Beat the Heat with Amazing Asian Chicken Salad!

I think it’s fair to say that most of the country has had a warm summer thus far.  Here in Minnesota, we have been having a record of above 90 degree days, many more than usual.  My garden is producing like crazy, not only at home, but also at the Sprouts – Get Out and Grow Garden at Hy-Vee.  Fresh herbs and veggies are at their peak season right now.  So in honor of Recipe ReDux “Beat the Heat No-Cook Summer Meals theme this month, I developed a tasty recipe the whole family will enjoy!

As a young girl, I remember those hot days without an air conditioner living in an old farm house, we would close the shades and hope that the sun wouldn’t heat up the house too much while we would be outside working in the garden or taking care of the animals.  Then at last, we were able to get a window air conditioner, but it could only fit in the window of the dining room.  My siblings and parents would congregate around the dining room table with our favorite no-cook meal: milkshakes and a sandwich, usually BLT’s, chicken salad or egg salad.

Being able to eat something fast, yet have it be refreshing was really the main idea.  So I decided to create an update to one of my favorites, the chicken salad sandwich.  I was inspired by the over 30 cucumbers we harvested with the kids this week in the Sprouts Garden.  Many of the kids thought they were “pickles” on the vine, and we had to discuss how a pickle becomes a pickle and that there are more things you can do with cucumbers than turn them into pickles!

So with this hot weather, it’s the perfect time to keep things cool in the kitchen by “cooking” up a delicious meal everyone will love without even turning on the oven.  And it will still feel like a meal!

Fresh From the Garden Amazing Asian Chicken Salad

  • 2 cups cooked chicken (I use rotisserie chicken or leftovers from a previous dinner)
  • 1 cucumber, diced
  • 1/2 onion, finely diced
  • 2 tablespoons House of Tsang Sweet Ginger Sesame Sauce
  • 1/2 lime, squeezed
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro
  • 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce (an Asian hot sauce made of a paste of chili peppers, garlic, sugar, salt and vinegar; find it in the Asian food section at the supermarket)
  1. Place chicken, cucumber and onion in a medium size bowl.  Drizzle with sweet sesame ginger sauce and lime juice.  Blend with spoon.
  2. Add fresh cilantro and siracha.  Stir and serve!  It’s perfect for a simple supper or entertaining.  Serve with crackers, on a whole grain bun, whole grain tortilla, in lettuce leaves or as a topping to a salad.  The variations are endless.

Check out other great posts in Recipe ReDux!


3 Comments

  1. Deanna Segrave-Daly (@tspbasil) on July 22, 2012 at 10:15 am

    Yummy – looks like a great way to get out of PB sandwich rut! I knew you’d have fun with this post with all your garden goodies 🙂

    • Jen Haugen on July 22, 2012 at 9:02 pm

      Thanks Deanna, it was fun to come up with this one! My garden is overflowing with goodies. We should talk soon!

  2. Cheryl ~~ Dietitian on July 24, 2012 at 10:00 am

    Yum this looks delish – looking forward to trying it! 🙂

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