Cold Sesame Chicken Salad

Name: Cold Sesame Chicken Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (poached or rotisserie), shredded; 1/4 cup tahini (or smooth natural peanut butter); 2 tbsp soy sauce; 2 tbsp rice vinegar; 2 tsp toasted sesame oil; 2 tsp chili oil (or chili crisp); 2 tsp granulated sugar; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 2 tbsp warm water; 1 English cucumber, julienned; 4 scallions, thinly sliced; 2 tsp toasted sesame seeds

Poached chicken breast is shredded and tossed with a rich, nutty sesame-peanut dressing, cucumber matchsticks, and scallions for a refreshing and satisfying salad.

20 minEasyServes 4320 cal/serving

ChineseSaladNo-CookHigh ProteinLow CarbDairy-FreeLow-SodiumPork-FreeCorn-Free

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Ingredients

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (poached or rotisserie), shredded
1/4 cup tahini (or smooth natural peanut butter)
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tsp toasted sesame oil
2 tsp chili oil (or chili crisp)
2 tsp granulated sugar
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp warm water
1 English cucumber, julienned
4 scallions, thinly sliced
2 tsp toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

1

In a large bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup tahini (or smooth natural peanut butter), 2 tbsp soy sauce, 2 tbsp rice vinegar, 2 tsp toasted sesame oil, 2 tsp chili oil (or chili crisp), 2 tsp granulated sugar, and 2 minced garlic cloves. Whisk in 2 tbsp warm water a little at a time until the dressing is smooth and pourable.
2

Add 1 lb shredded boneless, skinless chicken breasts (poached or rotisserie) and 1 julienned English cucumber to the bowl. Toss to coat everything evenly with the dressing.
3

Taste and adjust seasoning with additional soy sauce, vinegar, or chili oil as desired.
4

Transfer to a serving plate and top with 4 thinly sliced scallions and 2 tsp toasted sesame seeds. Serve cold or at room temperature.

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Questions

What can I use instead of tahini in Cold Sesame Chicken Salad?

The entry for Cold Sesame Chicken Salad calls for 1/4 cup tahini (or smooth natural peanut butter). In its place: Unsweetened sunflower seed butter or cashew butter is the closest. Smooth natural peanut butter works where its flavor will not fight the dish.

Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts in Cold Sesame Chicken Salad?

Yes. Boneless thighs at the same weight are more forgiving and stay juicier. Give them two to four minutes longer; they are at their best around 175 F rather than 165 F. As written, the entry for Cold Sesame Chicken Salad uses 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts (poached or rotisserie), shredded.

Can I make Cold Sesame Chicken Salad gluten-free?

Yes. The gluten in Cold Sesame Chicken Salad is 2 tbsp soy sauce. Swap the soy-based sauce for tamari or coconut aminos. Everything else proceeds as written.

Does Cold Sesame Chicken Salad contain sesame?

Yes: 1/4 cup tahini (or smooth natural peanut butter), 2 tsp toasted sesame oil and 2 tsp toasted sesame seeds. The full allergen list for this entry is gluten, soy and sesame. Seeds used as a garnish can simply be left off; the oil has no true substitute. Packaged ingredients vary by brand, so check labels if the allergy is serious.

Can I make Cold Sesame Chicken Salad ahead?

Yes, it takes well to being made ahead. The base of Cold Sesame Chicken Salad is rice vinegar, which holds up: it keeps three to four days refrigerated and tastes better after a few hours, once the dressing has soaked in. Hold back a spoonful of dressing to freshen it before serving. Add the tahini at the table so it stays crisp. It does not freeze.

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