The Best Chinese Cabbage Salad You'll Ever Taste: Inspired by California Chicken Cafe
How to Make a Delicious Chinese Cabbage Salad from California Chicken Cafe
If you are a fan of Chinese chicken salads, you might have heard of the famous California Chicken Cafe, a restaurant chain that specializes in rotisserie chicken, salads, and wraps. One of their most popular dishes is the Chinese cabbage salad, which is loaded with crispy noodles, chicken, mandarin oranges, almonds, and a tangy dressing. This salad is fresh, crunchy, and satisfying, and it's easy to make at home with a few simple ingredients.
Chinese Cabbage Salad Recipe From California Chicken Cafe
Ingredients
4 cups of shredded green cabbage
2 cups of shredded rotisserie chicken
1/2 cup of sliced almonds
1/4 cup of chopped green onions
1/4 cup of crispy chow mein noodles
1/4 cup of mandarin orange segments
1/4 cup of vegetable oil
2 tablespoons of sugar
2 tablespoons of soy sauce
2 tablespoons of rice vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
In a large bowl, toss together the cabbage, chicken, almonds, green onions, and noodles.
In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, salt, and pepper.
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well to coat.
Garnish with mandarin oranges and serve chilled or at room temperature.
Why You Should Try This Chinese Cabbage Salad Recipe
This Chinese cabbage salad recipe is not only delicious, but also has many benefits for your health and well-being. Here are some reasons why you should try this salad today:
It's low in calories and high in fiber, which can help you feel full and satisfied without overeating.
It's rich in vitamin C, which can boost your immune system and protect your cells from damage.
It's packed with antioxidants, which can fight inflammation and prevent chronic diseases.
It's easy to customize with your favorite ingredients, such as chicken, nuts, fruits, or herbs.
It's perfect for any occasion, whether it's a weekday lunch, a picnic, or a potluck.
How to Store and Serve This Chinese Cabbage Salad Recipe
This Chinese cabbage salad recipe is best served fresh, but you can also store it in the refrigerator for up to two days. To keep it crunchy and flavorful, follow these tips:
Store the salad and the dressing separately in airtight containers.
Add the dressing and the toppings (such as noodles, oranges, and almonds) right before serving.
Toss the salad well to coat with the dressing and distribute the ingredients evenly.
Enjoy it cold or at room temperature, depending on your preference.
What is Chinese Cabbage and How to Use It
Chinese cabbage, also known as napa cabbage or wombok, is a type of leafy green vegetable that belongs to the brassica family. It has a mild and slightly sweet flavor, and a crunchy and tender texture. Chinese cabbage is widely used in Asian cuisines, especially in salads, stir-fries, soups, dumplings, and kimchi.
Chinese cabbage is easy to prepare and cook. Here are some tips on how to use it:
Choose a fresh and firm head of Chinese cabbage that has no signs of wilting, browning, or bruising.
Wash the cabbage well under running water and pat it dry with paper towels.
Cut off the base of the cabbage and separate the leaves. You can use a knife or your hands to do this.
Chop, shred, or slice the cabbage according to your recipe. You can use the whole leaf or just the white stem part.
Cook the cabbage as desired. You can steam, boil, sauté, roast, or pickle it. Chinese cabbage cooks quickly, so be careful not to overcook it.
Health Benefits of Chinese Cabbage
Chinese cabbage is not only tasty, but also nutritious. It is low in calories and high in water content, which can help you stay hydrated and control your weight. It is also rich in vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, calcium, potassium, and fiber, which can support your immune system, blood clotting, bone health, digestion, and heart health. Additionally, Chinese cabbage contains glucosinolates, which are compounds that have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties.
How to Serve This Chinese Cabbage Salad Recipe
This Chinese cabbage salad recipe is a great dish to serve as a main course or a side dish. It is filling, flavorful, and refreshing, and it goes well with many other dishes. Here are some suggestions on how to serve this salad:
As a main course, you can serve this salad with some bread, crackers, or tortillas. You can also add some cheese, hummus, or guacamole for extra protein and creaminess.
As a side dish, you can serve this salad with some grilled, baked, or roasted meat, such as chicken, beef, pork, or fish. You can also serve it with some rice, noodles, or quinoa for a complete meal.
As a picnic or potluck dish, you can make this salad ahead of time and store it in an airtight container. You can also bring the dressing and the toppings separately and add them right before serving.
As a leftover dish, you can store the leftover salad in the refrigerator for up to two days. You can enjoy it cold or at room temperature, or you can reheat it in the microwave or on the stove.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Chinese Cabbage Salad Recipe
Here are some common questions that people might have about this Chinese cabbage salad recipe:
What is the difference between Chinese cabbage and regular cabbage? Chinese cabbage is a type of cabbage that has long and oval-shaped leaves that are tightly packed together. Regular cabbage is a type of cabbage that has round and flat-shaped leaves that are loosely packed together. Chinese cabbage has a milder and sweeter flavor than regular cabbage, and it is more tender and crisp.
Can I use regular vinegar instead of rice vinegar? Yes, you can use regular vinegar instead of rice vinegar, but the flavor will be slightly different. Rice vinegar has a mild and slightly sweet flavor that complements the Asian ingredients in this salad. Regular vinegar has a stronger and more acidic flavor that might overpower the other flavors.
Can I make this salad vegan or gluten-free? Yes, you can make this salad vegan or gluten-free by making some simple substitutions. To make it vegan, you can replace the chicken with tofu, tempeh, or chickpeas. To make it gluten-free, you can replace the soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos. You can also replace the noodles with gluten-free noodles or omit them altogether.
What is California Chicken Cafe and Why You Should Try It
California Chicken Cafe is a restaurant chain that specializes in rotisserie chicken, salads, and wraps. It was founded in 1991 in Los Angeles, and it has since expanded to nine locations across Southern California. California Chicken Cafe is known for its fresh and high-quality ingredients, generous portions, and affordable prices.
One of the reasons why you should try California Chicken Cafe is because of its delicious and diverse menu. You can choose from a variety of chicken dishes, such as whole chicken, half chicken, chicken breast, or chicken on the bone. You can also choose from a variety of salads, such as Chinese chicken salad, BBQ chicken salad, garden salad, or Caesar salad. You can also customize your own salad with your choice of greens, toppings, and dressing. You can also enjoy some wraps, such as chicken wrap, veggie wrap, or hummus wrap. You can also add some sides, such as broccoli pasta salad, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, or fruit salad.
Another reason why you should try California Chicken Cafe is because of its fast and friendly service. You can order online, by phone, or in person. You can also choose to dine in, take out, or have your food delivered. You can also order catering for your events, such as parties, meetings, or weddings. You can expect your food to be prepared quickly and efficiently, and your order to be accurate and complete.
How to Make Your Own Chinese Cabbage Salad at Home
If you love the Chinese cabbage salad from California Chicken Cafe, you might want to try making it at home. It is not very difficult to make, and you can adjust the ingredients and the dressing to your liking. Here are the basic steps on how to make your own Chinese cabbage salad at home:
Gather your ingredients. You will need shredded green cabbage, shredded rotisserie chicken, sliced almonds, chopped green onions, crispy chow mein noodles, mandarin orange segments, vegetable oil, sugar, soy sauce
How to Make Your Own Chinese Chicken Salad Dressing at Home
If you want to make your own Chinese chicken salad dressing at home, you don't need a lot of ingredients or time. You can whip up a delicious and tangy dressing in minutes with some pantry staples. Here is how to make your own Chinese chicken salad dressing at home:
Gather your ingredients. You will need vegetable oil, sugar, soy sauce, rice vinegar, salt, and pepper. You can also add some sesame oil, ginger, garlic, or red pepper flakes for extra flavor.
Whisk together the ingredients. In a small bowl or a jar with a lid, whisk together the oil, sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, salt, and pepper until well combined. If using any optional ingredients, add them as well and whisk well.
Taste and adjust the dressing. Taste the dressing and adjust the sweetness, saltiness, sourness, or spiciness to your liking. You can add more sugar, soy sauce, vinegar, or pepper as needed.
Store or use the dressing. You can store the dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also use it right away to dress your salad or as a marinade or dipping sauce for chicken.