Description
Crisp lettuce and succulent grilled Thai chicken salad with peanut dressing create a harmonious blend of flavors and textures. Cool ingredients mingle with spicy notes, delivering a refreshing meal you’ll savor down to the last bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups (720 ml) shredded cooked chicken
- 1 pound (454 g) coleslaw mix
- ½ cup (75 g) chopped peanuts
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 5 tbsps creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup (4 tbsps) chopped scallions
- 3 tbsps water, or more as needed
- 2 tbsps soy sauce
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
- ½ tsp pure sesame oil
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- Small handful fresh cilantro, chopped (optional but recommended)
- Small handful fresh basil, sliced thin or torn (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Dressing Preparation: Whisk peanut butter with warm water, soy sauce, lime juice, honey, sesame oil, ginger, and garlic powder until achieving a silky, well-blended consistency with a pourable texture.
- Flavor Calibration: Fine-tune the dressing by incrementally adding lime juice for brightness or honey for subtle sweetness, ensuring a balanced and harmonious profile.
- Salad Assembly: Combine coleslaw mix, chopped chicken breast, scallions, red bell pepper, roasted peanuts, cilantro, and basil leaves in a spacious mixing bowl, gently tossing to distribute ingredients evenly.
- Dressing Integration: Drizzle prepared peanut dressing over the salad, carefully coating each component while preserving the delicate structure and vibrant textures.
- Final Seasoning: Sprinkle kosher salt and cracked black pepper to elevate the overall flavor, adjusting to personal taste preferences.
- Serving Recommendation: Plate immediately for peak freshness, or refrigerate briefly for 15-20 minutes to allow flavors to meld and intensify before presenting a delectable Thai-inspired culinary creation.
Notes
- Dressing Consistency Check: Whisk thoroughly to prevent separation and ensure a smooth, creamy texture that clings perfectly to salad ingredients.
- Flavor Balancing Trick: Taste and adjust dressing by adding small amounts of lime juice, honey, or soy sauce to create a harmonious sweet-tangy-savory profile.
- Protein Preparation Tip: Use freshly cooked or rotisserie chicken, shredding it while still warm for maximum moisture and flavor absorption.
- Make-Ahead Strategy: Prepare components separately and combine just before serving to maintain crisp vegetables and prevent soggy texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Dinner
- Method: None
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg