Asian Chicken Cranberry Salad
Ingredients:
12 cups coleslaw mix (2 small bags)
4 cups rotisserie chicken, finely chopped
1 ½ cups toasted sliced almonds (or cashews)
1 ½ cups dried cranberries
¾ cup red onion, finely diced
1 cup sesame sticks (optional)
1 ½ cups chopped cilantro
1-2 small cans mandarin oranges, drained
¼ cup black sesame seeds (or regular sesame seeds)
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup balsamic vinegar
4 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
4 Tbsp honey (or brown sugar)
4 Tbsp minced ginger
2 tsp toasted sesame oil
Directions:
1. Prepare the Salad:
Layer coleslaw mix, chopped rotisserie chicken, toasted almonds, dried cranberries, diced red onion, sesame seeds, optional sesame sticks, and chopped cilantro in a large bowl. Add mandarin oranges for an extra burst of flavor if desired.
2. Make the Dressing:
In a blender, combine extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, low-sodium soy sauce, chopped garlic, honey, minced ginger, and toasted sesame oil.
Add 3 tablespoons of water to the blender and blend until the dressing is smooth and well-combined.
3. Combine Salad and Dressing:
Lightly pour the prepared dressing over the salad mixture to your desired level of moistness.
Gently toss the salad to evenly distribute the dressing and ingredients.
4. Serve and Enjoy:
Transfer the dressed salad to serving plates or bowls and serve immediately. Enjoy the refreshing flavors of this Asian-inspired salad!