Sesame seeds were currency in ancient Babylon—this salad uses 3,000-year-old trade route flavors in every crunchy bite.
Orange Sesame Chicken Salad
Dive into a vibrant bowl of Orange Sesame Chicken Salad, where juicy oranges meet crisp cabbage for a refreshing crunch! Tossed in a delightful sesame dressing, this dish bursts with flavor and is perfect for a light lunch or dinner. Get ready to savor every bite of this colorful, healthful feast!
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(9)
- 1 avocado diced
- 5 cups of shredded green cabbage (1.2 L)
- 1/4 cup of cilantro, all sliced (60 ml)
- 3 tablespoons of fresh ginger (45 ml)
- 1 cup of sliced green onions (240 ml)
- 2 orange, all segmented up
- about 1 tablespoon of fresh orange juice (15 ml)
- the zest of an orange
- 1 teaspoon of pepper (5 ml)
🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- 2 chicken breasts, cubed
🫙Pantry Staples(2)
- 1/4 cup of maple syrup (60 ml)
- 1/2 cup of sesame oil (120 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(3)
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder (5 ml)
- 1 teaspoon of onion powder (5 ml)
- 1 teaspoon of salt (5 ml)
🍯Sauces & Condiments(2)
- 3 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar (45 ml)
- 1/3 cup of low sodium soy sauce (79.2 ml)
📦Other(2)
- 1/4 cup of slivered almonds (60 ml)
- 2 tablespoons of sesame seeds (30 ml)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Into a bowl, add five cups of shredded green cabbage, two segmented oranges, one diced avocado, one cup of sliced green onions, and a quarter cup of sliced cilantro.
- 2
Cube two chicken breasts, season with one teaspoon of salt, one teaspoon of pepper, one teaspoon of garlic powder, and one teaspoon of onion powder, then cook until browned.
- 3
Toss the cooked chicken on top of the salad.
- 4
In a pan, add a quarter cup of slivered almonds and two tablespoons of sesame seeds, toast them, and toss on the salad.
- 5
For the dressing, in a Mason jar, combine half a cup of sesame oil, a quarter cup of maple syrup, a third of a cup of low sodium soy sauce, three tablespoons of rice wine vinegar, three tablespoons of fresh ginger, the zest of an orange, and about a tablespoon of fresh orange juice. Shake well and pour over the salad.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Toast almonds and sesame seeds at 325°F for 6-8 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes, because oils become aromatic at this temperature without burning and develop nutty compounds through the Maillard reaction.technique325°F for 6-8 minutes
- ✓Dice avocado just before serving and toss with a splash of the orange juice from your dressing because citric acid prevents enzymatic browning for up to 2 hours.timing2 hours browning prevention
- ✓Cook chicken cubes to exactly 165°F internal temperature in a single layer without overcrowding because overcrowding drops pan temperature by 50-75°F and causes steaming instead of browning.technique165°F internal, 50-75°F temperature drop
- ✓Grate fresh ginger on a microplane instead of mincing because it releases 30% more volatile oils and creates a smoother dressing texture without fibrous pieces.technique30% more volatile oils
- ✓Let the mason jar dressing sit for 10 minutes before shaking to allow the maple syrup to thin and emulsify properly with the oil, creating a stable emulsion that won't separate.timing10 minutes
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
intermediate
Share this recipe
Sesame seeds were currency in ancient Babylon—this salad uses 3,000-year-old trade route flavors in every crunchy bite.
Orange Sesame Chicken Salad
Dive into a vibrant bowl of Orange Sesame Chicken Salad, where juicy oranges meet crisp cabbage for a refreshing crunch! Tossed in a delightful sesame dressing, this dish bursts with flavor and is perfect for a light lunch or dinner. Get ready to savor every bite of this colorful, healthful feast!
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(9)
- 1 avocado diced
- 5 cups of shredded green cabbage (1.2 L)
- 1/4 cup of cilantro, all sliced (60 ml)
- 3 tablespoons of fresh ginger (45 ml)
- 1 cup of sliced green onions (240 ml)
- 2 orange, all segmented up
- about 1 tablespoon of fresh orange juice (15 ml)
- the zest of an orange
- 1 teaspoon of pepper (5 ml)
🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- 2 chicken breasts, cubed
🫙Pantry Staples(2)
- 1/4 cup of maple syrup (60 ml)
- 1/2 cup of sesame oil (120 ml)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(3)
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder (5 ml)
- 1 teaspoon of onion powder (5 ml)
- 1 teaspoon of salt (5 ml)
🍯Sauces & Condiments(2)
- 3 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar (45 ml)
- 1/3 cup of low sodium soy sauce (79.2 ml)
📦Other(2)
- 1/4 cup of slivered almonds (60 ml)
- 2 tablespoons of sesame seeds (30 ml)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Into a bowl, add five cups of shredded green cabbage, two segmented oranges, one diced avocado, one cup of sliced green onions, and a quarter cup of sliced cilantro.
- 2
Cube two chicken breasts, season with one teaspoon of salt, one teaspoon of pepper, one teaspoon of garlic powder, and one teaspoon of onion powder, then cook until browned.
- 3
Toss the cooked chicken on top of the salad.
- 4
In a pan, add a quarter cup of slivered almonds and two tablespoons of sesame seeds, toast them, and toss on the salad.
- 5
For the dressing, in a Mason jar, combine half a cup of sesame oil, a quarter cup of maple syrup, a third of a cup of low sodium soy sauce, three tablespoons of rice wine vinegar, three tablespoons of fresh ginger, the zest of an orange, and about a tablespoon of fresh orange juice. Shake well and pour over the salad.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Toast almonds and sesame seeds at 325°F for 6-8 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes, because oils become aromatic at this temperature without burning and develop nutty compounds through the Maillard reaction.technique325°F for 6-8 minutes
- ✓Dice avocado just before serving and toss with a splash of the orange juice from your dressing because citric acid prevents enzymatic browning for up to 2 hours.timing2 hours browning prevention
- ✓Cook chicken cubes to exactly 165°F internal temperature in a single layer without overcrowding because overcrowding drops pan temperature by 50-75°F and causes steaming instead of browning.technique165°F internal, 50-75°F temperature drop
- ✓Grate fresh ginger on a microplane instead of mincing because it releases 30% more volatile oils and creates a smoother dressing texture without fibrous pieces.technique30% more volatile oils
- ✓Let the mason jar dressing sit for 10 minutes before shaking to allow the maple syrup to thin and emulsify properly with the oil, creating a stable emulsion that won't separate.timing10 minutes