This Crunchy Asian Salad gets its amazing crunch from crisp veggies, slivered almonds and ramen noodles. Tossed with a lightly sweet dressing, it makes for a fun and bright lunch.
Salads for lunch – yay or nay?
I really enjoy a salad for lunch, but have two problems with it. First, it’s got to be rich in protein and have a little carbs thrown in there, otherwise I’m hungry a couple hours later. Secondly, I like my salads fresh. Like – make it and then eat it fresh. Even if I assemble the salad in the morning before heading to work… by the time lunch rolls around, it just doesn’t look and feel as fresh to me. Does that make me crazy?
This recipe is a little different. Because it’s made with cabbage and not lettuce, I found that it not only held its structure better (making me feel like it was fresher) but it was also more filling. Not a fan of cabbage? Then go ahead and use iceberg lettuce. Like the salad but want to serve it as a side dish? Skip the chicken. (Or skip the chicken anyway – it’s still delicious and filling, even without it.) While I love the salad as is, the ingredients and portions can be easily adjusted to suit your taste and the contents of your fridge.
Crunchy Asian Salad
This Crunchy Asian Salad gets its amazing crunch from crisp veggies, slivered almonds and ramen noodles. Tossed with a lightly sweet dressing, it makes for a fun and bright lunch.
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 6 c. thinly sliced or shredded cabbage from 1 small head of green cabbage
- 1/3. c. thinly sliced scallions
- 1/2 c. shredded carrots
- 2 c. shredded or diced rotisserie chicken
- 1/2 c. slivered almonds toasted
- 2 Tbs. sesame seeds toasted
- 1 3-oz. package chicken-flavored ramen seasoning packet set aside for the dressing
For the Dressing:
- 1/3 c. vegetable oil
- 3 Tbs. white vinegar
- 2 Tbs. low-sodium soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 2 Tbs. sugar.
- 1 package chicken-flavored ramen seasoning from listed package above
Instructions
Prep:
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Toast the almonds and sesame seeds, if not already done, while cutting/shredding the veggies and chicken.
Make the Salad:
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Chop ramen noodles into small pieces. Set aside.
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Combine all ingredients for the dressing in an airtight container (i.e. a mason jar). Cover and shake well.
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In a large bowl, toss cabbage, chicken, scallions, carrots, toasted almonds, toasted sesame seeds, and chopped ramen noodles. Pour dressing (shake again if the dressing has started to settle) on top of salad and toss to coat.
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Refrigerate for 30 minutes (or up to a couple of hours) before serving.
Recipe Notes
Don't like cabbage? Use iceberg lettuce.
Make this a side dish by omitting the chicken. This will serve 8 as a side dish
Although this salad is best within the first 4 hours of making, I have enjoyed it 24+ hours later. It looses some of the crunch - particularly in the almonds - but still has wonderful flavor.