Asian Chicken Salad with Skinny Shanghai Dressing
If you’re a Chinese chicken salad fan, you’ll surely become a fan of this unconventional one. It makes a super satisfying main course salad. I knew I was on to something when my husband asked for seconds! The dressing is fantastic, dark, rich, creamy, with a little bite. Each large portion has 355 calories and 11 grams of fat.
Why You'll Love This Skinny Asian Chicken Salad with Skinny Shanghai Dressing
Get ready to fall head over heels for this Skinny Asian Chicken Salad with Skinny Shanghai Dressing! If you're anything like me, you're always on the lookout for a meal that's bursting with flavor but won't bust your button. This salad delivers on all fronts – it's light, refreshing, incredibly satisfying, and packed with those irresistible sweet and savory notes you crave from your favorite Asian-inspired dishes. We've taken a classic and "skinnified" it, so you can indulge in all the deliciousness without any of the guilt. It’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, a healthy lunch to pack for work, or even a fabulous dish to bring to a potluck that will have everyone asking for the recipe. Trust me, once you try this vibrant, crunchy, and ridiculously tasty salad, it's going to become a regular in your healthy eating rotation!Ingredients For Asian Chicken Salad with Skinny Shanghai Dressing
Skinny Ranch Dressing
Who says you can't have your ranch and eat it too, especially when we're "skinnifying" it for an Asian-inspired salad? My Skinny Ranch Dressing brings all that creamy, tangy goodness you love, but with a fraction of the fat and calories. We're talking guilt-free deliciousness that helps keep your waistline happy while still delivering big on flavor. You can whip up a batch of my homemade Skinny Ranch (the recipe is on the blog, of course!), or if you're in a hurry, grab your favorite store-bought light ranch dressing. For those looking for a dairy-free option, a good quality light mayo works wonders too, providing that perfect creamy base without the dairy. This is the secret weapon that makes our Shanghai dressing so lusciously smooth!Hoisin Sauce
Ah, hoisin sauce – the magical elixir that gives so many Asian dishes their signature sweet and savory punch! This thick, fragrant sauce is a staple in Chinese cuisine, known for its rich, umami flavor with hints of sweetness, saltiness, and a touch of five-spice. It’s often called "Chinese barbecue sauce" and for good reason! In our Skinny Shanghai Dressing, hoisin sauce provides that deep, complex flavor profile that elevates the dressing from simply good to absolutely addictive. A little goes a long way to infuse our dressing with that authentic, irresistible taste that you'd expect from your favorite Asian takeout, but guess what? We're controlling the portions to keep it skinny!Rice Vinegar
Let's talk about rice vinegar, the unsung hero of many Asian dressings and marinades! This light and tangy vinegar, made from fermented rice, is much milder and sweeter than your typical distilled white vinegar. It adds a bright, slightly sweet acidity to our Skinny Shanghai Dressing, perfectly balancing out the richness of the hoisin and the savoriness of the soy sauce. Think of it as the zesty kick that wakes up all the other flavors, giving our dressing that perfect tangy zing without being overpowering. It’s what makes every bite of your Asian Chicken Salad feel fresh and vibrant!Toasted or Regular Sesame Oil
Prepare your taste buds for the star of the show: toasted or regular sesame oil! This isn't just any oil; it's a flavor powerhouse. Toasted sesame oil, with its deep, nutty, and intensely aromatic profile, is like a secret weapon for adding an authentic Asian flair to any dish. Just a tiny drizzle can transform your entire recipe, infusing it with that unmistakable warm, roasty aroma. If you only have regular sesame oil on hand, no worries – it will still add a lovely, subtle sesame note. But for that true "takeout-at-home" experience, the toasted kind is where it's at. In our Skinny Shanghai Dressing, it’s responsible for that irresistible nutty depth that makes this dressing so incredibly crave-worthy. And because it's so potent, we only need a little bit to get a huge flavor payoff, keeping things light and skinny!Ginger (from a jar)
Get ready to spice things up with ginger! Specifically, we're using the kind from a jar, because who has time to peel and grate fresh ginger every time they want a quick and healthy meal? Jarred ginger is a fantastic shortcut that delivers all that pungent, spicy, and wonderfully aromatic flavor without the fuss. It brings a fantastic warmth and a zesty kick to our Skinny Shanghai Dressing, adding a layer of complex flavor that's utterly essential for an authentic Asian taste. Plus, it's known for its digestive benefits, so you can feel extra good about loading up on this delicious dressing!Lite Soy Sauce
For that essential savory depth, we're bringing in lite soy sauce! This isn't just about reducing sodium; it's about getting all that rich, umami flavor you expect from soy sauce, but in a way that’s better for your health. Lite soy sauce, also known as low sodium soy sauce, gives our Skinny Shanghai Dressing that perfect salty balance without overwhelming the other delicate flavors. It's the backbone of so many Asian dressings, providing a fundamental savory note that ties everything together. You'll get all the deliciousness without the worry of too much sodium, making this dressing truly "skinny" in every sense of the word.Sugar
Believe it or not, a little bit of sugar is essential for balancing out all those fantastic savory and tangy flavors in our Skinny Shanghai Dressing! Don't worry, we're talking about just enough to perfectly complement the hoisin, soy sauce, and vinegar, not turn our dressing into a dessert. Sugar acts as a flavor enhancer, bringing out the best in all the other ingredients and creating that harmonious sweet-and-savory profile that's characteristic of authentic Asian cuisine. It's the secret touch that makes our dressing so incredibly well-rounded and irresistible, proving that you can have a little sweetness and still keep things perfectly skinny!Cooked Chicken Breasts, Chopped
Our star protein, cooked chicken breasts, chopped! This is where the magic of "skinnifying" really shines. Using lean, pre-cooked chicken breasts means you're getting a fantastic source of lean protein that's super versatile and keeps you feeling full and satisfied without adding unnecessary fat. You can easily prep this ahead of time by baking, grilling, or even poaching chicken breasts, then chopping them up for quick assembly. This makes our Asian Chicken Salad not just delicious, but also incredibly convenient for busy weeknights. It's the perfect canvas to soak up all that amazing Skinny Shanghai Dressing!Romaine Lettuce, Chopped
Let's talk about the base of our glorious salad: crisp romaine lettuce, chopped! This isn't just any lettuce; romaine is fantastic for salads because of its sturdy, crunchy texture and mild, slightly bitter flavor that holds up beautifully to dressing without getting soggy. It provides that essential crispness that makes every bite of our Asian Chicken Salad so satisfying. Plus, it's a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals, adding a fresh, vibrant, and incredibly healthy foundation to our skinny masterpiece. Go ahead, pile it high – the more greens, the better!Carrots, Shredded
Get ready for a pop of color and a burst of natural sweetness with shredded carrots! These vibrant orange beauties don't just make our Asian Chicken Salad look amazing; they add a wonderful, subtle sweetness and a fantastic crunch that perfectly complements the other ingredients. Carrots are packed with vitamins and fiber, making them an excellent addition to any healthy meal. Plus, they're super easy to prep – just grab a bag of pre-shredded carrots for an even quicker assembly, or shred them yourself for that extra fresh touch. They’re essential for that classic Asian salad texture!Chinese Pea Pods or Sugar Snap Peas, Diced
Here's where we add that delightful snap and a touch of sweet freshness: Chinese pea pods or sugar snap peas, diced! These little green gems are absolute superstars in Asian salads. They offer an incredible crunch, a naturally sweet flavor, and a vibrant green hue that makes your salad sing. Whether you choose the flat Chinese pea pods or the plumper sugar snap peas, dicing them ensures that every bite gets a perfect little burst of sweetness and crispness. They're also loaded with vitamins, making them a delicious and nutritious addition to our skinny salad.Red Bell Pepper, Diced
Add a splash of vibrant color and a burst of sweet, juicy flavor with diced red bell pepper! Red bell peppers are fantastic in salads because they offer a wonderful crunch and a mild, sweet taste that complements a wide range of flavors. They're also an amazing source of Vitamin C and antioxidants, making them a healthy and delicious addition to our Asian Chicken Salad. Chopping them into small, uniform pieces ensures that you get that lovely sweetness and crunch in every forkful, adding another layer of texture and taste to our skinny creation.Scallions, Chopped
No Asian salad is complete without the fresh, pungent kick of chopped scallions! Also known as green onions, these slender beauties add a mild oniony flavor and a touch of vibrant green that brightens up the entire dish. They're super easy to chop and provide a delicate sharpness that cuts through the richness of the dressing, adding a fresh finish to every bite. Scallions are a staple in Asian cuisine for a reason – they provide that essential fresh, aromatic element that takes our Skinny Asian Chicken Salad from good to absolutely sensational!Skinny Shanghai Dressing
And now, for the grand finale, the star of our show: Skinny Shanghai Dressing! This isn't just any dressing; it's the magical concoction that ties all our wonderful ingredients together into a harmonious symphony of flavors. We've crafted this dressing to be perfectly balanced – sweet, savory, tangy, and with that irresistible nutty sesame aroma – all while keeping it light and skinny. It coats every piece of chicken and every crisp veggie with a burst of authentic Asian flavor without weighing you down. This dressing is so good, you'll want to drizzle it on everything, and because it's "skinny," you totally can! It’s the secret to making this Asian Chicken Salad an absolute flavor bomb that you'll feel great about eating.How to Make Asian Chicken Salad with Skinny Shanghai Dressing
Making Our Skinny Shanghai Dressing: The Flavor-Packed Foundation
Let's dive into creating the star of our show: the incredibly flavorful and perfectly Skinny Shanghai Dressing! This is where all the magic happens, transforming simple ingredients into a taste sensation. First things first, if you're making your own Skinny Ranch Dressing (and you totally should, my recipe is on the blog!), whip that up. No need to chill it for an hour this time; we're on a mission to get this delicious salad on your table fast! Once you have your ranch ready, measure out ½ cup and pour it into a medium-sized mixing bowl. This is our creamy, dreamy base.Now, it's time to bring in all those fantastic Asian-inspired flavors. Add the ¼ cup of hoisin sauce – remember, that's our sweet and savory secret weapon – along with the tangy ¼ cup of rice vinegar. Next comes the aromatic 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons of toasted or regular sesame oil; it's going to infuse our dressing with that irresistible nutty depth. Don't forget the convenient and zesty 1 tablespoon of ginger from a jar, and for that essential savory balance, 1 tablespoon of lite soy sauce. Finally, a tiny touch of 1 tablespoon of sugar will bring all the flavors into perfect harmony, creating that signature sweet-and-savory profile we're aiming for.Once all your dressing ingredients are in the bowl, grab a whisk and get to work! Whisk everything together enthusiastically until it's completely smooth and beautifully blended. You want all those distinct flavors to meld into one cohesive, glorious dressing. Once it's perfect, pop your Skinny Shanghai Dressing into the fridge. It's perfectly fine to store it there until you're ready to assemble your salad, keeping it fresh and flavorful. And here's a bonus tip: any leftover dressing can be saved for another delicious meal – it'll keep wonderfully in the fridge for at least a week, ready to elevate your next healthy creation!Assembling Your Deliciously Skinny Asian Chicken Salad: Toss and Enjoy!
Now that our amazing Skinny Shanghai Dressing is prepped and ready, it's time for the fun part: bringing this vibrant, healthy, and incredibly satisfying Asian Chicken Salad to life! Grab your largest mixing bowl – you'll want plenty of room for tossing all these wonderful ingredients without making a mess.First, gently add all your prepared salad ingredients. That's your generous 2 cups of chopped cooked chicken breasts, providing lean protein to keep you full and energized. Then, pile in the crisp 8 cups of chopped romaine lettuce, which forms the perfect crunchy base for our masterpiece. Next, add the bright and sweet 1 cup of shredded carrots, followed by the delightful crunch of 1 cup of diced Chinese pea pods or sugar snap peas. Don't forget the colorful and subtly sweet ⅔ cup of diced red bell pepper, and finally, the fresh, mild oniony kick of 4 tablespoons of chopped scallions. Look at all those vibrant colors – it's already a feast for the eyes!Now for the grand finale! Measure out 6 tablespoons of your freshly made (or perfectly chilled) Skinny Shanghai Dressing. Drizzle it generously over all the salad ingredients in your large bowl. Here's where you get to show off your salad-tossing skills! Using two large spoons or tongs, gently but thoroughly toss everything together. You want to make sure every single piece of chicken, every crisp leaf of lettuce, and every colorful veggie is beautifully coated in that luscious, skinny dressing. This ensures that every bite is packed with incredible flavor.Once your salad is perfectly dressed and gloriously mixed, it's time to serve! Divide your magnificent Asian Chicken Salad with Skinny Shanghai Dressing among two dinner-sized plates or bowls. And there you have it – a restaurant-quality, incredibly flavorful, and perfectly "skinny" meal that's ready to enjoy. Get ready to savor every single bite of this fresh, satisfying, and utterly delicious creation!Helpful Tips About this Recipe
Makes 2 servings
Food Facts
Most Asian-style salad dressings use oil for the base. I’m using my skinny ranch dressing to replace the oil. Amazingly, once the other ingredients are added, you’d never know there is ranch dressing in it. The results create a wonderfully thick, dreamy, low calorie dressing!
Shopping Tips
Chopped or crushed ginger, in a jar, can be found in the produce section near garlic, in a jar.
Serving Tips
This dressing is so delicious to serve with any kind of Asian salad or garden salad. Makes a nice dip too!
WW Freestyle SmartPoints 3-Blue, includes dressing
WW SmartPoints 3-Green
WW Points Plus 9
Food Facts
Most Asian-style salad dressings use oil for the base. I’m using my skinny ranch dressing to replace the oil. Amazingly, once the other ingredients are added, you’d never know there is ranch dressing in it. The results create a wonderfully thick, dreamy, low calorie dressing!
Shopping Tips
Chopped or crushed ginger, in a jar, can be found in the produce section near garlic, in a jar.
Serving Tips
This dressing is so delicious to serve with any kind of Asian salad or garden salad. Makes a nice dip too!
WW Freestyle SmartPoints 3-Blue, includes dressing
WW SmartPoints 3-Green
WW Points Plus 9
| SKINNY FACTS: for 1 main course salad including dressing 355 cal, 11g fat, 2g sat. fat, 101mg chol, 45g prot, 28g carbs, 8g fiber, 742mg sod, 15g sugar SKINNY FACTS: for 1 tablespoon dressing 26 calories, 2g far, 0g sat. fat, 1mg chol, 1g prot, 0g fiber, 122mg sod, 2g sugar |
| FACTS: for Freestyle SmartPoints: 78 calories, 0g sat. fat, 3g protein, 6g sugar |
Asian Chicken Salad with Skinny Shanghai Dressing
Ingredients
Ingredients for Skinny Shanghai Dressing:
- ½ cup Skinny Ranch Dressing or use store-bought lite ranch dressing or light mayo for dairy-free
- ¼ cup hoisin sauce
- ¼ cup rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons toasted or regular sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon ginger (from a jar), see shopping tips
- 1 tablespoon lite soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sugar
Ingredients for Salad:
- 2 cups cooked chicken breasts, chopped
- 8 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup carrots, shredded
- 1 cup Chinese pea pods or sugar snap peas, diced
- ⅔ cup red bell pepper, diced
- 4 tablespoons scallions, chopped
- 6 tablespoons Skinny Shanghai Dressing
Instructions
- Prepare Skinny Shanghai Dressing: First, make the Skinny Ranch Dressing if you don’t have some on hand. No need to chill for an hour. Once made, add ½ cup to a medium bowl. Add all dressing ingredients and whisk together until well blended. Store in fridge until ready to use. Save remaining dressing for another use. Will keep for at least a week.
- Add salad ingredients to a large bowl. Add 6 tablespoons dressing. Toss well. Divide among 2 dinner size plates or bowls.
Nutrition
Serving: 1saladCalories: 355kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 45gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 101mgSodium: 742mgFiber: 8gSugar: 15gBlue Smart Points: 3Green Smart Points: 3Plus Points: 9
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
Stumbled on your website today and made the Asian salad. It was delicious! Made your Sinny Ranch first, also good. Now I am on the hunt for what to do with all this leftover buttermilk! Can I freeze it?
Welcome to Skinny kitchen Claudia! I’m happy you are already enjoying my recipes. Yes you can freeze the leftover buttermilk. You can either freeze buttermilk in its original container, but be sure there is enough space left in the carton to allow it to expand when it freezes. … If you generally use a small amount, freeze the buttermilk in ice cube trays and store the cubes in a freezer bag once they are frozen hard.
All the best,
Nancy
Thanks Nancy! Off to find some more good recipes!
Have fun skinny cooking!