Low-Carb Asian Chopped Salad Recipe With Garlic-Ginger Chicken

Medically reviewed by
Medically reviewed by Richard N. Fogoros, MD on June 29, 2017
Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. He is Verywell's Senior Medical Advisor.
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Richard N. Fogoros, MD
Written by
Written by Rachael Hartley, RD, LD, CDE
Rachael Hartley, RD, LD, is a registered dietitian and certified intuitive eating counselor. She runs the popular The Joy of Eating blog.
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Rachael Hartley, RD, LD, CDE
Updated on September 20, 2019
asian chopped salad in a serving bowl
Rachael Hartley, RD, LD, CDE
Total Time: 35 min
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 15 min
Servings: 4

Nutrition Highlights (per serving)

333 calories
13g fat
16g carbs
40g protein
Show Nutrition Label Hide Nutrition Label
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving  
Calories 333
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13g 17%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 88mg 29%
Sodium 552mg 24%
Total Carbohydrate 16g 6%
Dietary Fiber 6g 21%
Total Sugars 6g  
Includes 0g Added Sugars 0%
Protein 40g  
Vitamin D 0mcg 0%
Calcium 120mg 9%
Iron 3mg 17%
Potassium 897mg 19%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Salads and satisfying usually don’t go in the same sentence. But this Asian chopped salad is packed with protein from grilled garlic-ginger chicken, edamame, and tons of crunchy, raw vegetables. There’s no shortage of flavor from bright, fresh herbs and a tangy soy-lime dressing.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 3 cloves garlic (peeled and finely minced)
  • 1 (1-inch) piece ginger (grated)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/4 pound chicken breasts (boneless)
  • 1 head butter lettuce (chopped)
  • 1 (9-ounce) bag shredded cabbage
  • 1 large carrot (peeled and grated)
  • 1 cup edamame (shelled; defrosted if from frozen)
  • 1 cucumber (chopped)
  • 2 stalks celery (chopped)
  • 2 scallions (chopped)
  • 2 tablespoons mint (chopped)
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro (chopped)
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce (reduced sodium)
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • Juice of 1 lime

Preparation

  1. In a small bowl, mix together sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and salt. Rub all over chicken breasts and place in a zip-top bag in the refrigerator to marinate for 8 hours.

  2. When ready to cook, oil the grates of a grill and set on medium-high heat. When hot, place chicken on the grill and cook 5 to 7 minutes per side until grill-marked and chicken registers 160F in its thickest part. Remove from grill and set aside to cool.

  3. While chicken is grilling, toss lettuce, cabbage, carrot, edamame, cucumber, celery, scallions, mint, and cilantro together in a large bowl. When chicken has cooled slightly, shred into bite sized pieces with a fork. Add to the bowl with the vegetables.

  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, and lime juice. Add to salad and toss to combine. Serve immediately.

Ingredient Variations and Substitutions

Don’t eat meat? This salad can easily be made meatless by swapping chicken for tofu. Press the tofu dry, cut into bite-sized cubes, and toss with the ginger-garlic paste. You may want to add another tablespoon of sesame oil to help thin it down and coat the tofu. Skewer the tofu before grilling a couple minutes per side so it doesn’t fall through the grates.

Although this salad is plenty filling, if you’d like to bulk it up a bit more with a complex carbohydrate, toss in a scoop of cooked brown rice or quinoa, both of which are packed with fiber and add to the protein count. You could also make it a noodle salad, mixing it with cooked and cooled brown rice noodles. Find them in the Asian aisle of most grocery stores.

Cooking and Serving Tips

What I love most about salads made with cabbage is that it doesn’t wilt, so you can make your salad ahead of time as an easy, grab-and-go lunch. The same can’t be said for lettuce, so I would pack it in a separate bag and toss it together before eating. You may need to brighten the dressing a bit, so pack an extra lime wedge to squeeze over your salad before eating.

Forgot to marinate your chicken? Don’t worry—I always do that too! It’ll still have plenty of flavor if you give it a quick 15 minute bath in garlic and ginger.

Stuck with leftover herbs after making this recipe? Blend the mint and cilantro together with olive oil and a bit of lime juice in a food processor for a tangy pesto to serve with fresh or roasted veggies. If you know you won’t use up your ginger, peel it and store it in the freezer, where you can grate it from frozen using a microplane grater.

To save time, look for pre-chopped or shredded cabbage, lettuce, and carrots.

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