{"id":18088,"date":"2020-02-24T10:01:32","date_gmt":"2020-02-24T15:01:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.andiemitchell.com\/?p=18088"},"modified":"2020-02-27T10:02:51","modified_gmt":"2020-02-27T15:02:51","slug":"chinese-chicken-salad-recipe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.andiemitchell.com\/chinese-chicken-salad-recipe\/","title":{"rendered":"Chinese Chicken Salad with Pecans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Chinese<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This post is sponsored by .<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I always love a restaurant-worthy salad, but perhaps especially during these cold winter months, when heavier comfort foods are constant and a lighter\u2014but just as flavorful\u2014salad doesn\u2019t feel like a sacrifice at all. This showstopper has loads of savory-sweet flavor and plenty of crunch. The base is a blend of two lettuces (romaine and iceberg), chopped scallions, and bean sprouts. Cooked rice noodles add satisfying heft, mandarin oranges offer up a little sweetness, while crispy fried wonton strips and chopped, toasted pecans add richness and crunch. To dress the salad, I make a delicious, salty-sweet Asian dressing with rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, and the key ingredient: pecan butter, which you can make all on your own in a food processor or high-power blender. I like to use chopped rotisserie chicken breast for ease and convenience, but any baked, grilled, or poached chicken breast works!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chinese<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Chinese<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pecans might not be what you\u2019d expect to find in a Chinese chicken salad, but trust me, they\u2019re perfect. They add a nice crunch and have a lovely buttery and sweet taste which works so well with the Asian flavors in the salad. They are , with many nutrition benefits, like 3 grams of plant-based protein and fiber per serving, \u201cgood\u201d fats, and essential minerals.** They are a flavorful way to bring more nutrition to your meals and help power you through your busy day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chinese<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Asian Pecan Butter Dressing <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This homemade pecan butter dressing is absolutely fabulous\u2014nutty and warm, salty and sweet\u2013and it\u2019s a great way to incorporate more nutritious pecans into your meals! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first step is making your own pecan butter, which sounds far more complicated than it really is. All you need to do is toast the pecans (which helps to bring out more of the rich, warm flavor of the nuts) then you\u2019ll let them cool to room temperature, add them to a food processor or blender, and process them until completely smooth, which can take anywhere from 7 to 20 minutes depending on the power of your machine. Once you have a bowl of smooth and creamy pecan butter, whisk in rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, and a little warm water to thin it out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chinese<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Homemade Pecan Butter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what you\u2019ll need:
– 2 cups pecan halves
– Baking sheet (and oven)
– Food processor <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n