Do you have a jar of all-purpose stir-fry sauce in the fridge? You can make this colorful, spicy, and umami-rich gluten-free Chinese chicken salad for dinner tonight! This salad is topped with slices of crispy chicken, so it’s no wonder this all-in-one dinner makes everyone happy!
A healthy twist on Chinese chicken salad
Although most restaurant-style Chinese chicken salads rely on crunchy chow mein noodles or wonton strips for added texture, you won’t miss them in this paleo-friendly version. The combination of crunchy veggies, sweet tangerines, Cracklin’ chicken, toasted almonds and sesame seeds will more than make up for the lack of stale fried noodles!
All Purpose Stir Fry Sauce makes a fabulous salad dressing!
By now you should already know that my All-Purpose Stir Fry Sauce is truly a sauce/seasoning/marinade for EVERYTHING. The flavor mimics that of a soy sauce dressing with sesame oil, rice vinegar, ginger and garlic but because it is made with coconut aminos and fish sauce and sweetened with orange juice, this sauce appears to be without soy, gluten free and refined sugar free!
Whenever I feel like making a refreshing Asian-inspired salad, I use the dressing as a Whole30 Lively Salad Dressing. For this dish I like to blend the sauce with a little avocado oil, but you can store it without the oil if you prefer a spicier dressing for your Chinese chicken salad. Want more ideas and inspiration for using all-purpose stir-fry sauce? Check out this ever-expanding post!
Can you swap the veggies in the salad?
Decidedly! I like the color and crunch that comes from the combination of Napa cabbage, purple cabbage, and julienned carrots, but feel free to use your favorite lettuce and raw veggies. I’ve successfully made this Chinese Chicken Salad with a base of romaine lettuce, collard greens, arugula and even iceberg lettuce. I also like to add sliced cucumbers, radishes, peas, snow peas and julienned red peppers if I have them in the fridge.
What other proteins can I replace Cracklin’ Chicken with?
First of all, if you’ve never tried making Cracklin’ Chicken, you’re really missing out! It really is my favorite protein for this recipe and my kids wouldn’t accept anything else. That said, you can use any leftover cooked chicken (for example, chicken breast) instead. This salad can also be made with roasted shrimp, cooked salmon, fried tofu and leftover steak. (But come on: make some chicken crackling!)
Can I prepare this dish in advance?
Unfortunately, salads don’t get better with time. In fact, the longer you let the salad sit, the more watery the dressed cabbage will become. You’ll also miss out on the crunchiness of the toasted almonds and sesame seeds. If you need to make this salad ahead of time, prepare all the ingredients ahead of time and combine them right before serving the salad. I personally eat leftovers (because you don’t waste, I don’t want to!), but salad doesn’t taste as magical once it’s no longer fresh.
ingredients
- Crackling chicken (air fryer or stovetop method): There really is no substitute for this fabulously crispy and flavorful chicken! (But I have some protein substitutes listed above if you want a lower quality salad.)
- All purpose stir fry sauce: The Easiest Asian Salad Dressing!
- Avocado oil (optional): I like to blend the all-purpose stir-fry sauce with a little avocado oil for a more balanced dressing.
- Napa cabbage, cored and thinly sliced: Savoy cabbage or regular green cabbage are also fine!
- Red cabbage cored and cut into thin slices
- Carrots
- Green onions/scallions
- Fresh coriander leaves, roughly chopped
- Canned mandarins in 100% juice. (I buy the Native Forest brand)
- Toasted almond flakes: you can replace them with toasted cashews, hazelnuts, peanuts or other dried fruit.
- Toasted sesame seeds
I have a whole blog post about all the ways you can use it!
Too many choices? Prepare one of these recipes:
Looking for more recipe ideas? Go to my recipe index. You’ll also find exclusive recipes in my cookbooks, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2013), Ready or Not! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017) and Nom Nom Paleo: Let’s Go! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2022).
EASY TO PRINT RECIPE CARD
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Make some Air Fryer Cracklin’ Chicken or some OG Stovetop Cracklin’ Chicken and set aside. Don’t worry, crispy chicken will still be delicious at room temperature.
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While the chicken is frying, measure out the all-purpose stir-fry sauce and add the avocado oil, if using. Taste the seasoning on a piece of kale and add more avocado oil if desired.
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In a large bowl, combine cabbage, carrots, scallions, and cilantro.
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Pour in most of the salad dressing and mix well. Taste for seasoning and add more seasoning if needed.
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Transfer the dressed vegetables to a serving plate and sprinkle the salad with tangerines. Arrange the Cracklin’ Chicken on top of the salad.
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When you are ready to serve the Chinese Chicken Salad, sprinkle the toasted almonds and sesame seeds over the top. Serve immediately!
Calories: 613kcal | Carbohydrates: 29G | Protein: 35G | Fat: 41G | Fiber: 6G
Nutrition information is calculated automatically, so should only be used as an approximation.
