Description
This Asian Chicken Cranberry Salad is a vibrant and flavorful dish combining crisp coleslaw mix with tender rotisserie chicken, toasted almonds, dried cranberries, and fresh mandarin oranges. Tossed in a zesty, homemade balsamic-ginger dressing with hints of sesame and garlic, this salad offers a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors. Ideal for a quick and healthy meal, it serves 10 and can be prepared in just 15 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 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 (such as Orange Cranberries)
- ¾ cup red onion (finely diced)
- 1 cup sesame sticks (optional)
- 1 ½ cups chopped cilantro
- 1-2 small cans mandarin oranges (drained, optional)
- ¼ cup black sesame seeds or regular sesame seeds
Dressing Ingredients
- 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar (regular or white)
- 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
- 3 Tbsp water
Instructions
- Prepare the Salad Base: In a large bowl, layer the coleslaw mix with finely chopped rotisserie chicken, toasted almonds or cashews, dried cranberries, diced red onion, black sesame seeds, sesame sticks (if using), and chopped fresh cilantro. Add drained mandarin oranges if desired to enhance sweetness and texture.
- Make the Dressing: In a blender, combine extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, low-sodium soy sauce, chopped garlic, honey or brown sugar, minced ginger, toasted sesame oil, and 3 tablespoons of water. Blend the mixture until smooth and well emulsified, creating a flavorful and balanced dressing.
- Dress and Toss the Salad: Lightly pour the prepared dressing over the salad mixture according to your preference for moisture. Gently toss all ingredients together to evenly coat the salad with the dressing without crushing the delicate components.
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken for convenience and flavor, but cooked shredded chicken breasts can substitute.
- Sesame sticks are optional but add a satisfying crunch and extra flavor.
- Dried cranberries can be replaced with dried cherries or raisins if preferred.
- The dressing can be adjusted in sweetness or acidity according to taste by modifying honey or balsamic vinegar quantities.
- This salad is best served fresh but can be refrigerated for up to 1 day; keep dressing separate if storing longer to prevent sogginess.
