Chopped Chinese Chicken Salad

After my last few posts on bacon and pasta, I decided it was time to get back on the wagon and make a refreshing and light salad. This Chopped Chinese Chicken Salad is so tasty, you won't know it's clean! I cleaned up the dressing by using stevia instead of sugar and light soy for a lower sodium option. I was careful to make sure none of the flavor was lost from the standard calorie ridden dressing everyone loves.

With so many colors, this salad has a beautiful presentation, which makes it a great option as a healthy side at your next potluck, luncheon or shower.

Chinese Chopped Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

1 Romaine lettuce heart, shredded

1 bag of coleslaw mix 

1 red bell pepper, julienned

1/2 head of shredded purple cabbage

2 Cups of shredded carrots

1 bunch scallions, chopped

1 lb of ground chicken

1/2 cup of salted sunflower seeds

1 cup shelled and cooked edamame

1 large can of mandarin oranges in their own juice, drained

chow mein noodles

Sesame Dressing:

1 1/2 tablespoons safflower oil 
1/3 cup rice wine vinegar
2 teaspoons sesame oil 
1 1/2 teaspoons stevia
2 teaspoons low sodium soy sauce or liquid aminos 
2 tablespoons black sesame seeds
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions:

Combine all the salad ingredients, minus the mandarin oranges and chow mein noodles in a large bowl.
Make the dressing by combining all the dressing ingredients into a salad carafe and shake well. Immediately pour the dressing over the salad and toss well. Plate a handful of salad on each plate and garnish with a small handful of chow mein noodles in the center. Add mandarin oranges in a ring around the outside of the chow mein noodles for pretty plating.

This salad is a great option for the Mason jar meal prep that has been so popular as of late.

Layer the salad in this order from the bottom of the jar up to the lid and store for up to 4 days in the fridge. This size will yield about 4 large jars of salad.

Layer order:

Chicken

Mandarin oranges

Carrots

Edamame
Scallions
Bell peppers

Dressing to coat layers to this point

Sunflower seeds

Cabbage

Coleslaw and romaine

Chow Mein noodles

To serve, just shake the jar well until combined, toss onto a plate and enjoy.