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Asian Chicken Cranberry Salad Recipe

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4.9 from 410 reviews

Asian Chicken Cranberry Salad is a vibrant and refreshing dish featuring tender rotisserie chicken mixed with crunchy toasted almonds or cashews, sweet dried cranberries, and fresh veggies. Tossed in a zesty homemade dressing with garlic, ginger, and sesame oil, this salad delivers a delightful explosion of flavors and textures, perfect for quick lunches, family gatherings, or as a colorful side dish. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s nutritious, visually appealing, and highly customizable to suit your taste.

Ingredients

Salad

  • 2 small bags of coleslaw mix (about 12 cups)
  • 4 cups rotisserie chicken (finely chopped)
  • 1 ½ cups toasted sliced almonds (or cashews)
  • 1 ½ cups dried cranberries
  • ¾ cup red onion (finely diced)
  • 1 cup sesame sticks (optional)
  • 1 ½ cups chopped cilantro

Dressing

  • 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup balsamic vinegar
  • 4 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
  • 3-4 cloves garlic (chopped)
  • 4 Tbsp honey or brown sugar
  • 4 Tbsp minced ginger
  • 2 tsp toasted sesame oil

Instructions

  1. Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, layer the coleslaw mix with finely chopped rotisserie chicken, toasted almonds or cashews, dried cranberries, finely diced red onion, optional sesame sticks, and chopped cilantro. Optionally add mandarin oranges for added sweetness and texture.
  2. Prepare the Dressing: In a blender, combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, low-sodium soy sauce, chopped garlic, honey or brown sugar, minced ginger, and toasted sesame oil. Blend until smooth. Add water a little at a time to thin the dressing to your desired consistency.
  3. Toss Salad: Lightly pour the dressing over the salad ingredients in the mixing bowl. Gently toss until all components are evenly coated with the dressing.
  4. Serve or Chill: Serve the salad immediately for best freshness or refrigerate until ready to serve. This salad can be enjoyed as a main course, side, or appetizer.

Notes

  • To add a citrusy twist and extra sweetness, consider adding mandarin oranges to the salad.
  • Adjust the sweetness of the dressing by varying the amount of honey or brown sugar according to your taste.
  • For a nut-free version, omit almonds and cashews and replace with sunflower seeds or omit nuts entirely.
  • Use low-sodium soy sauce to reduce sodium content.
  • The salad is best served fresh but can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.

Find it online: https://recipeloom.com/asian-chicken-cranberry-salad-recipe/