A copycat recipe for Panera’s Asian Sesame Hen Salad. Crispy, recent romaine, sliced almonds, sesame seeds, tender sliced grilled hen, and wonton strips — all topped with a candy and tangy Asian sesame French dressing. A lot goodness all packed into ONE salad!
Crispy, crunchy, candy, tangy, savory! This Asian sesame hen salad has slightly little bit of all of it.
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Don’t be shocked once you need to pencil on this recipe for dinner no less than as soon as per week. It’s gentle and refreshing for a yummy spring or summer time lunch but additionally for dinner. It’s goodness overload with this Asian sesame hen salad. The crisp romaine lettuce is all chopped up and is the right base for what’s to come back on high! A lot of mandarin oranges, grated carrots, grilled hen, chopped inexperienced and pink cabbage, slightly freshy freshness from my most favourite herb of all time, cilantro, and a candy and tangy Asian sesame French dressing that can have you ever CRAVING all of it day lengthy.
And as if a scrumptious salad with easy components wasn’t sufficient, I went forward and topped with a handful of sliced almonds and many further crunchy wonton strips! If you happen to’re pondering this salad seems to be slightly acquainted, it’s as a result of it is a excellent copycat Panera Sesame Hen Salad recipe.
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I believe it’s fairly protected to say this salad DELIVERS on each stage.
Table of Contents
Components for Sesame Hen Salad:
- Rice Vinegar: That is the bottom of our Asian French dressing. I prefer to convey the rice vinegar to a simmer then enable the sugar to soften into the vinegar with a pair cloves of smashed garlic. We’ll toss the garlic out so that you aren’t getting chunks in your salad, however this fashion you get all of that taste!
- Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness to the dressing. I prefer to convey the French dressing to a simmer then whisk within the sugar till it dissolves.
- Complete Garlic Cloves: Helps taste the rice vinegar, we’ll discard the garlic as soon as it releases the flavour so the dressing isn’t too pungent!
- Toasted Sesame Oil: Provides the dressing a lift of toasty sesame taste.
- Canola Oil: Is the oil base within the dressing. I used canola oil once I first shared this recipe many, a few years in the past. However lately, I’ve been utilizing avocado oil to make the dressing as an alternative.
- Soy Sauce: Helps taste the dressing with a wealthy umami taste. It’s also possible to use gluten-free tamari right here to make the recipe gluten-free. Have in mind you’ll additionally want to interchange the wonton wrappers for this recipe to be correctly gluten-free.
- Toasted Sesame Seeds: Add crunch and slightly extra nutty taste to the dressing.
- Salad base: This may be something from shredded romaine, child spinach to inexperienced cabbage, a cabbage slaw combine, and even kale.
- Mandarin Orange Slice: Add a floral, citrusy sweetness to the salad. I used canned orange slices however it’s also possible to use a number of freshly peeled Cuties or clementines right here too.
- Shredded Carrots: That is one other ingredient that I’ve began so as to add lately. A shredded carrot not solely provides a bit extra colour can be its one other veggie serving! Use it or don’t; completely your name.
- Sliced Almonds: Toasted sliced almonds add crunch and an additional little bit of protein.
- Cilantro Leaves: Provides freshness and pairs superbly with the candy sesame dressing.
- Grilled Hen: I often make a fast hen marinade utilizing a pair tablespoons soy sauce, sugar, pink pepper flakes, and slightly garlic powder. Toss the hen on an indoor or out of doors grill whereas getting ready the dressing and prepare dinner over medium excessive warmth till it’s cooked by means of. Let the hen breasts relaxation then cube on a chopping board utilizing a pointy knife. Nevertheless, to make this salad even faster, I recommend swapping the grilled hen for a shredded rotisserie hen! Be at liberty to toss the hen in a tablespoon or two of the dressing to taste it earlier than hand!
The way to make an epic sesame hen salad:
- Put together the dressing. Add the rice vinegar to a small pan over medium warmth till it begins to simmer. Then add the sugar and smashed garlic cloves to the vinegar and let simmer for 1 minute. Discard the garlic cloves and add the vinegar to a big jar. Add the sesame oil, canola oil, soy sauce, and toasted white sesame seeds. Permit the dressing to come back again to room temperature. Then, place a lid on high and shake the jar to mix the dressing. If the dressing begins to separate later earlier than you toss the salad, simply shake it once more!
- Mix it in a bowl. Seize a big bowl that may simply maintain all of the components. Add the shredded lettuce or no matter salad base you’d like to make use of. Prime with orange slices, almonds, cilantro, diced hen, and shredded carrots.
- Toss and serve. Add roughly half of the French dressing to the salad and toss or stir to mix. Style and modify with extra dressing as desired. I like to avoid wasting the almonds and the wontons strips and add them in proper earlier than serving in order that they preserve their crispy texture with out softening!
FAQs about this recipe:
- How do you recommend storing leftovers? For the reason that dressing is a French dressing, the acid within the dressing will trigger the lettuce or different salad base to wilt. For that reason, I recommend storing the dressing separate from the salad base till able to serve. Leftover undressed salad might be stored in an hermetic container and the dressing will also be stored in a separate container within the fridge for as much as 1 week.
- Can I add a special sort of protein to this? Sure, the hen might be swapped for grilled or cooked shrimp, thinly sliced steak and even seared salmon. Don’t be afraid to make this your individual!
- The place do you discover wonton strips? Often ready wonton strips are in the identical aisle because the croutons or salad dressing. More often than not, I’ll use ready store-bought wonton strips. Sometimes, I like to arrange my very own. You’ll be able to simply use wonton wrappers. These are often offered at Asian supermarkets within the freezer part. Minimize the squares into small strips. Warmth no less than 1-2 inches of oil in a skillet or in a deep fryer. When the oil is sizzling, add the strips and prepare dinner them for a couple of 30-60 seconds or till frivolously golden. Take away them from the pan to a plate lined with paper towel. Let the wonton strips cool earlier than topping the salad.
If you happen to like this recipe, you may also like:
- Easy Asian Grilled Hen
- Tremendous Saucy Hen Broccoli Stir Fry
- Sesame Hen Pasta Salad with Ginger Dressing
- Crispy Hen Banh Mi Bowls
- Rainbow Thai Noodle Salad with Peanut Lime Dressing
Recipe initially shared Aug. 2015 up to date with new pictures, minor recipe updates and new put up, Could 2022.
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