.chinese chicken salad.

The weather is starting to warm up here in New York and this is when I start wanting salad.  I love salad.  This is a recipe I got from my sister, Ronda, but I tweaked it a little to give it  a more Asian flare.  There are four different steps to this dish.  Each can be done early in the day or even the day before and then tossed together when you're ready to eat.  Make sure if you do hold it for another day, that you don't add the mandarin oranges or chicken until you're ready to toss.  This will keep the lettuce from getting wilted and soggy.



STEP 1:  DRESSING

In a jar, mix together:

1/3 c. vegetable oil
1/4 c. rice wine vinegar
1/4 c. sugar
3 Tbsp soy sauce
2-3 Tbsp chopped cilantro
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp chili oil (optional* - use only if you want your salad to have a kick!)

Put a lid on the jar and shake it up.  Set aside and add to salad when you're ready to eat.

STEP 2:  CANDIED ALMONDS

In a saucepan or skillet, put 1 cup slivered almonds & 6 Tbsp sugar

Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the sugar is melted and coats the almonds. Dump onto a piece of foil and let cool completely. Break apart and add to the salad.  (I think you can find candied almonds in the produce section of your local grocer.  So if you find them, take the short cut and use them!)

STEP 3:  SALAD

In a large bowl, put:

4 cups chopped lettuce
2-3 cups chopped cabbage (you can  use red or green)
1 bunch green onion, sliced on the diagonal
1 cup celery, sliced on the diagonal
2-3 carrots, peeled and shredded
1 - 11oz can mandarin oranges, drained
2-3 chicken breasts, cooked, cooled, and diced

STEP 4:  WONTON STRIPS

Take a package of won ton wrappers and slice them into strips.  Heat some oil (1 cup) in a skillet and heat over medium heat.  Test the oil by tossing one strip in.  If it just sits there and doesn't immediately start frying, the oil is too cold.  You want these to fry quickly so they don't absorb a lot of the oil.

Fry up a handful of wontons and remove when golden brown.  Put on paper towels to drain.  Repeat until all the wontons are fried up.


Toss everything together (minus the wonton strips).  Put a handful of crispy wontons on top and serve!  The perfect Spring/Summer meal for you and your family!  Enjoy!