How to cook Chinese chicken salad: step-by-step instructions

Repurposing leftover rotisserie chicken, a homemade Chinese chicken salad can be enjoyed from the comfort of your own home. The salad boasts a delightful combination of ingredients, including shredded romaine lettuce, napa cabbage, tangy mandarin oranges, fragrant cilantro, crunchy salted cashews, and a generous sprinkling of crispy wonton strips. Completing this tantalizing creation is the ultimate sesame ginger dressing, perfectly poised to complement every element. Preparing this dressing in advance allows for ease and convenience, leaving you free to have a little snack on those irresistible wonton strips while you assemble the salad.

Ingredients

• 1 head of romaine lettuce, shredded
• 4 cups of shredded napa cabbage
• 3 cups of leftover shredded rotisserie chicken
• 1 (15-ounce) can of mandarin oranges, drained
• ½ cup of chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• ½ cup of roasted salted cashews
• 3 green onions, thinly sliced
• 2 cups of crispy wonton strips, whether homemade or store-bought
• 2 teaspoons of toasted sesame seeds

For the sesame ginger dressing

• ¼ cup of rice vinegar

• 3 tablespoons of orange marmalade
• 2 ½ tablespoons of canola oil
• 2 ½ tablespoons of toasted sesame oil
• 1 tablespoon of reduced sodium soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons of freshly grated ginger
• 2 teaspoons of toasted sesame seeds
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Begin by assembling the salad. Take a large bowl and place the shredded romaine lettuce inside. Follow by adding the napa cabbage, shredded rotisserie chicken, mandarin oranges, fresh cilantro, salted cashews, and thinly sliced green onions.
2. Once all the ingredients are in the bowl, it's time to incorporate the powerful sesame ginger dressing. Pour the dressing evenly over the salad and gently toss everything together to ensure the flavors meld deliciously.
3. The Chinese chicken salad is now ready to be served. You may choose to add a final touch by topping it with crispy wonton strips and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds.

For the sesame ginger dressing

1. In a small bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, orange marmalade, canola oil, sesame oil, soy sauce, freshly grated ginger, and toasted sesame seeds. Ensure that the ingredients are thoroughly combined, and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper according to your taste preferences.
2. Feel free to prepare the dressing ahead of time, allowing the flavors to intensify while stored in the refrigerator.

Enjoy this homemade Chinese chicken salad, a delightful medley of freshness and Asian-inspired flavors.