Recipe Summary
Number of Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Duration: 10 minutes
Resting Period: 20 minutes
Complexity: Easy
List of Ingredients
- Water: 1 liter
- Salt: 50 grams
- Chicken breasts: 2
- One Lebanese cucumber, sliced thinly
- Three spring onions, sliced thinly
- One small daikon or kohlrabi, sliced thinly
- Four shiitake mushrooms, sliced thinly
- Coriander leaves: ¼ cup, chopped
- Optional: Rice for serving
Ingredients for Dressing
- Soy sauce: 50 ml
- Simple syrup: 50 ml
- Red vinegar (Chinese style): 50 ml
- Sesame oil: 35 ml
- Chili oil: 10 ml
- Ginger, finely grated: ½ teaspoon
Instructions for Preparation
- Preparing the Chicken: Heat the water and salt in a saucepan until it begins to simmer. Add the chicken breasts, cover the saucepan, turn off the heat, and let the chicken cook through in the warm water.
- Making the Dressing: In a separate bowl, combine the soy sauce, simple syrup, red vinegar, sesame oil, chili oil, and ginger. Stir these ingredients together until they are fully mixed.
- Assembling the Salad: Toss the sliced cucumber, spring onions, daikon, mushrooms, and coriander leaves in a large bowl. Shred the chicken once it’s cooled and add it to the bowl. Pour over the mixed dressing and toss everything together gently. If desired, serve with cooked rice.
Additional Cooking Notes
- Simple Syrup Instructions: To make the syrup, heat equal measures of sugar and water until the sugar has dissolved completely. Continue to simmer for an extra 5 to 10 minutes until the syrup thickens.
- Adjustments for Fan-forced Ovens: Reduce the indicated temperature by 20°C if using a fan-forced oven. Measurements adhere to Australian culinary standards.
Benefits of the Ingredients
Introducing ingredients like shiitake mushrooms adds a boost of umami flavor and packs the dish with antioxidants, while daikon is a great source of fiber and vitamin C, which supports overall digestive health and immune function. The sesame oil not only brings a rich, nutty flavor to the dish but also supplies healthy fats essential for cardiovascular health.
This revamped Chinese Chicken Salad recipe offers a harmonious blend of robust flavors and textures, making it a perfect, healthful meal option.