Emulsifier Free Asian-Style Chicken Salad with Coconut Ginger Dressing

Total time1 hr

Prep time25 min

Cook time20 min

Emulsifier Free Asian-Style Chicken Salad with Coconut Ginger Dressing

This vibrant, crunchy salad is the kind of dish that makes healthy eating feel genuinely exciting — layers of shredded cabbage, julienned carrots, cool cucumber, and fragrant fresh herbs all tumbling together with tender poached chicken. The real star is the dressing, a bright, punchy blend of coconut aminos, fresh ginger, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, and a touch of honey that comes together with just a whisk and a bowl. No lecithin, no polysorbates, no mystery additives — every single ingredient is exactly what it says it is, which is harder to find in bottled Asian-style dressings than you'd think. Poaching the chicken with ginger slices keeps the meat incredibly moist and infuses it with subtle warmth before it gets shredded into silky strips. Emulsifier-free cooking sometimes means sacrificing that creamy, cohesive dressing texture, but the olive oil and acid here naturally come together into something that clings beautifully to every leaf and ribbon of vegetable. A scatter of toasted coconut flakes on top adds a little sweetness and crunch that takes the whole bowl somewhere special. It's fresh, satisfying, and completely free of the processed stabilizers that sneak into so many convenience foods.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the chicken

1 ½ lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 tsp salt
3 slices fresh ginger (each about ¼ inch thick)

For the salad

3 cups green cabbage, thinly shredded
1 cup red cabbage, thinly shredded
2 medium carrots, julienned or coarsely grated
1 english cucumber, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
3 scallions (green tops only), thinly sliced
½ cup fresh cilantro leaves
¼ cup fresh mint leaves, torn

For the dressing

3 tbsp coconut aminos
Nutiva Coconut Secret Coconut Aminos Soy-Free Soy Sauce Alternative Original - 8 oz Coconut Secret Ssng Sce Orig Soy Free - 16.9 Oz Dynamic Health Coconut Aminos Seasoning Sauce Simple Truth Organic Coconut Aminos All-Purpose Seasoning Sauce, 10 fl oz O Organics Coconut Aminos - 10 FZ
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2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated
1 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tsp honey
½ tsp turmeric
¼ tsp salt

For serving

1 tbsp toasted coconut flakes (optional)
lime wedges (optional)

Instructions

1
Place the chicken breasts in a large pot and cover with cold water by about 2 inches. Add the salt and ginger slices. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to a gentle simmer and cook for 15–18 minutes, until the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) on an instant-read thermometer at the thickest part.
2
Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for 10–15 minutes, until cool enough to handle. Discard the poaching liquid and ginger slices. Shred the chicken into thin strips using two forks or your fingers.

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