Description
The Chicken Cashew Crunch Salad is a fresh and vibrant dish combining tender shredded chicken, crisp fresh vegetables, smoky turkey bacon, and crunchy toasted cashews and sesame seeds, all tossed in a zesty natural dressing made from apple cider vinegar, honey, sesame oil, and garlic. This nutritious and satisfying salad offers a harmonious blend of textures and flavors, perfect for a quick lunch or an impressive colorful meal that keeps well for leftovers.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 1 cup cooked and shredded chicken breast
- 1/2 cup chopped and cooked until crisp turkey bacon
- 1/3 cup toasted cashews
Vegetables
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced bell peppers
- 1/2 cup shredded cabbage
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onions
- 2 tablespoons freshly chopped cilantro
Dressing (natural)
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey (natural)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- Pinch of salt
Garnishes
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare the chicken: Cook the chicken breast thoroughly until juicy and fully done. Allow it to cool slightly, then shred into bite-size pieces for easy mixing and eating.
- Cook the turkey bacon: In a skillet over medium heat, fry the chopped turkey bacon until it becomes crispy. Drain on paper towels to remove excess fat and set aside.
- Toast cashews and sesame seeds: Using the same skillet, gently toast the cashews and sesame seeds over medium heat until they are fragrant and golden, enhancing their nutty aroma. Be careful to avoid burning.
- Chop and prepare the vegetables: Thinly slice the bell peppers, shred the cabbage and carrots, chop the cilantro, and slice the green onions. These fresh components add crispness and color to the salad.
- Mix the dressing (natural): In a bowl, whisk together apple cider vinegar, honey, sesame oil, minced garlic, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural), and a pinch of salt until well combined and balanced.
- Toss everything together: In a large bowl, combine the shredded chicken, crispy turkey bacon, fresh vegetables, toasted cashews, and sesame seeds. Drizzle the dressing over the mixture and toss gently to evenly coat all ingredients with the zesty dressing.
Notes
- Use day-old chicken for better shredding and flavor absorption.
- Toast cashews carefully to prevent burning and bitterness.
- Prepare the dressing (natural) ahead of time to develop deeper flavor.
- Drain excess fat from turkey bacon to keep the salad light and crisp.
- Chill the salad for 15 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld beautifully.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1 cup)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Chicken Cashew Crunch Salad, crunchy salad, healthy salad, protein salad, gluten free salad, zesty dressing, cashew salad
