If you’re looking for a light and healthy dish that’s packed with flavor, you can’t go wrong with Chinese chicken salad. With bold Asian flavors, tons of color, great texture, and crunchy toppings, this salad is a great way to wake up your taste buds. It’s a perfect simple dinner option that the whole family will love.
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What is Chinese Chicken Salad?
Chinese chicken salad typically consists of mixed greens, shredded napa cabbage, and shredded chicken breast and can include lots of other ingredients. Among the most popular choices are mandarin oranges, slivered almonds, green onions, carrots, sesame seeds, Chow Mein noodles, and crispy wonton strips. It’s often served with an Asian dressing that includes ingredients like soy sauce, sesame oil, fresh ginger, and rice vinegar.
There are tons of different ways to customize this basic salad recipe, and you can feel free to toss in your favorite ingredients and create your own unique version. You can also cook your own chicken or save time and use a store-bought rotisserie chicken. If you’re looking for a good recipe to start with, I love this easy and incredibly tasty Chinese Chicken Salad recipe.
Now if you’re looking for some great side dishes and appetizers to make a complete meal, we’ve got all kinds of delicious options for you. This versatile main dish pairs well with soups, dumplings, rice dishes and more. We’ve even got ideas for desserts and wine pairings. Read on for our favorite ideas for what to serve with Chinese chicken salad.
Dumplings
Dumplings are first on our list of great side dishes for your Chinese chicken salad. They’re a classic Asian comfort food that adds some delicious and satisfying carbs to the light and healthy salad. You can get the meat, seafood, or vegetarian varieties, and all would be delicious with your salad. You can make your own dumplings if you’re feeling ambitious, but you’ll also find lots of great pre-made options at the grocery store.
Rice Dishes
Rice is another comforting and carb-filled dish that works well with Chinese chicken salad. Fried rice is a classic choice – it typically contains many of the same flavors as you’ll find in your chicken salad, and it’s quick and easy to prepare. If you’ve never made your own before, this Easy Egg Fried Rice is a great simple recipe to try.
But you can also keep your rice dishes simple and go with plain steamed white rice – or choose a brown or jasmine rice variety. Add a dash of soy sauce or sesame oil, and you’ve got a simple and satisfying side dish.
Noodles
Noodle dishes are another staple in Asian cuisine, and they’d be a great addition to your Chinese chicken salad dinner. Like rice and dumplings, they add some comforting carbs that are a nice contrast to the light and crisp salad.
Serve some vegetarian or chicken Lo Mein noodles, a cold sesame noodle dish, or any Asian-inspired noodle dish. I love these Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken and Noodles or this Asian Noodle Bowl with Grilled Shrimp. Another great option would be ramen noodles. There are tons of easy ramen recipes out there, and the homemade variety really blows the packaged stuff away.
Soups
Soup and salad are a classic combination, and the warmth of the soup provides a nice contrast to the cool and fresh salad. For that reason, we love all varieties of chicken soup to pair with your salad. Chicken noodle and chicken rice soup would both be great choices, or look for an Asian inspired choice like wonton, miso, or egg drop soup. Any of these options would be a perfect way to round out your Chinese chicken salad dinner.
Spring, Summer, and Egg Rolls
Spring Rolls, Summer Rolls and Egg Rolls are terrific choices as an appetizer for your Chinese chicken salad. Both spring rolls and egg rolls have a crispy wrapper filled with ingredients like pork, chicken, bean sprouts, cabbage, and other veggies, and both are deep fried. But as its name implies, egg rolls have an egg added to the wrapper batter, resulting in a bumpy texture, while spring rolls are smooth on the outside.
Summer rolls, on the other hand, have a translucent rice paper wrapper, and are traditionally filled with fresh veggies, rice noodles, and a protein like shrimp or pork. Spring and Egg rolls are a delicious and indulgent choice that will remind you of take out from your favorite Chinese restaurant, while summer rolls are great if you want to keep it light with lots of fresh clean flavors.
Edamame
If you want to keep things on the light and healthy side, edamame would make an ideal appetizer or side dish for your Chinese chicken salad. These green soybeans have a delicious nutty flavor and are a great source of protein and fiber. You can find edamame in the frozen section of most grocery stores, and the best way to prepare them is by boiling or steaming. I like to keep it simple with the seasonings and just sprinkle on some flaky sea salt and maybe a dash of crushed red pepper flakes to add a little spice.
Dessert Ideas
If you want to stick with the Asian theme for your dessert, there are several fun options that you can try. You’ve already done plenty of cooking, so save time with some delicious and easy store-bought options. Matcha green tea ice cream would be a delicious and refreshing choice, and you can pick up some fortune cookies to go with it. Or try Mochi ice cream, a Japanese dessert which can be found in most grocery stores. It consists of a chewy rice cake with sweet ice cream filling and comes in a wide variety of delicious flavors.
If you’re making your own dessert, some other great options include things that incorporate the flavors in your chicken salad, such as ginger, almond, or mandarin orange. Try making some chewy ginger snaps, an almond cake, or a chocolate orange mousse. Or keep it light and healthy with a simple fruit salad topped with some homemade whipping cream.
Wine Pairings
If you’re looking for the perfect glass of wine to complement your Chinese chicken salad, look to a crisp and acidic white such as a Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Grigio. The acidity in these wines will help to cut through the fat content of the dressing. If you’re adding spice to your salad in the form of crushed red pepper flakes or a spicy dressing, try a sweeter white, like a Riesling or a Chenin Blanc. The sweetness of these wines will soften the spiciness of the food.
If you prefer red wines, go with a lighter bodied red like a pinot noir, as it’s less likely than a more full-bodied red to overpower the flavor of the chicken.
And if you’re looking for a great non-alcoholic option, try a jasmine or an oolong tea. They’re both delicious either hot or iced.
If you’ve never made Chinese chicken salad before, I hope these delicious appetizer, side, and dessert ideas have inspired you not only to try it, but also to create an entire Asian-inspired dinner that the whole family will love.
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