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by Todd + Diane
Craving an easy asian chopped chicken salad? This simple recipe is perfect for a quick lunch or satisfying dinner.
Asian Chopped Chicken Salad
There comes a time when we all try to be good and clear out the fridge or pantry. Sometimes we call it “everything but the kitchen sink” recipe or “fridge clearing” dish. What ever you decide to call it, we’ve all had this focus and ambition to make the most of leftovers. Waste is never our prerogative, so these moments when we attempt to make something edible out of small-batch ingredients can be either rewarding or just “meh”. That’s when it’s time for In-n-Out! Anyone with us!?
A few months we were heading out of town for a convention after two big back to back shoots. We were overloaded with small bits of almost every ingredient under the sun. You should have seen our studio. It was like a rainbow of vegetables all strewn between two refrigerators. In an attempt to polish off all our excess ingredients we called some family over for breakfast, lunch AND dinner. With a collection of hungry brothers, it’s really simple to have a fridge-clearing feast.
Add Different Toppings
This Asian chopped chicken salad was one of the favorite recipes that made great use of the leftovers. And it’s now our go-to lunch salad.It’ll be your favorite Asian chopped chicken salad too. Just make it your own and go to town with it.
Toppled with what ever you want, this Asian chicken salad has all the base ingredients that we all love: grilled chicken breast, pineapple, crunchy lettuce, peanuts and a creamy peanut dressing. We had cucumbers and thought about adding it in, but decided to keep it simple and save the cucumber for another salad. How about some crumbed bacon? chopped boiled egg? chopped ham? tomatoes? chopped apples? avocado? Geez, the list can go on, especially if you haven’t had a fridge-clearing session in a long time.
After the fridge was finally cleared and everyone was fed, it felt so gratifying to make something out of what some would consider, nothing. Even the smallest amounts of ingredients can go a long way if you just become a little creative. And daring.
Do you have any favorite-fridge clearing recipes? Indulge us!
Eat Well,
diane and todd
Asian Chopped Chicken Salad Recipe with Peanut Dressing
Yield: 4 Servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Cook Time: 10 minutes mins
Total Time: 25 minutes mins
This chicken salad recipe is so versatile, so have fun with it. You can add cucumbers, tomatoes, avocado, apples, chopped boiled egg and even ham! Make it your own. Also, this dressing also makes a great dip. Just make it a little thicker for dips.
For a better tasting dressing, make it the night before and refrigerate it before eating.
5 from 4 votes
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Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 1-2 cups (240-480 ml) chopped cooked chicken
- 1 head of chopped crisp lettuce (green leaf, ice berg or romaine)
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) roasted peanuts
- 1 cup (240 ml) chopped pineapple
- chopped boiled eggs, avocado, cucumbers, apples, mango (optional, have fun with it!)
For the Peanut Dressing:
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 2 Tablespoons (30 ml) vegetable oil or grape seed oil
- 1/2 cup (130 g) smooth peanut butter
- 2 Tablespoon (30 ml) rice vinegar (use Distilled white vinegar for gluten free)
- 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) fresh lime juice
- 2 Tablespoon (30 ml) fish sauce or soy sauce (try fish sauce, it tastes so much better!) (use Tamari for gluten free)
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) chili garlic hot sauce (optional)
- about 3/4 cup (180ml) water
- additional water to thin out dressing , if needed
Instructions
In large bowl, add peanut butter, rice vinegar, lime juice, fish sauce , brown sugar, chili garlic hot sauce and water. Whisk and combine ingredients. If the dressing is too thick, add additional water.
Heat medium sauce pan. Add oil, then garlic and cook garlic until translucent and fragrant, about 1 minute. Do not burn garlic.
Add dressing mixture to the pan with garlic and cook on low heat for about 1 minute.
Remove dressing from heat and allow to completely cool. After cooling, add additional water to your desired thickness
In large bowl, combine all chopped salad ingredients. Toss peanut dressing to chopped salad ingredients right before serving.
Nutrition Information per Serving
Calories: 471kcal, Carbohydrates: 22g, Protein: 24g, Fat: 35g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Cholesterol: 26mg, Sodium: 986mg, Potassium: 757mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 11g, Vitamin A: 3391IU, Vitamin C: 26mg, Calcium: 81mg, Iron: 2mg
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: 30 Minute Meals, Asian
Calories: 471
Here’s more greatasian salad recipes.
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100+ Easy Meals 30 Minute Recipes Asian Chicken | Turkey Food Gluten Free Healthy Low Carb | Keto Paleo Recipes Salads Sauce | Dressings Vegetables
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8 comments on “Asian Chopped Chicken Salad – a delicious fridge-clearing recipe”
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Sophie — August 27, 2013 @ 10:45 am Reply
When I clean out the fridge I usually use the vegetables/any cold meats to make fried rice. This is much fresher though, your dressing sounds so good! I love a good peanut dressing spiked with chiles, garlic, lime and of COURSE fish sauce 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration! We have people gifting us tons of zucchini and tomatoes right now…. tomatoes, fish sauce, cilantro and a little summer corn makes a nice side salad too.
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Belinda @themoonblushbaker — August 27, 2013 @ 7:08 am Reply
the best fridge cleaning dish for me has to be a baked egg/ omelette style dish. Throw all your starch, meat, egg and veggies in skillet; few minutes on the stove then under the grill with cheese or bread crumbs. Fab meal for any time.
I am addicted to fish sauce, often to the dismay of my family but hey more for me then right? -
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com — August 26, 2013 @ 5:06 pm Reply
We love chopped salad just so we can clean out the fridge! There’s nothing right or wrong about chopped salad. But I love your Asian twist on this recipe with a peanut dressing. Yum!
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Fawn — August 26, 2013 @ 5:04 pm Reply
This peanut dressing is a winner! Fish sauce = best sauce.
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Liz @ The Lemon Bowl — August 26, 2013 @ 10:38 am Reply
The best meals come from cleaning out the fridge! This looks insanely delicious!!
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Lizthechef — August 26, 2013 @ 8:11 am Reply
I adore chopped salads because every bite is perfectly dressed.
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Tieghan — August 26, 2013 @ 5:31 am Reply
Wow, I wish my cleaning out the fridge resulted in a dish like this! Normally, my dish are through everything in a casserole dish and cover it with cheese, then bake and done! It never looks as pretty as this! Plus, these flavors are awesome. I love asian anything!
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Averie @ Averie Cooks — August 26, 2013 @ 1:08 am Reply
This is such a gorgeous way to clear out your fridge! For me, a fritatta works well. Eggs, cheese, big skillet, bake it all together, can’t go wrong and I’ve put everything from noodles to kale in them, and it always works out (reasonably) well. Your meal is so pretty!
