I love Asian chicken Salad. It is second only to chocolate on my list of favorites. I enjoy trying new variations and often experiment with it at home. When I discovered quinoa while going through my pantry, I knew I had to try it in this salad!
Quinoa, with its nutty flavor and crunchy texture, is a natural addition to this type of salad. In this easy recipe, I used quinoa to replace both the nuts and the noodles that are often included.
I save money on quinoa by buying it from the bulk section. It is fast and easy to prepare. You cook quinoa for 10 – 15 minutes or until the germ separates from the seed. The germ has a slight curl to it, so when you remove the lid and see lots of little curlicues, don’t panic.
Asian Chicken Salad with Quinoa
Fresh and flavorful!
Servings - 8 servings
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup quinoa
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 head of cabbage thinly sliced
- 2 cups julienned carrots
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 sweet pepper diced
- 2 cups cooked chicken diced
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/4 cup almond butter or peanut butter or sunflower seed butter
- 3 Tbsp honey
- 1/3 cup rice vinegar
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce I use Bragg's Liquid Aminos to make this gf
- 2 Tbsp apple juice or white grape juice
- 2 Tbsp oil
- 1 tsp grated ginger
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Add quinoa and water to a pot. Cook over a medium-high flame until it reaches a boil. Lower flame, cover and simmer for 10 – 15 minutes or until germ separates from the seed.
- While the quinoa is cooking, dice the vegetables and chicken.
- In a glass bowl, combine almond butter and honey. Microwave for 20 seconds to soften the almond butter. Add the vinegar, juice, oil, ginger, and garlic powder. Use a whisk to thoroughly combine the ingredients.
- In a large bowl, combine the cabbage, carrots, peppers, onions, and quinoa. Toss to thoroughly combine.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to thoroughly coat.
- Refrigerate for approximately 2 hours before serving.