3 July 2009 | 61 comments
Posted in Chinese, corns, egg, Featured Articles, One-dish meal, salad, vegetable, Western
Since we first met till wegot married,I have yet to seemy hubby choosing saladas themain course forhismeal.I alsodidn’t reallyput much effort to convince him to try.Iblindly accept the fact that it is not so easy to change an adult’s eating habit as compared to a kid’s.Until recently.that was my perception.Well,now he loves salad! When I told him that I will feature my rainbow seafood pasta salad in myrecipe column «亲子厨房» in Kwong Wah Yit Poh, he agreed whole-heartedly and showed his full support by raisingboth his hands.Mimicking his father, my son did the same (not sure he understand what he is showing support for). But, before this, there mustbe a catalyst that brings aboutthis change, as well asa story behind it. Certainly, it was notthe result ofhaving a gun over his head.It was my homemade salad that did the trick. It was in April,one day aftera heavy breakfast, wedidn’t have much appetite for lunch. Thehot afternoon sun waswarmingup the house with debilitating heat.I wasin no mood to face a steamy hot wok. So it gave me the opportunityto suggest havingChinese chicken salad fora light lunch. Much to my surprise, my hubby obliged without any complaint or grumbling. After trying out this salad, he gave me a thumb up, sayinghe liked it. He then agreed that eating salad is not as bad as he thinks. Besides, italso makes him feel healthier. It’s anideal light mealondays when he had eatentoo much “sinful” food. Healso welcomed my idea ofhaving more homemade salads for meals in future.Iwas secretly thrilledasI have always hoped he will get himself on the right tracktoa healthy lifestyle. As for my son, ever since I introduced salad to him, hetreats it as a “treasure chest”. The more he “digs”, the more “gems” he “finds”.He is thrilled by the findof raisins, seeds, tomato, sweet corns, cucumber,prawn, dressings……Hehehe! It’s a joy to watch him eat his salad with such gusto! This Chinese chicken salad recipeis adapted and modified from Steamy Kitchen. I had omitted the deep-fried wonton skins and mandarin oranges, and replaced with hard-boiled eggs, raisins, sweet cornsand sunflower seeds. This appetizing salad dressing is also my all-time favourite. Cling!!!! Time for a healthy lunch! Anyone interested to join me? RECIPE FOR CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD Servings: 2 -3 persons Ingredients: Salad dressing: Methods: Notes:
1 poached chicken breasts – poached according to note (1) below and shredded with your fingers
2 hard-boiled eggs –cut into small wedges
1/2 Japanese cucumber –sliced thinly
½ ear of 1 sweet corn – steamed or boiled, kernel removed from cob
Handful of snow peas (around 10) – sliced diagonally (can be eaten raw or blanched over hot water and used shocking method to retain it greenness)
A few leaves of baby butterheads (or any salad green of your preference) – leaves torn or shredded
Handful of pine nuts and sunflower seeds – raw or lightly toasted
Handful of black raisins
3 tbsp honey (I used no water added honey)
¼ cup mayonnaise
1 tsp Dijon mustard
¼ tsp sesame oil
1½ tbsp rice wine vinegar/ rice vinegar（白米醋）
1-2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil (for mixing in step 3) – optional
Wash the chicken breast. Rinse and pat dry. In a medium pot, add the chicken breasts and fill with water or broth 1inch above the chicken. Add 1 teaspoon of kosher or sea salt to the water. Bring the pot to a boil and immediately turn the heat to low. Simmer for 2 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and cover. Let it sit for 20 minutes. Save the poaching liquid for cooking or soup. Besides salad, this poached chicken breast can also use it for Chinese congee. Just add it in when the congee is ready.
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61 Comments
Craft Passion says:3 July 2009 at 4:43 pm
Thanks for the healthy chicken salad, it looks delicious and I am sure lots of meat eater will turn to it. It is really a must in our diet to have plenty of vege, just look at he way the WHO changes the shape of the food heirarchy.
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- food-4tots says:
4 July 2009 at 5:23 pm
Joanne (CP): I highly recommend this dish to you because you don’t need to do any wokking and the sauce is really very appertizing. 😉
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- Craft Passion says:
5 July 2009 at 3:36 am
My whole family likes to eat salad, especially my hubby (surprise!!!), he is the one who always prepare salad for us (surprise again!!!). I will show him this recipe and I am sure that this dish will be on our table in his next serving 🙂
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- food-4tots says:
6 July 2009 at 2:51 am
Joanne (CP): I must show this comment to my hubby and ask him to prepare salad for us in future. 😉
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- Selba says:
4 July 2009 at 1:36 am
Wow! The salads look so appetizing! I can finish those whole two plates 😀
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- food-4tots says:
4 July 2009 at 5:08 pm
Selba: Tks!! Give it a try. 😉
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- food-4tots says:
4 July 2009 at 5:10 pm
Chin: Tks!! Salad is a very versatile dish. Mine is only a suggestion. You can combine any ingredients based on your personal preference and drizzle over the dressing. Easy-peasy, right?
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- FoOd PaRaDiSe says:
4 July 2009 at 8:53 am
It’s been quite a while I did not prepare salads. We use to have salads most of the time during busy days for our lunch/dinner. And My hubby and gal enjoy it very much. After reading your blog, I think I can go back with salads dinner again. ^-^
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- food-4tots says:
4 July 2009 at 5:12 pm
FoOd PaRaDise: Looking forward to your salad recipe soon. 😉
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- email2me says:
4 July 2009 at 2:59 pm
If the chicken is grilled the salad taste better. Just like the way Nandos serve their chicken salad.
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- food-4tots says:
4 July 2009 at 5:18 pm
Email2me: Hmmm…I haven’t tried Nando’s salad before but personally like Coffee Bean’s salad. I do agree with your suggestion. Tks for sharing.
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- food-4tots says:
4 July 2009 at 5:19 pm
Kevin: Tks!! Do give it a try!
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- food-4tots says:
6 July 2009 at 2:50 am
Lee Mei (MCH): I love your tuna vegetable couscous salad on your latest posting too. Can’t wait to it out soon. Tks for sharing. 😉
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- juhuacha says:
6 July 2009 at 5:51 am
I rarely eat salad. I hope this recipe can convince me to change my eating habit as well. Will the chicken breast be too tough after sitting in the hot water for 20 mins?
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- food-4tots says:
6 July 2009 at 1:22 pm
Juhuacha: No, this method will not make the chicken breast tough. Alternatively, you can use store-bought roasted chicken. If this is your 1st attempt, I suggest that you choose the ingredients you like and ignore the rest. Then drizzle over the dressing. Do not use too much of dressing as it will cause the salad to be very watery. Happy salad day! 😉
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- food-4tots says:
6 July 2009 at 1:23 pm
BBO: Tks!! And healthy too! 😉
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- Alice says:
6 July 2009 at 7:11 am
Hey! friend, I am more than happy to join you! I’m also a salad lover but not my 2 King and Prince! Hopefully one day I can convince them too. Nice simple chicken salad!
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- food-4tots says:
6 July 2009 at 1:24 pm
Alice: Never try never know. It may give you a BIG surprise! 😉
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- Hong CN says:
6 July 2009 at 8:19 am
Nice sharing on this. I like the way you write and the preparation details. Definitely will give this a try on my daughter 🙂 Have great days 🙂
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- food-4tots says:
6 July 2009 at 1:26 pm
Hong CN: Tks for dropping by and your wonderful comments. Hope your dd will love it too! 😉
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- Christine says:
6 July 2009 at 11:21 am
I would definitely join you. Light and healthy salad is my all-time favourite too. My hubby also didn’t like salad. He said the light salad won’t give him enough energy and he would feel hungry very soon. He must have something like bread, noodles or rice to fill up his stomach. Recently I spot some changes in his eating habit.
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- food-4tots says:
6 July 2009 at 1:27 pm
Christine: Tks for joining me! I guess all “ideal” men behave the same way. Hope he will be a salad person like my hubby too! 😉
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- food-4tots says:
6 July 2009 at 1:28 pm
Dora: Tks!! A great and healthy week to you too! 😉
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- Ching says:
6 July 2009 at 6:53 pm
Your salad looks delicious! I am still not used to eating salad as a main course even though I have been living in the States for so long. 😛
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- food-4tots says:
7 July 2009 at 5:38 pm
Ching: I only started to have salad as main dish since the beginning of this year. It may not be late if you start it now. 😉
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- Cynthia says:
6 July 2009 at 10:47 pm
Love your new home. Your chicken salad is inspiring. I’m working on a recipe for one for my column this week.
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- food-4tots says:
7 July 2009 at 5:41 pm
Cynthia: Tks for your nice comments!! Guess you must be very busy now. 😉
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- allenooi says:
7 July 2009 at 6:56 am
nice photo! just my thought, the second photo can try focusing at the back and making the front bowl to be blur. will look nice too.
i also seldom eat salad. but from your photos, it looks tempting!
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- food-4tots says:
7 July 2009 at 5:51 pm
Allen Ooi: Tks for your compliment and great idea. I will definitely try this suggestion in my next shooting. 😉
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- Little Inbox says:
8 July 2009 at 1:46 am
I looks great! I would love to try it out, but I have no idea what is Dijon mustard. Can I skip that?
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- food-4tots says:
8 July 2009 at 3:30 pm
Little Inbox: It is advisable not to skip Dijon mustard if you want to get the right taste for this dressing. I think you may be able to find it at Jaya Jusco or Cold Storage, Penang. Take a look at this article to know about the difference between Dijon and other mustards: http://www.ochef.com/284.htm. Hope it helps and happy trying! 😉
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- food-4tots says:
8 July 2009 at 3:32 pm
Homeladychef: Wow! Tks for your supports. Sure, you are always welcome! 😉
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- myasiankitchen says:
8 July 2009 at 3:40 am
I would love to have a plate of this delicious salad now!! so colorful and fresh!!
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- food-4tots says:
8 July 2009 at 3:35 pm
My Asian Kitchen: Tks!! You are always welcome. 😉
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- peanutts says:
8 July 2009 at 3:51 am
Hi, thanks for visiting my blog. You salad looks yumm , My hubby maybe very supportive 🙂 but getting him to his veg is more difficult thank my 2 year old heheh. He freaks out if he sees me buying spinach or any green leaf for that matter .
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- food-4tots says:
8 July 2009 at 3:38 pm
Peanutts: This is the 1st time I come across a small veggie lover like your son. It must be the results of your excellent training. Keep up the good job! 😉
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- noobcook says:
8 July 2009 at 8:22 am
A healthy and beautiful salad. The dressing sounds delicious! =)
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- food-4tots says:
8 July 2009 at 3:49 pm
Noobcook: Yes, the dressing made the salad very delicious and appetizing. 😉
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- tigerfish says:
8 July 2009 at 1:09 pm
Wow, the name “Chicken Salad” may sound so simple but actually, it takes some patience, time and effort to prepare all the ingredients. Gorgeous professional photos!
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- food-4tots says:
8 July 2009 at 4:01 pm
Tigerfish: Hahaha! You must be a person with great observation skills. Tks for your compliments! 😉
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- lisaiscooking says:
8 July 2009 at 9:37 pm
Beautiful salad! Sounds delicious with sweet corn and snow peas.
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- wei says:
12 July 2009 at 10:32 am
Winner salad! Loving it! I replaced the chicken with ham & turkey breast slices, it’s yummm!!!
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- food-4tots says:
12 July 2009 at 5:41 pm
Wei: Tks for your feedback! Haven’t thought of turkey breast slices. What a great substitute! 😉
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- Chinese Recipes says:
14 July 2009 at 1:57 pm
yummmmmy… i love it
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- food-4tots says:
17 July 2009 at 12:23 am
Chinese Recipes: Tks!! 😉
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- Joanna in the kitchen says:
27 July 2009 at 7:48 am
Yum yum. This salad sounds full of all necessary nutrients, healthy and delicious.
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- food-4tots says:
28 July 2009 at 12:49 am
Joanna: This is also a good one-dish meal for the family. Do give it a try. 😉
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- shu shu says:
31 July 2009 at 9:22 am
Hi, I am first time visitor here.
I found your website because I was serching for recipe on chinese salad.
I noticed that the salad uses mayo, sesame oil and olive oil, may i know how much calories it produces?
Would it be too fattening for the people who are on diet?
Thank you!Reply
- food-4tots says:
31 July 2009 at 5:12 pm
Shu Shu: Hi, welcome to my kitchen! I am not sure of the calories. Maybe you can do a search from the website. Which kind of diet are you referring to? If you are concerning of the calories, there are 2 options you can consider. 1st, reduce all the seasonings used for the dressing by half. 2nd, just drizzle a little bit of the dressing over the ingredients. If both ways don’t work for you, then you may need to find another dressing to subsitute it. Hope it helps. 😉
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- Diana says:
5 August 2009 at 1:11 pm
That looks so good! I found with my husband that small changes can totally redirect his eating habits. When we first got married he wanted meat with every meal. I started using small amounts of meat, like a salad with crumbled bacon or a little chicken. Now we eat salads and other vegetarian dishes 3-4 times a week!
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- food-4tots says:
5 August 2009 at 4:01 pm
Diana: Tks!! I am sure your dishes must be very delish that your hubby can forego his meat. Btw, we also like vegetarian dishes. 😉
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- Elsie says:
17 June 2010 at 10:07 am
Hi.. my sister sent me your webpage address and i’ve been mesmerised by all your yummy looking recipes. I have a question on the use of wine in this salad recipe. Won’t the alcohol be dangerous to kids? I’m planning to prepare this recipe for my son.
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- food-4tots says:
18 June 2010 at 12:02 am
Elsie: First, thanks a lot to your sister for introducing my website to you! Also, thanks to your sweet comments. Rice wine vinegar or rice vinegar (白米醋) used in this recipe is not rice wine（米酒). When making rice vinegar, the fermentation process (for rice wine) goes one step further, adding bacteria to turn the alcohol into an acid as mentioned in this
link . Hope it helps.Reply
- Anpanman says:
24 June 2013 at 5:36 pm
Hi there,
Was wondering, can I substitute the rice wine vinegar with lemon juice?
Thanks!
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- food-4tots says:
26 June 2013 at 8:44 pm
Anpanman: Yes, you may do so even though it’s not a direct substitute. 😉
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juhuacha 
Chinese Recipes 
shu shu 
Elsie 
Anpanman 