Description
An elegant salad balancing savory chicken, sweet-tart cranberries, and a glossy sesame-ginger dressing for a refined meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless, skin-on chicken breasts (about 1 lb), pounded to even thickness
- 6 cups mixed baby greens (spinach + arugula), washed
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries, unsulfured
- 3 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 2 tbsp neutral oil (canola or grapeseed)
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
- 1 small garlic clove, finely minced
- Juice of 1 lime
- Pinch of flaky sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup toasted sliced almonds or cashews
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
- Fresh cilantro and mint, finely chopped (about 2 tbsp total)
- Optional: thin cucumber ribbons or julienned red bell pepper
Instructions
- Pat the chicken dry and season lightly with salt and pepper. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat with 1 tbsp neutral oil until shimmering. Sear chicken skin-side down until golden-brown (about 6–7 minutes), then flip and cook until internal temperature reaches 160–165°F.
- Transfer chicken to a cutting board and rest for 5–8 minutes, then slice thinly across the grain.
- Combine dressing ingredients in a jar: soy, rice vinegar, honey, sesame oil, neutral oil, ginger, garlic, lime juice, salt. Shake until glossy.
- In a large bowl, combine dried cranberries, toasted nuts, scallions, herbs, and greens. Toss with half the dressing.
- Arrange sliced chicken atop the dressed greens, drizzle remaining dressing over, and sprinkle sesame seeds.
- Serve on a chilled platter and garnish with additional herbs and whole cranberries.
Notes
For best texture, store components separately and assemble just before serving. Emulsify the dressing to ensure it clings to the greens.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Pan-searing
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 90mg