Gluten Free Dairy Free Sugar Free Chinese Chicken Salad
By: Jessica Glick
Published: Monday, January 12, 2015 - 12:55pm

Ingredients




Salad:
3 chicken breasts (bone in, preferably organic) roasted and shredded
1/2 red cabbage
1/2 green cabbage
2 bunches romaine lettuce hearts
6 scallions
3 carrots
6-8 fresh satsuma mandarins
Dressing:
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup champagne vinegar (I used O gluten free brand), or apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons sesame oil
3 tablespoons white sesame seeds
1 1/2 tablespoons black sesame seeds
1 1/2 tablespoons xylitol (I use Epic Dental brand)
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon crushed black pepper
juice of one mandarin (cut crosswise then squeeze into jar over a strainer)

Preparation

1 For the salad: 2 Finely slice the red, and green cabbage. 3 Remove ends and finely slice romaine lettuce. 4 Trim ends of scallions (white and green side) and finely slice. 5 Peel and grate carrots, or put into a mini food processor to finely chop. 6 Peel clementines then remove pith from slices. 7 Add all the ingredients into a large serving bowl. 8 For the dressing: 9 Add all the ingredients into a glass jar and shake until well blended, or whisk all the ingredients in a mixing bowl. 10 Pour dressing over salad, toss to combine well. 11 If making ahead, dress the salad just before serving.

About

I adapted this Chinese Chicken Salad for dinner last night. I had the "original" (minus the noodles) while out with a friend at this popular pizza chain restaurant last week.  As I’m eating, I thought: “Why not make this salad for dinner? … something light after all the sweets we have been eating since Thanksgiving”. So, I went ahead and made my version of their Chinese Chicken Salad using fresh mandarin slices (instead of canned), and green cabbage (instead of napa cabbage - a type of Chinese cabbage that is more oval than round). Either, or both of the original ingredients would work fine in here if these are not available. I just thought extra cabbage crunch and some fresh satsuma mandarin - now in season and at their best - would be better instead. There were so many different ingredients dressed in the simple sesame dressing that adding noodles just may be a thing of the past. 
You can make all the components of this colorful salad a day ahead, as well as the dressing, and assemble it before serving and for a protein-rich vegan option, try canned black beans or great northern beans, they make a tasty substitute. Leftovers make a nice lunch to pack for school, or work, well, that is if there are any leftovers … enjoy!