What's Cookin' - Warm Chicken Salad with Orange Sesame Dressing
If you're looking for a delicious, healthy and easy-to-make dish to impress your guests or satisfy your cravings, look no further than this warm chicken salad with orange sesame dressing. This dish is packed with flavor, nutrients and textures that will leave you feeling satisfied and nourished. Plus, it's versatile enough to be enjoyed as a main course or a side dish, depending on your appetite and preferences.
The key to this dish is the orange sesame dressing, which is both tangy and sweet, and perfectly complements the savory chicken and the crunchy vegetables. To make the dressing, you'll need the following ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons of orange juice
- 2 teaspoons of soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- 1 teaspoon of sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon of rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of toasted sesame seeds
Simply mix all these ingredients in a small bowl and whisk them together until they're well combined. You can adjust the flavors to your liking by adding more or less honey, soy sauce or vinegar, depending on how sour or sweet you want the dressing to be. You can also multiply the recipe and keep some of the dressing in the fridge for future salads or marinades.
The next step is to prepare the chicken and the salad ingredients. For this recipe, you'll need the following:
- 1 pound of chicken breasts, sliced or diced
- 2 cups of mixed greens, chopped
- 1 cup of grated carrots
- 1 cup of sliced cucumbers
- 1 cup of sliced bell peppers
- 1/2 cup of chopped green onions
- 1/2 cup of chopped cilantro or parsley
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
To cook the chicken, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the chicken slices with salt and pepper, and then add them to the skillet. Cook the chicken for about 5-7 minutes, or until it's browned on the outside and no longer pink on the inside. You can also grill the chicken if you prefer.
While the chicken is cooking, prepare the salad ingredients by chopping and slicing the vegetables and mixing them together in a large bowl. You can use any vegetables you like or have on hand, such as spinach, arugula, radishes, cherry tomatoes, or avocados. The key is to have a variety of colors and textures that will make the salad look more appetizing.
Once the chicken is done, add it to the salad bowl and toss everything together. Drizzle the orange sesame dressing on top of the salad, and then sprinkle some chopped cilantro or parsley and sesame seeds on top for garnish. Serve the salad warm or at room temperature, depending on your preference.
This warm chicken salad with orange sesame dressing is both delicious and nutritious, as it's packed with protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals. The chicken provides lean protein, while the vegetables offer a variety of nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin A, folate, and potassium. The orange juice in the dressing is a good source of vitamin C, and the sesame seeds add healthy fats and antioxidants.
You can also make some variations to this recipe to suit your taste and diet restrictions. For example, if you're vegetarian or vegan, you can substitute the chicken with tofu, tempeh, or chickpeas. If you're gluten-free, you can use tamari instead of soy sauce. If you're paleo or keto, you can skip the honey and use a natural sweetener such as stevia or monk fruit. If you're allergic to sesame, you can use another nut or seed butter such as almond or sunflower.
In conclusion, this warm chicken salad with orange sesame dressing is a must-try recipe that will impress your taste buds and your guests. It's a perfect combination of flavors, textures and colors, and it's easy to make and customize. Whether you're looking for a healthy lunch, a dinner party dish, or a midweek meal, this salad is a winner. Give it a try and see for yourself what's cookin'!