Chinese Chicken Salad with Dates Recipe
A refreshing and wholesome Chinese Chicken Salad featuring tender cooked chicken, crisp romaine lettuce, vibrant red cabbage and carrots, crunchy almonds, and sweet medjool dates. Tossed in a flavorful homemade sesame dressing made with coconut aminos, rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, garlic, and ginger, this salad offers a delightful balance of savory, sweet, and tangy flavors perfect for a light lunch or dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cups cubed cooked chicken (about 2 lb raw weight before cooking)
- 4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup shredded red cabbage
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds
- 2 Natural Delights® pitted medjool dates, chopped
- 2 green onions, chopped
- Optional: sesame seeds for garnish
Dressing Ingredients
- 2 Natural Delights® pitted medjool dates
- 3 tbsp coconut aminos
- 3 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 garlic clove, peeled
- 1/2 inch piece ginger
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing Ingredients: Combine all dressing ingredients—including the 2 pitted medjool dates, coconut aminos, rice vinegar, olive oil, toasted sesame oil, garlic clove, ginger, ground black pepper, and sea salt—in a blender. Let the dates soak and soften while assembling the salad components.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cubed cooked chicken, romaine lettuce, shredded red cabbage, shredded carrots, sliced almonds, chopped medjool dates, and chopped green onions. Do not add sesame seeds yet if using.
- Blend the Dressing: After the dates have softened from soaking, blend all the dressing ingredients until smooth and creamy, ensuring the garlic and ginger are fully incorporated.
- Toss the Salad: Pour the blended sesame dressing over the salad mixture. Toss thoroughly to coat all the ingredients evenly with the dressing, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Garnish and Serve: If desired, sprinkle sesame seeds on top of the dressed salad for an added crunch and nutty flavor before serving immediately.
Notes
- For best texture, use cooked chicken that is cooled before cubing and adding to the salad.
- You can substitute coconut aminos with low-sodium soy sauce if preferred.
- The salad is best served fresh to retain crispness of the vegetables.
- To make this salad vegan, substitute cooked chicken with baked tofu or tempeh and ensure the dressing ingredients are vegan-friendly.
- Sesame seeds garnish is optional but adds a nice visual appeal and a subtle crunch.
Keywords: Chinese Chicken Salad, Medjool Dates Salad, Sesame Dressing, Healthy Chicken Salad, Gluten Free Salad, Asian Inspired Salad
