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Chef Wolfgang Puck created this signature Chinois Chicken Salad for his Santa Monica restaurant, Chinois, which opened in 1983 and specializes in Chinese-French fusion cuisine. It remains one of his most popular dishes and highly-requested recipes. 

It's been imitated countless times—most recently by Curtis Stone on our show, who calls Wolfgang's Chinois Chicken Salad the one recipe he wishes he wrote. Get Curtis' version—Grilled Ginger-Sesame Chicken Salad—here. 

Pro Tip: You can use store-bought wonton strips, but to make your own fried wonton strips like Wolfgang does, slice some wonton wrappers and deep fry in oil at 360°F until golden brown. Drain on paper towels before using. 

For other main-course salads, check out this Brussels Sprout Chicken Caesar Salad or Rach's Rotisserie Chicken Cobb Salad with Avocado Ranch Dressing. 

Ingredients

For the Vinaigrette:
  • ½ cup rice wine vinegar
  • ⅓ cup Chinese mustard
  • ⅓ cup soy sauce
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons chopped pickled ginger
  • 1 tablespoon chili oil
  • 1 tablespoon sesame paste
  • Salt and pepper
  • ¾ cup peanut oil
For the Salad:
  • 5 cups julienned Napa cabbage
  • 4 cups mixed greens or watercress
  • 2 medium carrots, julienned
  • 1 medium mango, peeled, pitted, and julienned
  • 1 head radicchio, cored and julienned
  • 3 pounds cooked skinless chicken breasts, cooled and meat julienned
  • 2 cups fried wonton strips
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
  • Large handful of toasted cashews

Yield

Serves: 6

Preparation

For the vinaigrette, in a blender, combine the rice wine vinegar, Chinese mustard, soy sauce, egg yolk, honey, pickled ginger, chili oil, sesame paste and salt and pepper to taste.

Blend thoroughly, then slowly add the peanut oil while the motor is running. Taste for seasoning.

For the salad, in a large salad bowl, mix all the salad ingredients except for the sesame seeds. Add half the vinaigrette and taste. Add more dressing, as needed, a little at a time so as not to overdress the salad.

Divide the salad among 6 plates and sprinkle with the sesame seeds and cashews.