Sesame Brown Rice Salad With Shredded Chicken And Peanuts Food

CHINESE CHICKEN SALAD WITH PEANUT-SESAME DRESSING

Steps:

• Fill a large saucepan three-fourths full with water and bring to a boil.
• Add the chicken breasts and return to a boil, skimming off any scum that forms on the surface, then immediately reduce the heat to low.
• Simmer, uncovered, until tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Drain and let cool.
• Remove the skin from the chicken breasts, bone the breasts and hand shred the meat with the grain into strips about 1/2 inch thick and 2 inches long.
• Refill the large saucepan three-fourths full with water.
• Bring to a boil over high heat and add the salt.
• Gently pull the strands of noodles apart, then drop them into the boiling water, stirring to separate the strands.
• When the water comes to a second boil, boil for 1 minute longer.
• Pour the noodles into a colander and rinse thoroughly with cold running water.
• Drain thoroughly and transfer to a large bowl.
• Toss with the peanut oil to keep the noodles from sticking together.
• Set aside.
• If using white sesame seeds, toast them in a small, dry frying pan over medium heat until golden and fragrant, about 3 minutes.
• If using black sesame seeds, leave them untoasted.
• In a large bowl, toss together the chicken, bell pepper, carrot, cilantro and toasted or raw sesame seeds.
• Arrange the cooked noodles in a wide shallow bowl.
• Scatter the cucumber over the noodles and top with the chicken mixture.
• Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• To make the dressing, in a small bowl, stir together the peanut butter, sesame paste, sugar, soy sauce and vinegar. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the peanut or corn oil, sesame oil and chili oil.
• When hot, add the garlic, ginger and green onion; saute gently until fragrant but not browned, about 15 seconds.
• Stir in the peanut butter-sesame paste mixture and cook until the mixture begins to form a light syrup, about 1 minute.
• Remove from the heat and let cool to lukewarm.
• Pour the warm dressing over the chicken salad and sprinkle with the peanuts.
• Serve immediately.