The Ultimate Grilled Asian Chicken Salad with Cherry-Peanut Dressing

Are you ready to create a salad that is so much more than just a bowl of greens? A main-course salad that is an explosion of textures, a fusion of exciting flavors, and a true work of art? This Grilled Asian Chicken Salad with its unique Cherry-Peanut Dressing is that spectacular, restaurant-quality meal.

This is your ultimate guide to building a truly unforgettable salad. We’ll show you how to marinate and grill juicy chicken in a sweet cherry-soy marinade, create a creamy and tangy cherry-peanut dressing, and toss it all with a mountain of crisp, fresh, julienned vegetables and crunchy homemade wonton strips.

What makes this recipe so special is its incredible combination of sweet, savory, tangy, and crunchy elements in every single bite. It’s a healthy, satisfying, and deeply flavorful meal that is perfect for a special lunch or an impressive weeknight dinner. This Grilled Asian Chicken Salad is a culinary adventure you can easily embark on in your own kitchen.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

A Fusion of Flavors: Breaking Down This Unique Salad

This Grilled Asian Chicken Salad is a brilliant fusion of flavors and techniques that come together in perfect harmony.

• The Sweet & Savory Marinade: The chicken is marinated in a fantastic blend of sweet cherries, salty soy sauce, rich brown sugar, and aromatic ginger and garlic. This tenderizes the chicken and gives it a deep, savory, and slightly fruity flavor.
• The Creamy Cherry-Peanut Dressing: The dressing echoes the marinade but with a twist. It combines the sweet-tart cherries with creamy peanut butter, savory soy sauce, and tangy rice vinegar for a complex, addictive vinaigrette.
• The Surprising Tangy Crunch: The secret ingredient here is rinsed sauerkraut! When rinsed of its brine, sauerkraut provides a wonderfully tender, slightly tangy crunch that mimics traditional pickled vegetables found in many Asian cuisines.
• The Layers of Texture: This salad is a masterclass in texture: crisp romaine and julienned vegetables, snappy snow peas, crunchy water chestnuts, tender grilled chicken, and the final, airy crunch of homemade baked wonton strips.

The Key Ingredients for Your Asian Chicken Salad

This recipe for the ultimate Asian Chicken Salad uses a bounty of fresh, flavorful ingredients.

• Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts: The lean protein star of our dish. Marinating them ensures they stay juicy and flavorful on the grill.
• Frozen Pitted Sweet Cherries: Using frozen cherries is a fantastic, convenient shortcut. They provide a beautiful color and a sweet-tart flavor to both the marinade and the dressing.
• The Dressing/Marinade Staples: Soy sauce, rice vinegar, creamy peanut butter, honey mustard, and fresh ginger and garlic create the signature Asian-inspired flavor profile.
• The Salad Veggies: A vibrant, crunchy mix of napa cabbage, carrots, scallions, snow peas, and red and green bell peppers. Julienning them (cutting them into thin, matchstick-like pieces) is key to the restaurant-style presentation.
• Wonton Wrappers: We bake these until crisp to create our own fresh, healthy, and crunchy wonton strips—far superior to store-bought fried noodles.

Step-by-Step Guide to Your Grilled Asian Chicken Salad

This impressive meal comes together in a few easy stages. You can marinate the chicken and prepare the vegetables while the grill preheats.

Part 1: Make the Marinade and Dressing

1. Make the Dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the 1/4 cup of chopped thawed cherries, 1 tablespoon of their reserved juice, the soy sauce, peanut butter, rice vinegar, vegetable oil, and sesame oil. Set this dressing aside.
2. Make the Marinade: In a blender, puree the 1 cup of thawed cherries, 3 tablespoons of their reserved juice, the soy sauce, white wine, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, ginger, and garlic until the cherries and garlic are finely chopped.
3. Marinate the Chicken: Pierce the chicken breasts all over with a fork. Place them in a large resealable plastic bag and pour the marinade over them. Seal the bag and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes or up to 8 hours.

Part 2: Prepare the Toppings and Grill the Chicken

1. Prepare the Grill: Preheat your grill to a steady high heat. Brush the grates with vegetable oil.
2. Make the Crispy Wonton Strips: While the grill heats, preheat your oven to 350°F. Arrange the thinly sliced wonton wrappers in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for about 5 minutes, until they are golden brown and crisp. Watch them carefully as they can burn quickly.
3. Prep the Sauerkraut: Soak the sauerkraut in a bowl of ice water for 10 minutes. This removes some of the sharp, briny flavor, leaving a pleasant tang. Drain, rinse, and squeeze out all the excess water.
4. Grill the Chicken: Remove the chicken from the marinade, brushing off any excess. Place the chicken on the hot grill. Cover and grill for 5 to 7 minutes per side, until the chicken is cooked through and has beautiful char marks.
5. Rest and Slice: Transfer the cooked chicken to a cutting board and let it rest for 5 minutes. This is a crucial step to keep it juicy. After resting, slice the chicken into 1/2-inch pieces.

Part 3: Assemble Your Salad

1. Dress the Greens: In a large salad bowl, toss the drained sauerkraut and the chopped romaine lettuce with about half of the prepared cherry-peanut dressing.
2. Assemble the Plates: Divide the dressed greens among your serving plates or bowls.
3. Add the Toppings: Artfully arrange the julienned bell peppers, scallions, carrots, snow peas, and water chestnuts over the greens. Top with the sliced grilled chicken.
4. Garnish and Serve: Finish your Grilled Asian Chicken Salad with a generous sprinkle of the crispy wonton strips. Serve immediately with the remaining dressing on the side.

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Conclusion: A Restaurant-Worthy Salad at Home

This Grilled Asian Chicken Salad is a true feast for the senses. It’s a vibrant, healthy, and incredibly satisfying meal that is packed with an amazing variety of flavors and textures. It proves that a salad can be the most exciting dish on the menu. This is a recipe that is sure to impress and become a new favorite for special, healthy meals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)