Description
A refreshing and vibrant Crispy Wonton Chicken Salad featuring tender chicken, fresh herbs, and crisp romaine, tossed in a tangy, slightly sweet dressing, and topped with crunchy fried wonton strips for added texture. Perfect for a light lunch or dinner with a delightful mix of flavors and textures.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons peach or apricot preserves
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt, to taste
Salad
- 8 ounces cooked chicken meat, torn into bite-size pieces (about 2 cups)
- 2 romaine hearts, coarsely chopped
- 4 scallions, coarsely chopped
- 1 packed cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro leaves with tender stems
- 1 packed cup coarsely chopped fresh mint leaves
Fried Wontons
- 8 wonton wrappers
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- Salt, to season
Instructions
- Make the dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, peach or apricot preserves, mayonnaise, soy sauce, chili powder, and onion powder until smooth. Season the dressing with salt to taste and set aside.
- Prepare the salad: Add the torn chicken pieces to the bowl with the dressing and toss gently to coat the chicken evenly with the dressing flavors.
- Fry the wonton strips: Cut each wonton wrapper into 1/2-inch strips, then cut those strips in half crosswise to shorten them. In a medium saucepan, heat about an inch of vegetable oil over medium heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C) or until a wonton strip immediately bubbles upon being added. Carefully add the wonton strips in batches to the hot oil, stirring constantly with a slotted spoon to ensure even frying. Fry until the strips are puffy and golden brown, about 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil, then season with salt.
- Assemble the salad: To the bowl with the dressed chicken, add the chopped romaine, scallions, cilantro, mint, and half of the fried wonton strips. Toss everything together gently to combine. Season with additional salt if needed.
- Serve: Transfer the salad to serving plates or a large bowl, topping with the remaining fried wonton strips for extra crunch. Serve immediately to enjoy the crisp textures at their best.
Notes
- For best results, fry wonton strips in small batches to maintain oil temperature and crispiness.
- If peach or apricot preserves are not available, you can substitute with a similar fruit jam for the dressing’s sweetness.
- Make sure chicken is cooked and cooled before tossing with the dressing to maintain crisp fresher salad greens.
- Use freshly chopped herbs (cilantro and mint) for maximum flavor and brightness.
- The salad is best served immediately after assembly to prevent the wonton strips from getting soggy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Keywords: Crispy Wonton Chicken Salad, Asian salad, fried wontons, chicken salad, sesame dressing, fresh herbs salad
