The hero of this Chinese Chicken Salad is the Asian Dressing and crunchy noodles. It can make any bowl of fresh greens devilishly moreish! Made with cabbage, carrots, green onions and chicken, finished with sesame seeds, this is terrific for packed lunches as it keeps well for days!
CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD – MY MOST MADE ASIAN SALAD!
This is my most made faux Asian salad. It’s “faux” because it’s in no way authentic Chinese and that’s totally ok.
I love it anyway because it’s so delish, and it’s a good way to make me inhale large volumes of fresh greens.
THE ASIAN SALAD DRESSING
The Asian salad dressing I use in this salad is based on a recipe by David Chang of Momofuku. It’s made with all manner of Asiany ingredients – soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic and ginger – but there’s plenty of flex here which I’ve jotted down in the recipe notes.
I love the fresh hit of ginger and garlic in the dressing but I quite often make this salad using my standby simple Asian Sesame Dressing. Made with just soy sauce, sesame oil, vinegar, oil and sugar, it keeps for days, weeks even. It would be unusual if I didn’t have a jar of this lurking in the dark depths of my fridge at all times!
I think the thing that really seals the deal for me about this Chinese Chicken Salad are the crunchy noodles. I just use Chang’s Fried Noodles which are often on sale at the supermarket for around $1. Any brand will do – the thin ones I’ve used or even the wider ones. Just as long as they’re crunchy!! – Nagi x
PS This is a terrific do-ahead meal. The chopped veggies stay fresh for days in the fridge – I’ve kept them for 5 days in an airtight container – and shredded chicken can be frozen. The only thing to add fresh is the ginger and garlic in the dressing.
MORE ASIAN SALADS
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
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Chinese Chicken Salad
Ingredients
Asian Dressing
- 2 tbsp light soy sauce (Note 1)
- 3 tbsp rice vinegar (aka rice wine vinegar, or use cider vinegar)
- 1 tbsp sesame oil (toasted)
- 2 tbsp grapeseed oil (or canola or any other neutral flavored oil)
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp fresh ginger , grated or very finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove , minced
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Salad
- 4 cups Chinese cabbage (Nappa Cabbage), finely shredded (Note 2)
- 1 1/2 cups red cabbage , finely shredded
- 1 cup carrot , finely julienned (see video)
- 2 cups chicken , shredded
- 1/2 cup shallots / scallions , finely sliced on the diagonal
Garnishes
- 1/2 to 1 cup crunchy noodles (I use Chang’s) (Note 3)
- 1 – 2 tsp sesame seeds
Instructions
- Combine the Dressing ingredients in a jar and shake. Set aside for 10 minutes or so for the flavours to meld.
- Place the Salad ingredients together in a large bowl along with half the crunchy noodles. Drizzle over dressing then toss. (Note 4)
- Divide between serving bowls. Top with more crunchy noodles and a good sprinkle of sesame seeds. Serve immediately!
Recipe Notes:
Originally published June 2015, updated with new photos and video. No change to recipe.Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
He wasn’t bothered by the burs. Unlike me. Prickly legs!!!
I’ve been making this all summer with a store-bought dressing (which was delicious) but making my own using this recipe just took it to another realm! Thanks again, Nagi!
Wahoo, that’s great Melissa! N x
I would love to try this as a pescatarian- any thoughts on what fish, seafood or vegetarian protein I could use? Would shrimp, salmon or fried tofu work do you think?
Salmon or shrimp are incredibly delicious with this recipe! Try salmon, it’s a whole other level 😋
Making Hot Sour soup and Chinese Chicken salad for my moms 88th birthday. Wish me luck. 😀
Nagi this is another winner! Just got done with a big bowl! The dressing is so delicious and makes eating salad a treat instead of a chore!
I’m so glad you loved it Kristin!! N x
Making this for dinner tonight! Thank you for the recipe
There is no authentic “Chinese” Chicken Salad recipe from China. Wolfgang Puck invented it in the mid 1980’s! lol
I have made this recipe more than five times and each time I love it more and more. So good! Worth the little extra effort! I now keep all these oils/seeds/etc as part of my normal grocery list just incase we want chinese chicken salad. Thank you for sharing with me!
Really delicious and lots of healthy vegetables
Simple, yet elegant! I followed the recipe “as is” and I wouldn’t change a thing.
This dish was really tasty. I served it with egg noodles so I could spoon the sauce over them and it was a hit. A side salad completed the meal.
Nagi, your recipes continue to surprise and delight me. Thank you!!
My comment was meant to be paired with the your Slow Cooker Pork Loin roast because it was delicious. Instead, I somehow attached it to your Chinese Chicken Salad recipe which I haven’t tried to make … yet! (My Bad!)
My apologies for the mix-up.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Gigi, that’s great to hear!! N x
This dish was really tasty. I served it with egg noodles so I could spoon the sauce over them and it was a hot. A side salad completed the meal.
Nagi, your recipes continue to surprise and delight me. Thank you!!
Looks so good!
So good Nagi! I had left over roast chicken and coleslaw (undressed but with parsley and apple) to use up, and was perfect in this. Used a cut up fried spring roll wrapper for the noodles and crispy shallots in place of onion as i didnt have any. Absolutely delicious!
This is sooo delicious! I happened to have some leftover duck, which was amazing!
Delish and quick. A winner.
Loved this – your recipes are amazing! This one reminds me of the salads that were so popular in the US when I gree up. But now since I’m in Australia, you load up the flavours so I added a handful of chopped mint & coriander, put it on some rice noodles With a few lime slices, and the kids thought they were in a restaurant.
I have a really hard time finding the hearts to click to save in my recipe box.
Wowwww! Delicieux, j’aime, j’aime! Merci Nagi!
Your method of julienning carrots is blowing my mind! 🤯
Made this salad tonight for dinner and it was quick, easy and delicious! Thanks Nagi!
I can’t get the video to play.
Hi Lisa, sorry you’re having issues – there are no problems on this end though! N x
Thank you! I’ll try again! Very curious how you julien the carrots 😊
Hi Nagi, do you think I could make this with steak? I have all these ingredients, and hubby wants steak for dinner. I don’t have all the stuff for Thai Beef salad, so thought maybe I could sub? Thank s for all you do. Kate x
yes definitely!! enjoy! N x