Description
A fresh and vibrant Asian Chicken Cranberry Salad featuring crisp mixed greens, juicy chicken breast, tangy dried cranberries, and a zesty natural dressing. This colorful salad combines succulence, sweetness, and Asian-inspired flavors perfect for a light lunch, quick dinner, or impressive meal addition, ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 1 cup cooked chicken breast, shredded or diced
- 4 cups mixed greens (romaine, spinach, arugula)
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup julienned carrots
- 1/2 cup sliced cucumbers
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
Dressing (natural)
- 2 tablespoons vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (natural)
- 1 tablespoon honey (natural)
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon natural gelling agent (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Cook chicken breast by grilling, poaching, or baking until fully cooked. Let cool then shred or dice into bite-sized pieces.
- Wash and Dry the Greens: Rinse mixed greens thoroughly and pat dry using a clean towel or salad spinner to keep them crisp.
- Chop and Slice Fresh Ingredients: Julienne the carrots, slice the cucumbers thinly, and finely chop the green onions to ensure uniform texture and flavor balance.
- Make the Dressing (natural): In a small bowl, whisk together vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural), apple cider vinegar, soy sauce (natural), honey (natural), sesame oil, grated ginger, and the natural gelling agent if using. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Toss the Salad: In a large bowl, combine the cooked chicken, mixed greens, carrots, cucumbers, green onions, dried cranberries, and toasted sesame seeds. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently until evenly coated.
- Serve Immediately: Transfer the salad to serving bowls or plates, garnish as desired with fresh herbs or additional toasted sesame seeds, and enjoy while fresh.
Notes
- Use fresh, crisp vegetables and high-quality chicken for best results.
- Adjust the dressing’s sweetness and tanginess to your preference before tossing.
- Cook and chill chicken ahead to save time without losing flavor or texture.
- Ensure greens are thoroughly dry to prevent wilting.
- Add nuts or seeds as a final step to maintain their crunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Asian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 14g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Asian chicken salad, cranberry salad, healthy salad, quick dinner, light lunch, gluten free salad
