled

dressing
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable  oil
6 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame oil (add more to taste if you prefer a strong sesame taste)
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons soy sauce
2 tablespoon sesame seeds
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt

1. Heat canola or corn oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. When oil starts to shimmer, fry wonton skins in batches of 5-7 strips for 30 seconds each side or until lightly browned, working quickly so they don’t burn. Remove from oil and drain on paper towels until cooled.
2. In a large bowl, combine lettuce, chicken breast, green onion, almonds and pasta.
3. Combine dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Whisk well until sugar dissolves. Dress lettuce mixture with 2-3 tablespoons of sesame dressing and top with sesame seeds and wonton strips and serve.

Fun Tip: I doubled the dressing and lots of everything else leftover. I really wanted to have it the next day, but feared it being a soggy mess. It turns out putting it all in a mason jar really does work. I kept the dressing aside, but put the rest in a jar, with lid, and it was all crispy and perfect the next day.

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