Spinach Salad with Chicken, Cashews, Ginger & Fried Wontons

Spinach Salad with Chicken, Cashews, Ginger & Fried Wontons


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Servings: Serves six as a first course, four as a main course.
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Ingredients
 
savings in
 
For the vinaigrette:
  • 2   tablespoons  rice vinegarOn Sale
  • 1  tablespoon  soy sauceOn Sale
  • 1  tablespoon  peanut oilOn Sale
  • 2  teaspoons  finely grated or minced fresh gingerOn Sale
  • 1  teaspoon  granulated sugarOn Sale
  • 1  teaspoon  Asian sesame oilOn Sale
  • 1    medium clove garlic, minced (1 teaspoon)On Sale
  •     Pinch crushed red pepper flakesOn Sale
  •     Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepperOn Sale
For the chicken:
  • 1  tablespoon  peanut oilOn Sale
  • 3    bone-in, skin-on split chicken breasts (about 1 pound total)On Sale
  •     Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepperOn Sale
For the salad:
  • 1/2  cup  cashew pieces (about 3 ounces)On Sale
  • 1-1/2   cups  peanut oilOn Sale
  • 2  ounces  wonton wrappers (about 8 wrappers), cut into 1/8-inch stripsOn Sale
  • 10   cups  loosely packed baby spinach leaves, washed and dried (about 10 ounces)On Sale
  • 2     scallions, thinly sliced on the diagonalOn Sale

Directions
1.
Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2.
Make the vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together the vinaigrette ingredients, seasoning to taste with the salt and pepper.
3.
Cook the chicken: Heat the peanut oil in an ovenproof 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Generously season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. When the oil is shimmering, add the chicken breasts skin side down and cook until light golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn the chicken breasts so they are skin side up and transfer the pan to the oven. Bake until the chicken is just cooked through, 12 to 14 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let cool. Remove and discard the skin and bones. Cut each breast diagonally into thin slices and set aside.
4.
Make the salad: While the chicken cools, scatter the cashews on a baking sheet and bake in the oven until golden and fragrant, 7 to 9 minutes. Let cool.
5.
Pour the peanut oil into a small saucepan and heat over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 375 degrees F. Use a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature, or test the oil temperature by dipping the end of one wonton strip into the oil. If it's hot enough, it should sizzle on contact.
6.
Fry half of the strips until light golden, 30 to 60 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Season with a light sprinkle of salt. Fry the remaining wonton strips, drain, and season with salt. (The wontons can be fried up to 2 hours ahead.)
7.
In a large bowl, toss the vinaigrette with the spinach, chicken, and scallions and season to taste with salt. Divide the salad among four or six plates, garnish each with the fried wontons and cashews, and serve immediately.

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