Thai Style Warm Chicken Salad With Chilli Mint Lime Food

THAI MINCED CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Roughly chop the lemongrass, lime leaves, red chillies, garlic and ginger, then throw them all into a processor and blitz until everything is very finely chopped together. Mince the chicken breasts into tiny pieces.
• Heat a wok over a high heat and add the vegetable oil and the sesame oil. Throw in the lemongrass mixture and fry briefly before adding the minced chicken and the chilli powder. Stir-fry the chicken for 4 mins then splash in the fish sauce. Turn down the heat a little and allow the chicken and fish sauce to bubble together for another 4 mins, stirring, then add the chopped red onion and cook for another min.
• Remove from the heat, pour over the lime juice and toss in the herbs. Serve with the salad veg and a lime wedge on the side.

THAI CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Take the chicken out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking.
• Boil water in a saucepan. Add chicken, put the lid on, let the water come back up to a simmer, then remove from stove. Set aside for 20 minutes (even up to 45 min is fine). (Note 4)
• Remove chicken from water and shred, then cool.
• Place ingredients in a jar. Shake well. Taste and adjust as required. It should be a balance of tangy / sweet / salty / hint of spice. (Note 5)
• Place Salad ingredients in a large bowl. Drizzle over most of the Dressing, toss. Serve immediately, drizzled with remaining Dressing.

CHILLI-LIME CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk together the lime zest and juice, fish sauce, sugar and chillies until the sugar dissolves. Pour 1/3 of this mix into a bowl, add the oil and set aside (this will be the dressing). Put the remainder into a large food bag with 1 tsp salt, the garlic, turmeric and coriander stems. Slash each piece of chicken down to the bone a few times, then add to the marinade and squish it around well in the bag. Chill for at least 2 hrs, or ideally up to 24 hrs.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 (if barbecuing, get the coals ready). Lift the chicken from the marinade and into a roasting tin. Roast for 30 mins until cooked through but not yet completely tender.
• If you're barbecuing, transfer the chicken from its tin to a hot barbecue for 10 mins more, turning once crisp (otherwise continue roasting in the oven). Spread the spring onions, cucumber and tomatoes over a platter, add the chicken, then finish with the herbs, avocados, nuts and dressing.

SPICY THAI CHICKEN SALAD WITH CHILI LIME DRESSING

Steps:

• Combine rice vinegar, lime zest and juice, shallot, chili pepper and garlic in a small bowl. Let this sit for 10 - 15 minutes, then add remaining ingredients and give it a whisk. Let the dressing sit for an additional 10 - 15 minutes. Set aside until ready to use.
• Shred the cabbage and carrots in the food processor, or grate carrots on box grater and thinly slice cabbage. Add to large mixing bowl.
• Add shredded chicken, peanuts, scallions, snow peas, herbs, salt and pepper. Toss to combine.
• Pour dressing over and mix thoroughly to coat. Serve immediately.

THAI STYLE WARM CHICKEN SALAD WITH CHILLI, MINT & LIME

Steps:

• Heat the grill; Brush the chicken with vegetable oil and grill until cooked through; Let it rest for five minutes and then slice thinly.
• For the dressing, whisk the lime juice, fish sauce, sesame oil, and sugar until the sugar dissolves; Add the sliced shallots, chilli and spring onions and toss together.
• Tear the mint and coriander leaves and lightly toss with the chicken, salt and pepper.
• At the last minute, add the dressing to the chicken and toss lightly; Arrange it on plates, scatter with peanuts and serve with lime wedges.

SOUTH BEACH STYLE WARM CHICKEN SALAD

Steps:

• Combine the dressing ingredients,except oils and water, using a whisk to blend well.
• Slowly add oils while whisking fiercely, until all is incorporated.
• Taste and adjust seasonings, adding a little cold water if the taste is too vinegary.
• Pour into a microwave-safe deep glass container and set aside.
• Cook bacon strips in a large skillet a few minutes each side until crisp, remove to paper towel-lined plate to cool.
• Drain off bacon grease, but don't clean out the pan (you will be using the same pan to cook the chicken in, and that bit of residual bacon essence will help flavor the meat).
• Set out four large dinner plates and place 2 cups salad greens on each, then sprinkle cherry tomatoes and cheese around the edges of each plate; set aside.
• Coat chicken pieces heavily with the ground nuts (discard any excess that doesn't stick).
• Preheat oven to 350 F and have ready an ungreased 9x13" casserole.
• Heat a little olive oil in the same skillet you cooked the bacon in, over about medium heat (use just enough oil to keep meat from sticking).
• Brown chicken pieces 3-4 minutes per side, with the lid on- or until both sides have browned evenly, being careful to adjust the heat if needed to keep nuts from burning.
• Place chicken into ungreased casserole dish and bake about 10 minutes, or until fully cooked (if your breasts are really thin, check early, if they are thicker, you may need another 5 minutes).
• While the chicken is baking,re-whisk the dressing again and pop it into the microwave to heat for 30 seconds, stir, then heat another 30 secoinds- just until slightly warmed, not hot (NOTE:since microwaves vary, you may need to adjust the time so you don't boil the oil).
• Drizzle about 1 Tbsp of the warmed dressing over each salad plate; Pour the rest of the dressing into a serving dish to set on the table for each guest add as much or as little extra dressing as they prefer.
• Crumble bacon and sprinkle evenly over each plate.
• When chicken is fully cooked, remove to a cutting board and cut each breast into thin strips,trying to keep them together so they still look like a whole chicken breast shape.
• Using a long spatula, lift each sliced chicken breast and place in the center of each salad.
• Grind a bit of fresh black pepper and a pinch of salt over each serving.
• Serve immediately with the extra dressing on the side.

THAI GRILLED CHICKEN SALAD WITH BASIL & MINT

Steps:

• Stir together the marinade and pour over the chicken strips. Toss to coat, then set in the refrigerator to marinate while you prepare the salad greens.
• Stir the salad dressing ingredients together in a cup. Taste-test the dressing, looking for a tangy taste that is a balance between sweet and sour, salty and spicy (it should have some kick to it from the cayenne/chili). Add a little more sugar if it's too sour. Set aside.
• Heat up grill and lightly brush grill with a little vegetable oil. Grill your marinated chicken, basting it with the left-over marinate the first time you turn it. For oven-broiling, place chicken strips on a broiler pan (or on a foil-covered cookie sheet, turning up foil at the edges to prevent spilling). Set oven to broil setting and place chicken on one of the upper racks, turning it every 3-5 minutes, or until well done.
• For the mint and basil, stack the leaves on top of each other, then thinly slice into slivers and toss in with the salad. Add most to the salad and toss with most of the dressing. Portion out onto plates and top with the hot chicken strips. Drizzle remaining dressing over the chicken and top with remaining basil and mint. For those who like it spicy, minced fresh chili can also be sprinkled over.

WARM THAI CHICKEN & NOODLE SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the grill to high. Put the chicken on a baking tray and grill for 10-12 minutes without turning, until cooked through.
• Meanwhile, cook the noodles according to instructions. Drain and run cold water through to stop them sticking together.
• Mix the vegetables in a bowl. Thinly slice the chicken and add to the bowl, along with the noodles and coriander leaves.
• Mix the dressing ingredients together with 2 tablespoons water, pour over the salad and toss well. Serve straight away.