Chinese Chicken Salad With Crispy Wontons And Sesame Ginger Dressing

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This is a very easy salad if you plan ahead and buy some of the ingredients already made...like at Target.  I am lucky to have a Super Target where I live and have noticed how they are expanding their grocery side, particularly their premium food brand, Archer Farms.

A couple of days ago,  on my way down the canned goods aisle, my right eye spotted something my mind couldn't believe.  Ready made Wonton Strips for salads!

I have been wanting to make a Chinese chicken salad for ages, but frankly my dedication to food doesn't transcend to actually making my own wonton strips.  So problem solved.  Armed with two bags and a can of their mandarin oranges I came home to make my long awaited salad.  Luckily I had some leftover grilled chicken thighs from the night before so the planets were aligned for a positive outcome.  Next time, though,  I will plan ahead and grill chicken breasts for dinner and use the leftovers for the salad.

Should you be so inclined or not able to find a Target with ready made wonton strips, I am including a recipe.  They can be made the day before and kept in an air tight container, after they are completely cooled.

Now you all know Chinese don't  have salads, right? What makes this "Chinese" is the ingredients.  Just checking....

The mandarin oranges and cucumbers make for a refreshing salad and the perfect choice for a hot summer day.   That, and the fact that it doesn't have that many calories, makes it the perfect lunch for The Ladies Who Lunch!

Serves 4 to 6


Ingredients:


2 grilled or roasted chicken breasts, sliced 1/2 inch thick
1 pkg Spring Greens And Baby Lettuce
1/4 pkg. Broccoli Slaw
1 medium cucumber thinly sliced
1/2 lrg can mandarin oranges, drained
1/2 red pepper thinly sliced
1/2 yellow pepper thinly sliced
cilantro leaves chopped
Sesame seeds
1 pkg Archer Farms Wonton Strips
1/2 cup Sesame Ginger Salad Dressing Recipe*


For the Sesame Ginger Salad Dressing:


1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup low-sodium or light soy sauce
1/4 cup pure sesame oil
2-inch ginger, peeled and minced
2-3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 stalk scallion, cut into thin rounds
1 small shallot, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon sesame seeds, lightly toasted

For the wonton strips:

For fried wontons (optional)

• 20 square wonton wrappers, thawed if frozen
• About 2 1/2 cups vegetable oil

Directions:


Marinade the chicken for an hour in 1/4 cup of the Sesame Ginger Dressing.  Grill or roast in the oven.  About 45 minutes.  Let the chicken cool off.  Slice in 1/2 inch slices


Mix all the salad ingredients.  Add the chicken and mandarin slices, sesame seeds and some of the cilantro.  Toss.  Dress with the rest of the Sesame Ginger dressing and add the wonton strips on top. 


For the Sesame Ginger Dressing:


Whisk all the Dressing ingredients together and set aside for at least 1 hour. Refrigerate until use. Alternatively, buy ready made Sesame Ginger Dressing.  I used Archer Farms Sesame Ginger Dressing (NEW).

For the wonton strips: 


Cut wonton wrappers into 1/2-inch-wide strips and separate on paper towels.

Heat 3/4 inch oil in a wide 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat until it registers 350°F on thermometer. Fry strips, 5 or 6 at a time, gently turning over once with a slotted spoon, until just golden, 15 to 30 seconds per batch (some strips will fold and curl). Transfer to paper towels to drain, then season with salt.

The Sesame Ginger Salad Dressing Recipe is from Rasa Malaysia