Zesty Thai Chicken Salad
This Zesty Thai Chicken Salad is a vibrant and refreshing dish, perfect for a light meal or as a side for gatherings. Infused with the bold flavors of chili, lime, and fish sauce, this salad features tender chicken thighs paired with crunchy vegetables like bell peppers, cucumber, and cabbage, topped off with a sprinkle of crushed peanuts and fresh herbs. The homemade dressing brings a harmonious balance of sweet, salty, and sour that will tantalize your taste buds. Enjoy this delightful salad that's not only simple to make but also a feast for the eyes!
5
Servings
N/A
Calories
23
Ingredients
Ingredients
chicken thigh fillets
10 (trimmed)
chili paste
1 tablespoon (for dressing)
sugar
3 tablespoons (for dressing)
salt
3 teaspoons (for seasoning and boiling)
fish sauce
4 tablespoons (for dressing)
peanut oil
2 tablespoons (for salad mix)
peanuts, chopped roasted
1/2 cup (for garnish)
yellow onions
2 (fried until translucent, not browned)
red onion
1 (thinly sliced)
garlic cloves
2 (finely minced)
fresh ginger
1/2 inch (sliced)
green onion
1 (sliced for garnish)
limes
2 (squeezed for juice)
Thai red chili pepper
1 (sliced (optional for heat))
seedless cucumber
1 cup (thinly sliced lengthwise)
carrot
1 large (grated or thinly sliced)
daikon radish
1 (thinly sliced or julienned)
bean sprouts
1 cup (washed)
cabbage (Asian cabbage)
2 cups (shredded)
bell peppers
3 pieces (mixed colors, sliced)
cilantro
1 cup (chopped)
lime leaves
3 (fine julienne)
large tomatoes
1 (decoratively sliced into a rose shape)
Instructions
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Zesty Thai Chicken Salad?
Zesty Thai Chicken Salad is a vibrant and refreshing dish featuring tender chicken thighs, crunchy vegetables, and a homemade dressing with chili, lime, and fish sauce.
How many servings does this recipe provide?
This recipe is designed to provide 5 servings.
What type of chicken is used in this recipe?
The recipe calls for 10 trimmed chicken thigh fillets.
Is this salad spicy?
The salad has a zesty kick from chili paste and an optional Thai red chili pepper, which you can adjust to your heat preference.
What ingredients are in the dressing?
The dressing is made with chili paste, sugar, salt, fish sauce, and fresh lime juice.
Are there peanuts in this recipe?
Yes, the recipe includes 1/2 cup of chopped roasted peanuts used as a garnish for extra crunch.
What kind of vegetables are included?
The salad includes bell peppers, seedless cucumber, carrot, daikon radish, bean sprouts, and Asian cabbage.
How are the yellow onions prepared?
The two yellow onions should be fried until they are translucent but not browned.
Can I use a different type of onion?
The recipe specifically uses both yellow onions for frying and a red onion for thin slicing.
What herbs are used for flavoring?
The salad is flavored with fresh cilantro, green onions, and julienned lime leaves.
Is there ginger in this Thai chicken salad?
Yes, the recipe includes 1/2 inch of sliced fresh ginger.
What is the garnish for this dish?
The dish is garnished with chopped peanuts, green onions, and a large tomato sliced into a rose shape.
What type of oil is recommended?
Peanut oil is recommended for mixing into the salad.
How should the cucumber be cut?
The seedless cucumber should be thinly sliced lengthwise.
Is the cabbage shredded or chopped?
The Asian cabbage should be shredded for this recipe.
What is the purpose of the daikon radish?
The daikon radish adds a crisp texture and is prepared by slicing it thinly or into julienne strips.
How many bell peppers are needed?
You will need 3 bell peppers of mixed colors, sliced.
Does this recipe contain fish sauce?
Yes, it uses 4 tablespoons of fish sauce to provide a savory, salty flavor to the dressing.
Can I adjust the sweetness?
Yes, you can adjust the 3 tablespoons of sugar in the dressing to suit your taste.
How is the garlic prepared?
The recipe calls for 2 garlic cloves to be finely minced.
What is the role of lime leaves?
Lime leaves are julienned finely to add a unique citrusy aroma to the salad.
Are the bean sprouts cooked?
No, the bean sprouts are washed and added fresh to maintain their crunch.
How much cilantro is used?
The recipe uses 1 cup of chopped cilantro.
Is this a light meal or a side dish?
It is versatile enough to be served as either a light main meal or a side dish for gatherings.
What provides the acidity in the salad?
The acidity comes from the juice of 2 squeezed limes.
How many ingredients are in this recipe total?
There are 23 individual ingredients listed for this Zesty Thai Chicken Salad.
Can I use chicken breast instead?
While the recipe specifies thigh fillets for tenderness, chicken breast can be used as a leaner alternative.
What is the texture of the salad?
The salad is very crunchy due to the cabbage, carrots, radishes, and peanuts.
Is the Thai red chili pepper mandatory?
No, the sliced Thai red chili pepper is optional and used for extra heat.
How should the carrot be prepared?
The carrot should be grated or thinly sliced before being added to the mix.