If you’ve been reading IGE for any length of time, than you know I have a fondness for making healthier versions of my favorite, not-so-healthy restaurant dishes at home, such as…
P.F. Chang’s Lettuce Wraps (less grease!), Food Court Baked Ziti (less cheese!), Chipotle Burrito Bowls (less funky chicken!) rise to the top as some of my top picks.
But some of my favorite dishes to grab on the go, don’t necessarily need a makeover. They’re light and satisfying on their own, without having to go back to the drawing board. One such meal is Panera’s Asian Sesame Chicken Salad.
This salad is perfectly light, crunchy, sweet and savory. The only thing that needed changing was the location of the salad. As in, from Panera’s kitchen, to my own.
The recipe for this salad is broken into 3 parts for easy preparation. Don’t let the long(ish) ingredient list scare you – it comes together lickity split.
Part 1: The Chicken
Start by mixing up a savory, sesame-flavored marinade for boneless, skinless chicken breasts, that combines sesame oil and soy sauce or gluten-free tamari (dish will not be GF if using soy sauce) with ground ginger, garlic powder and some other far-east flavors.
Marinate the chicken in the mixture for 15 minutes, or up to an hour, then grill or cook in a non-stick sprayed skillet until done. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes, then slice, and set aside.
Part 2: The Dressing
This recipe for Panera’s perfectly sweet & tangy Asian Sesame Dressing is SPOT ON, plus it’s a cinch to make. Start by whisking sugar into boiling vinegar until it fully dissolves, about 30 seconds.
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Once cooled, combine it with canola oil, sesame oil, salt & pepper.
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Next, add in toasted sesame seeds. You don’t HAVE to toast the seeds, but it adds so much, plus it takes like 2 minutes. Just add the seeds to a dry skillet over medium heat, and shake the pan every 30 seconds or so until they’re are golden brown. Presto.
Add ’em in, and shake ‘er up!
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Dressing = done!
Part 3: The Toppings
Toppings are what make the world go round, and this salad has no shortage of them. I used chopped cilantro, mandarin oranges packed in water (just rinse and pat dry if they’re packed in syrup.)
sliced almonds, and baked wonton strips. You could snag some fried wonton strips from your grocery store’s Chinese buffet ($.50 or so) or do what I did and cut wonton squares into strips, spray with non-stick spray, and bake at 400 degrees for 3-4 minutes. I wouldn’t buy a package of wontons just to make these strips, but dear Ben cleaned out the freezer for us this weekend (cabin fever makes husbands do crazy things,) and found a whole, unopened package of wonton wrappers, which is why I made my own vs buying. This is far longer than I wanted to talk about wonton strips.
(Note: this recipe was written prior to me getting Celiac Disease — wontons are not gluten free!)
Assembly:
Pile romaine lettuce and baby spinach onto a plate, then top with the chicken and toppings. Drizzle with zee dressing, and dive in!
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Copycat Panera Asian Sesame Chicken Salad
Description
Copycat Panera Asian Sesame Chicken Salad is a healthier version of my favorite salad from Panera!
Ingredients
- 1 bag chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 bag baby spinach
- 4 medium chicken breasts
- For the chicken marinade:
- 3 Tablespoons soy sauce or gluten-free Tamari (dish will not be GF if using soy sauce)
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- For the dressing:
- 1/2 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- 1-1/2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame seeds, toasted in a dry skillet over medium heat until golden brown
- Salad toppings:
- Chopped cilantro
- 11oz can mandarin oranges packed in water or 100% juice (rinse in water if packed in syrup)
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- Baked or fried wonton strips
- Sesame seeds
Directions
- For the chicken: Whisk together chicken marinade ingredients, and marinate chicken for 15 minutes. Grill, or cook in a non-stick sprayed skillet until done, then let the chicken rest for 5 minutes. Cut into slices.
- For the dressing: Bring vinegar to a boil in a small saucepan. Turn off the heat, then add in the sugar and stir until dissolved. Let cool. Combine with the rest of the dressing ingredients in a jar, and shake to combine.
- Divide lettuce and spinach between four plates. Top with sliced chicken, salad dressing, and toppings.
Notes
Dressing from Art + Food + Life
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Panera’s version:
and mine!
The addition of mandarin oranges, which Panera doesn’t use, to this salad was totally clutch. That burst of juicy sweetness is fantastic with the bold cilantro, and sesame-laced dressing.
The textures in this salad were out of this world too. Love it when a recipe remix comes together like this!
Now if only I could find a recipe for Panera’s Cinnamon Crunch Bagel…
Caitlin 02.07.2012
I love a good mojito- so sweet, so refreshing, so delicious.
Alissa 02.07.2012
My favorite is cherry vodka, sprite, and a splash of grenadine.
Sheila 02.07.2012
Extra Dirty Martini with blue cheese stuffed olives!
Linda 02.07.2012
You salad looks delicious and way better than Panera’s!!
Emilie @ Emilie's Enjoyables 02.07.2012
uhh yea, a copycat Panera cinnamon crunch bagel would be the best.thing.ever
Maria 02.07.2012
My go-to cocktail is a Ketel One Martini with blue-cheese-stuffed olives.
Lisa 02.07.2012
Dirty Shirly…. vodka, 7up, grenadine and a couple cherries. Yumm
Amanda at the red table 02.07.2012
I daresay, my dear, your salad looks WAY better than Panera’s!
What would I make healthy? Chocolate chip cookies. Specifically all the ones I downed this weekend.
oops.
Brittnie (A Joy Renewed) 02.07.2012
Cookies and Cream ice cream :)
Brittany 02.06.2012
My fave is a Big Ginger (ginger ale + whiskey). Delicious!
Vanessa 02.06.2012
This is my ABSOLUTE favorite thing at Panera!!!! I’ve been looking for a recipe for that dressing for ages! :) Thanks!
Marsha 02.06.2012
mojito
Kelley 02.06.2012
Love your blog and your “copycat” recipes- the salad looks delicious!
As for me, can’t beat a vodka cranberry!
Alexandra 02.06.2012
My favorite cocktail would be either a Chocolate or Banana Split martini!
Tessa 02.06.2012
Love this salad! They don’t have Panera in AZ, and I’ve been missing things like this. Now you just need to recreate the berry salad they have come summer!
Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields 02.06.2012
My favorite cocktail is a dirty martini – yuuuum!!! :)
Abby 02.06.2012
Definitely a Bloody Mary.
Amy M 02.06.2012
I love any cocktail with Baileys!
Nicole 02.06.2012
Southern comfort and cranberry…delish!
Rachelle 02.06.2012
I love kahlua coladas! Delicious!