Asian Chicken salad

Ingredients
 

  • 2 small bags of coleslaw mix, about 12 cups
  • 4 cups rotisserie chicken, finely chopped
  • 1 ½ cups toasted sliced almonds, or cashews
  • 1 ½ cup dried cranberries, I used Orange Cranberries from Trader Joe’s
  • ¾ cup red onion, finely diced
  • 1 cup sesame sticks, found in the bulk aisle at grocery store – optional
  • 1 ½ cups chopped cilantro
  • 1-2 small cans mandarin oranges, drained
  • ¼ cup black sesame seeds, or regular sesame seeds
  • 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ cup balsamic vinegar, regular or you can use white
  • 4 Tbsp.  low-sodium soy sauce
  • 3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 4 Tbsp.  honey or brown sugar
  • 4 Tbsp.  minced ginger
  • 2 tsp.  toasted sesame oil

Instructions
 

  • Layer the cabbage in a large bowl with chicken, almonds (or cashews, or both), cranberries, red onion, sesame seeds, sesame sticks (optional), and fresh cilantro. Add the mandarin oranges (optional).
  • Combine the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, honey, ginger, and sesame oil in a blender. Add 3 tablespoons of water. Blend until smooth.
  • Lightly pour the dressing over the salad mixture, according to how moist you like the salad. Gently toss and serve. (You may have a little dressing left over.)

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