Spring-Style Yummy Salads!

Background Info

Chinese salads add a healthy flare to eating light. The common garden salad is not as popular in China, however mixing a variety of vegetables together with a light sauce or dressing are quite popular; especially topped with wontons, nuts and/or noodles.

Recipe #1: Chinese Chicken Salad

Prep Time - 10 minutes

Service Size/Amount - Serves 1 person

Level of Difficulty - Easy

Ingredients

5 wonton wrappers (cut into ¼ inch strips)

½ cup shredded bok choy

4 shredded lettuce leaves (any type)

1 chicken breast

½ cup cilantro leaves

1 thinly sliced onion

1 red bell pepper cut into small pieces

1 carrot cut into small pieces

1 thinly sliced cucumber

½ cup canola oil

Oil for frying

¼ rice vinegar

3 tbsp soy sauce

1 ½ tsp sesame oil

Juice of one lemon

½ tsp honey

½ tsp toasted sesame seeds

1 minced clove of garlic

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Cut chicken breast diagonally into thin strips and season with salt and pepper. Cook on a grill or in a pan.
2. Heat oil in pan and fry the wonton wrappers until light brown and crisp. Place on a paper towel to cool.

Dressing

1. Whisk together oil, vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, lime, honey, sesame seeds, and garlic in a bowl.
2. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
3. Arrange peppers, carrots, onion, and cucumber in a salad bowl.
4. Combine bok choy, lettuce, chicken, and cilantro and place over other vegetables.
5. Drizzle with dressing and garnish with sesame seeds and wonton strips.

Recipe #2: Chinese-Style Potato Salad

Prep Time - 25 minutes plus cooling

Service Size/Amount - Serves 5 people

Level of Difficulty - Easy

Ingredients

6 medium potatoes

4 slices well cooked bacon (crumbled)

Large bunch bok choy

1 diced red pepper

1 chopped spring/green onion

1 finely chopped red chili

1 tbsp fresh coriander

1 tsp grated fresh ginger

4 tbsp mayonnaise

1 tsp sugar

1 tbsp soy sauce

2 tsp sesame oil

¼ tsp hot mustard powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Bring a large pan of water to a boil and add potatoes.
2. Cook for 10 minutes.
3. Allow to cool then peel and chop into small cubes.

Sauce

1. Mix all the ingredients together in medium bowl.
2. Mix the remaining salad ingredients together in a large bowl.
3. Drizzle the sauce over the ingredients and combine.
4. Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Recipe #3: Chinese Tiger Salad

Prep Time - 25 minutes

Service Size/Amount - Serves 6 people

Level of Difficulty - Easy

Ingredients

½ cucumber

1 ¼ tsp salt

3 large green onions

1 large green pepper

1 large red pepper

2 tbsp rice vinegar

1 ½ tbsp sesame oil

¼ tsp chili pepper flakes

6 tbsp freshly chopped coriander

Instructions

1. Cut cucumber in half lengthwise and gently scrape out seeds with a small spoon. Cut each half crosswise. Cut each piece into small thin strips and place in medium size bowl tossed with 1 tsp salt.
2. Slice green onions and peppers into thin strips.
3. Whisk together vinegar, sesame oil, chili flakes and remaining salt into a large bowl.
4. Add strips of cucumber, onions, peppers and coriander.
5. Toss well.
6. Add cashews or peanuts for an extra crunch.

Closing

These are only a small sampling of the wonderful Spring-style salads that are scattered throughout China. Feel free to do your own research into different salads across the country and maybe host a salad party during the upcoming warmer months.

Citation(s)

1. Cook, Eat, Share: https://cookeatshare.com/recipes/chinese-chicken-salad-713281
2. Good Food: https://goodfood.uktv.co.uk/recipe/chinese-style-potato-salad/
3. All Recipes: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/247246/tiger-salad/

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