Healthy Vegetarian Chinese Chicken Salad Recipe

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Jump to:

• What is the best vegetarian chicken?
• Ingredients
• Supplies
• How to Make a Healthy Chinese Chicken Salad Recipe (Vegetarian) - Step by Step
• Variations & Substitutions
• RECIPE CARD
• More Recipes to Try

What is the best vegetarian chicken?

Recreating a tasty vegetarian copycat of a healthy Chinese chicken salad is really dependent on finding a good faux meat substitute for the chicken portion.

Over the years, we've tried a ton of meat substitute products and found the clear winner for replacing chicken patties: MorningStar Farms Original Chik Patties®.

A good fake chicken patty or nugget has to nail two aspects: the “meaty” texture and the breading. Most brands we tried had a meat texture that was too tofu-like; they were too soft when you bit down and had a heavy soy flavor.

MorningStar Farms’ version, however, has the right meaty texture and is the closest to actual chicken in terms of how it felt in your mouth when you bit into and chewed it.

As for the breading, MorningStar Farms is generous with their breading, and putting the patty in the toaster oven gives it a wonderful crispiness that you’d expect of the chicken in a traditional Chinese chicken salad.

Using a MorningStar Farms patty plus a number of other easy-to-find ingredients, you can effortlessly recreate this popular salad. There is fairly little prep which can be done as the Chik Patties are cooking, making a super speedy recipe.

Ingredients

Salad:

• 4 MorningStar Farms Original Chik Patties®
• 12 oz spring mix salad greens
• 4 mandarin oranges or tangerines, peeled and slices pulled apart
• 1 small carrot, julienned
• Sliced almonds*
• Green onions, sliced

Dressing:

• 1-½ tablespoon Bragg’s Liquid Amino*
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil*
• 1 tablespoon honey*
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil*
• 1 teaspoon rice vinegar*
• 1 clove garlic, finely minced
• Pepper to taste

Supplies

• Knife and cutting board
• measuring spoons*
• mason jar*, or bowl & whisk (to mix dressing)
• oven or toaster oven

How to Make a Healthy Chinese Chicken Salad Recipe (Vegetarian) - Step by Step

Step 1. Place the Chik Patties into the oven or toaster oven and bake per package directions. Once done, remove from oven and slice into strips.

Step 2. Place all dressing ingredients into a mason jar* and shake thoroughly to combine, or use bowl and whisk to combine.

Step 3. Divide the salad greens amongst four bowls. Top with tangerine slices, carrot, sliced almonds*, green onion, and sliced Chik Patties.

Step 4. Serve with dressing.

Variations & Substitutions

There are quite a few substitutes for the sliced almonds*, such as shelled walnuts*, sunflower seeds*, and pumpkin seeds*.

MorningStar Farms makes a spicy version of their chicken patties called Buffalo Chik Patties®. They have the same great texture, but with a noticeable increase in heat that builds slightly as you eat more of the patty.

Crispy wonton strips* are also a delicious addition. If you want to add a little spice to your dressing, substitute the dressing this recipe for the one featured in our soba noodle salad post.

RECIPE CARD

Healthy Vegetarian Chinese "Chicken" Salad

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Our vegetarian take on a popular salad, topped with a homemade dressing that combines several classic Asian flavors. Guaranteed to be one of the easiest dinners you can whip up! 

Print

Ingredients

Salad:

• 4 MorningStar Farms Original Chik Patties®
• 12 oz spring mix salad greens
• 4 mandarin oranges or tangerines peeled and slices pulled apart
• 1 small carrot julienned
• Sliced almonds
• Green onions sliced

Dressing:

• 1-½ tablespoon Bragg’s Liquid Amino
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
• 1 clove garlic finely minced
• Pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Place the Chik Patties into the oven or toaster oven and bake per package directions. Once done, remove from oven and slice into strips.
2. Place all dressing ingredients into a mason jar and shake thoroughly to combine, or use bowl & whisk to combine.
3. Divide the salad greens amongst four bowls. Top with tangerine slices, carrot, almonds, green onion, and sliced Chik Patties.
4. Serve with dressing.

Notes

Substitutions & Variations:

There are quite a few substitutes for the sliced almonds, such as walnuts, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds. 

MorningStar Farms makes a spicy version of their chicken patties called Buffalo Chik Patties® . They have the same great texture, but with a noticeable increase in heat that builds slightly as you eat more of the patty. 

Crispy wonton strips are also a delicious addition. 

If you want to add a little spice to your dressing, try the one for our soba noodle salad.

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• 
  Rice vinegar
• 
  Sesame oil
• 
  Almonds, sliced

Nutrition Information

Yield 4
Amount Per Serving Calories 288Total Fat 10gSaturated Fat 1.2gCholesterol 0mgSodium 1036mgCarbohydrates 40.4gFiber 6.7gSugar 13.4gProtein 12.2g