Edamame Crunch Chicken Salad (Printer-friendly)

Protein-packed Asian-inspired salad with chicken, edamame, crisp vegetables and zesty ginger dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Protein

01 - 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast (about 2 small breasts)

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 cup shelled edamame (cooked and cooled)
03 - 2 cups shredded green cabbage
04 - 1 cup shredded red cabbage
05 - 1 cup shredded carrots
06 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
07 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

→ Crunch & Garnish

08 - 1/2 cup roasted cashews or sliced almonds (optional)
09 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

→ Ginger Dressing

10 - 1/4 cup rice vinegar
11 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce (use tamari for gluten-free)
12 - 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
13 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
14 - 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
15 - 1 garlic clove, minced
16 - 1 tablespoon lime juice
17 - 1 teaspoon sriracha or chili sauce (optional)
18 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a small bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, lime juice, and sriracha if using. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside to let flavors blend.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine shredded chicken, edamame, green and red cabbage, carrots, green onions, and red bell pepper. Mix gently to distribute ingredients evenly.
03 - Pour the prepared ginger dressing over the salad mixture. Toss thoroughly using salad servers or large spoons to coat all ingredients evenly with the dressing.
04 - Sprinkle roasted cashews or almonds and toasted sesame seeds over the top of the dressed salad for texture and visual appeal.
05 - Serve immediately for maximum crunch, or refrigerate for 15 minutes to allow flavors to meld together before serving.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The dressing keeps for days in the fridge, so you can batch it and have instant salads all week
  • Every bite delivers that perfect satisfying contrast of crisp vegetables and tender chicken
02 -
  • The dressing might taste quite sharp on its own, but it mellows perfectly when tossed with the vegetables and chicken
  • This salad actually tastes better after sitting for an hour, making it ideal for meal prep or potlucks
03 -
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant and golden brown
  • Use a vegetable peeler to create long, elegant ribbons of carrots instead of shredding them for a fancier presentation
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