A good crunchy summer salad that can stand in as the main dish is a thing of beauty just about now. Summer is still applying the heat, but many families are rushing to get kids ready for a new school year, whether from home or physically in school buildings or some combination of the two. That means there's not a lot of time to get dinner on the table and no one wants the house to be hotter because of it.
So this Thai Peanut Chicken Slaw is just what you need. It's got a little of everything, comes together in about 20 minutes, and any leftovers can be spooned into a bowl for lunch the next day. It's perfect fast food for what is some of the best garden days we've got.
I know the dressing has a lot going on, but believe me when I say it's absolutely worth assembling this one. In fact, I usually double this one and have the extra on hand on the door of my refrigerator to enjoy with everything from fried shrimp to spring rolls. Might as well stretch this time-saving recipe to save time further on, right?
Thai Peanut Chicken Slaw
- 2 c. thinly chopped cabbage
- ½ kohlrabi, shredded
- 1 head butter or red lettuce, torn
- 1 medium carrot, shredded
- ⅓ c. chopped cilantro
- 3 T. olive oil
- 1 T. toasted sesame oil
- ¼ c. apple cider vinegar
- 3 T. honey or maple syrup
- 1 T. dark soy sauce (or tamari)
- 2 T. creamy peanut butter, slightly warmed
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 1 tsp. ginger grated
- ½ tsp. chili flakes
- 2 T. cooking fat (I used bacon fat)
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
Toss all the coleslaw ingredients (cabbage through cilantro) in a large serving bowl; set aside.
Combine all the dressing ingredients (olive oil through chili flakes) in a resealable glass jar; seal and shake vigorously to combine.
Heat the cooking fat of your choice in a heavy bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and sear on both sides until cooked through, about 12-15 minutes total. When about 4 minutes of cooking time remains, add 3 tablespoons of the dressing; reserve the remainder. Coarsely chop the cooked chicken and add it to the coleslaw in the serving bowl.
Add the remaining dressing to the bowl as well and toss well to combine. Serve immediately. Store any leftovers tightly sealed in the refrigerator and use within 3 days.
- Yields: 6-8 servings
- Preparation Time: 20 minutes