Let’s face it: as much as we all love a good old-fashioned Caesar salad, we could stand to shake things up a tad. Well, here comes Mandarin Salad to not just shake things up but to bring on an earthquake! Atop the crunchy bed of lettuce lies shredded savory chicken, juicy and refreshing mandarin oranges, nutty almonds, and crispy ramen noodles. Instead of your typical dressing, the Mandarin Salad provides a tangy, sweet sauce that really sells its Asian fusion influence. This is a salad that is easy, breezy, and incredibly unique, the sort of treat your schedule and your tastebuds deserve!
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 3 cups romaine or iceberg lettuce, finely chopped
- 2 cups red cabbage, shredded
- 2 cups chicken, shredded
- 1/2 cup jarred mandarin oranges, drained
- 1 instant ramen packet, crushed and flavor packet discarded
- 1/2 cup carrot, shredded
- 1/3 cup green onions, sliced
- 1/4 cup almonds, sliced
For the dressing:
- 3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon ginger, minced
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
Directions
Step 1 –In a large salad bowl, toss the lettuce, red cabbage, chicken, mandarin oranges, ramen noodles, carrots, green onions, and sliced almonds.
Step 2 –In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, honey, sesame oil, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic.
Step 3 –Whisking constantly, slowly drizzle the vegetable oil into the dressing mixture until emulsified.
Step 4 –Drizzle the dressing over the salad, tossing to combine.
Step 5 –Serve.