HomeShalom's Manderin Chicken Salad

serves 8-12

This recipe is good if the chicken is hot off the grill/pan or made ahead and chilled. It is great to take places and share, because its make ahead flexibility, not a "high spoilage" food, nor does not need an outlet (like crock meals). This is wonderful for hot weather Shabbats, pull it out of the fridge (or cooler) and you have a sophisticated meal that will get raves.

Marinating the Chicken:
6-8 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (or equivalent thighs)
1 cup honey
1/4C rice vinegar
1/4C soy sauce (I use Braggs)
1/4C orange juice
1/4C dark sesame oil

Mix together marinate ingredients in a bowl big enough to add your chicken too and cover while marinating. Let marinate at least an hour - but longer is better. **If you are grilling your chicken (my favorite!), leave the chicken uncut until you put it on the salad. If you are frying it in a pan, slice pieces into strips before it goes into the marinate. (This is good to do if you didn't have much time to marinate ahead, more flavor soaks in faster when it is pre-cut into strips. But if you have the time to marinate it longer - the added grill flavor adds a another dimension to the chicken!) I like to use oil in my pan or on my grates while cooking because of the honey in the marinade.

Since there are similar ingredients in the dressing - I like to make it right away.

Dressing:
1/4 C honey
1T + 1 tsp soy sauce
1/4C rice vinegar
1T + 1 tsp dark sesame oil
1T fresh grated ginger or 1tsp dr. ground ginger powder
1/3C orange juice

Mix ingredients together in a jar and set aside. If your honey is cold you might want to warm it to incorporate it together better. Now you can clean up. :-)

Salad:
1-2 pounds baby spinach (Depending on weather or not you want this to be a side or maid dish)*
8 carrots, cut in a fine julienne strips
7-8 Mandarin oranges or tangerines, peeled into segments (or fresh grapes)
Sliced Almonds, or Chopped Peanuts, Cashews or Pistachios (optional)

Assembles this salad in a bowl or on individual plates, top with cooked chicken.

If for some (crazy) reason you don't like baby spinach :-) , you could sub romaine of lettuce of choice.

For a large selection of delicious salad dressings, visit A Dressing a Day Challenge