Chilled Sesame Noodle Salad with Ham and Chicken
Experience the delightful taste of Chilled Sesame Noodle Salad, a refreshing and satisfying dish perfect for warm weather or casual gatherings. This simple yet flavorful recipe combines tender chicken breast, savory ham, and vibrant scallions with a light and aromatic sesame dressing. Enhanced with crunchy pecans and a hint of chili heat, this cold noodle salad is a wonderful way to enjoy your favorite ingredients without the heaviness of traditional dishes. Whether you're cooking for yourself or entertaining friends, this dish promises to impress with its rich flavors and beautiful presentation. If you're a shrimp lover, feel free to swap the chicken for succulent shrimp for an equally delicious variation!
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
11
Ingredients
Ingredients
Boneless skinless chicken breast
1 (cooked and cut into julienne strips)
Sliced ham
5 ounces (cut into julienne strips)
Scallion
1 bunch (cut into julienne strips)
Pecans
1/2 cup (chopped)
Angel hair pasta
1 lb (cooked)
Vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups (for dressing)
Oriental sesame oil
2 1/2 tablespoons (for dressing)
Sesame seeds
2 tablespoons (for dressing)
Ground coriander
3 tablespoons (for dressing)
Soy sauce
3/4 cup (for dressing)
Hot chili oil
1 teaspoon (or to taste for dressing)
Instructions
1
Begin by cooking the angel hair pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside to cool.
2
While the pasta cools, julienne the cooked chicken breast, sliced ham, and scallions to ensure even sizes, roughly 2 inches long.
3
In a large mixing bowl, combine the julienned chicken, ham, scallions, and chopped pecans. Add the cooled angel hair pasta to the bowl and mix gently to combine.
4
In a small saucepan, heat the vegetable oil and oriental sesame oil over medium heat. Add the sesame seeds and cook until they are light brown, stirring occasionally.
5
Once the sesame seeds are toasted, remove the saucepan from the heat. Carefully stir in the ground coriander and soy sauce, being cautious of the sizzling effect. Then mix in the hot chili oil according to your spice preference.
6
Pour the hot dressing over the noodle and protein mixture in the mixing bowl. Toss everything together to ensure the noodles and ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
7
Transfer the salad to a serving bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours to allow the flavors to meld and the dish to chill.
8
When ready to serve, give it another gentle toss and enjoy this refreshing Chilled Sesame Noodle Salad!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chilled Sesame Noodle Salad with Ham and Chicken?
It is a refreshing cold pasta dish featuring angel hair noodles, julienned chicken and ham, scallions, and pecans tossed in a warm-prepared sesame soy dressing.
What type of pasta works best for this recipe?
The recipe specifically calls for angel hair pasta, which is thin and coats well with the sesame dressing.
How long should I refrigerate the salad before serving?
You should refrigerate the salad for at least 3 hours to allow the flavors to meld and the dish to become thoroughly chilled.
Can I substitute the chicken with another protein?
Yes, succulent shrimp is a great alternative to chicken if you prefer seafood.
What proteins are used in the original recipe?
The original recipe uses a combination of cooked boneless skinless chicken breast and sliced ham.
How should the chicken and ham be prepared?
Both the chicken and ham should be cooked and then cut into julienne strips, roughly 2 inches long.
Are there nuts in this noodle salad?
Yes, the recipe includes 1/2 cup of chopped pecans for added crunch.
How is the sesame dressing made?
The dressing is made by heating vegetable and sesame oils, toasting sesame seeds, and then adding ground coriander, soy sauce, and hot chili oil.
Is the dressing served hot or cold?
The dressing is prepared hot in a saucepan and poured over the noodle mixture while still warm, but the entire dish is then chilled before serving.
How can I make this salad spicier?
You can adjust the heat by increasing the amount of hot chili oil added to the dressing according to your preference.
What gives the dressing its aromatic flavor?
The aromatic flavor comes from the combination of oriental sesame oil, toasted sesame seeds, and ground coriander.
What is the purpose of toasting the sesame seeds?
Toasting the sesame seeds until they are light brown enhances their nutty flavor and adds depth to the dressing.
How do I prepare the scallions?
One bunch of scallions should be cut into julienne strips to match the size of the meat and noodles.
What type of oil is used for the base of the dressing?
The dressing uses 1 1/2 cups of vegetable oil mixed with 2 1/2 tablespoons of oriental sesame oil.
Does this recipe contain soy sauce?
Yes, the recipe uses 3/4 cup of soy sauce to provide a savory, salty element to the dressing.
What caution should be taken when adding soy sauce to the hot oil?
You should be cautious as the soy sauce will cause a sizzling effect when it hits the hot oil mixture.
How much ground coriander is needed?
The recipe calls for 3 tablespoons of ground coriander for the dressing.
Can I prepare this dish for a party?
Yes, it is an excellent dish for entertaining because it is served cold and can be made several hours in advance.
What is the recommended serving size for the noodles?
The recipe uses 1 lb of angel hair pasta as the base for the salad.
How many ingredients are in the Chilled Sesame Noodle Salad?
There are 11 main ingredients including the proteins, noodles, and dressing components.
Is this dish suitable for hot weather?
Absolutely, the refreshing and chilled nature of the salad makes it ideal for warm weather.
Should the pasta be cooled before mixing?
Yes, you should drain the pasta and let it cool before adding the other ingredients.
What should I do right before serving?
Give the salad another gentle toss after removing it from the refrigerator to redistribute the dressing.
Are the pecans cooked or raw?
The pecans are chopped and mixed into the salad; you can use raw or toasted pecans based on your preference.
What are the primary flavor tags for this recipe?
The tags include cold noodles, sesame dressing, ham salad, chicken salad, and Asian noodles.
How long should the protein strips be?
The chicken, ham, and scallions should be julienned to approximately 2 inches in length.
Is this a heavy or light meal?
It is described as a light and refreshing dish that avoids the heaviness of traditional hot pasta dishes.
What is the first step in making this recipe?
The first step is cooking the angel hair pasta according to the package instructions.
How do I ensure even distribution of the dressing?
Toss everything together in a large mixing bowl immediately after pouring the hot dressing over the ingredients.
Can I store leftovers?
Yes, leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator, and the salad often tastes even better as the flavors continue to develop.