Edamame Crunch Chicken Salad (Printable Version)

Protein-packed salad with shredded chicken, crisp vegetables, and edamame in 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 Make It:

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 meld.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine shredded chicken, edamame, green and red cabbage, carrots, green onions, and red bell pepper.
03 - Pour the ginger dressing over the salad and toss thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.
04 - Sprinkle with roasted cashews or almonds and toasted sesame seeds.
05 - Serve immediately, or chill for 15 minutes to let flavors meld together for enhanced taste.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The ginger dressing hits that perfect sweet and tangy balance that makes you want to lick the bowl
  • Everything stays satisfyingly crisp even after hours in the fridge
  • It somehow tastes even better on day two when the flavors have really gotten to know each other
02 -
  • The salad holds up beautifully for 2-3 days in the fridge, but keep the nuts separate until serving or theyll get soggy and weird
  • If youre making this ahead, dress it right before serving—undressed components stay crisp way longer than anything thats been sitting in dressing
  • The ginger flavor intensifies overnight, so if youre meal prepping, maybe use slightly less fresh ginger than you think you need
03 -
  • Toasting your sesame seeds and nuts in a dry pan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes makes a bigger difference than youd expect
  • Grate your ginger against the grain to avoid those tough fibrous strings that end up in your teeth
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