Ginger Cashew Chicken Salad

Sliced grilled chicken atop salad greens with mandarin oranges and cashews

This bright and fresh Ginger Cashew Chicken Salad makes an easy meal!

Bring the Zing

Salads are a go-to dinner and a fast pain-free meal in summer, or really any time of year. It is easy, however, to fall into a rut of making the same type week after week. Greens and chicken, greens and steak, greens and fish.

Yawn.

Solution? Bring some zing! Three easy ways to do that are toppings, dressings, and a special root: ginger.

Benefits of Ginger

Fresh ginger, the root of the flowering plant called zingiber officinale, has been used for centuries in cooking and traditional medicine. One of its main benefits: settling the tummy. It aids in digestion, bloating, and nausea.

If you have stomach issues or have ever been pregnant, you know this.

There is also some evidence that ginger contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds. In addition to supporting gastrointestinal and general well-being, it is a delicious addition to food and beverages.

Sweet, warm, and zesty, ginger appears in both sweet and savory dishes. In this salad, ginger shows up in the marinade and dressing.

Homemade Ginger Cashew Chicken Salad Dressing

Anything that doubles as both marinade and salad dressing earns heart eyes in my book. And that is the case here. One batch of dressing, two uses. Pour some over the chicken and save the rest to dress the salad.

Two surprise ingredients that make this dressing different are fresh minced ginger and mild molasses. Whaaat? Yes, my mind went down the gingerbread trail too, but really, it works here.

plate of salad greens, bowl of mandarin oranges, cut red onion, green onion, and carrot

Salad Toppings

Depending on the type of salad person you are, you either love toppings or think they are just meh. Salad toppings are worth their weight in gold at my house. They can make or break a salad.

This particular salad has crunchy, tender, salty, and sweet toppings. Scattered over fresh greens, grilled chicken, and the zingy ginger vinaigrette, they offer something different in each forkful.

Plus, they are pretty.

raw meat and marinade ingredients on a wooden cutting board

Lessons Learned

Cut the chicken breasts lengthwise into two thinner cutlets. This gives you a piece of chicken that cooks quicker, soaks up more marinade, and is more likely to be the recommended 4-ounce single serving size.
Don’t marinate the chicken overnight. This marinade/dressing contains vinegar and an overnight soak will break down the connective tissue in the meat making it tough once cooked. Marinating anywhere between 3 and 8 hours is perfect!
Cashews add a subtle buttery-ness and soft crunch, but if you don’t like them substitute another type of nut.

Hat Tips

Many thanks to Taste of Home for their recipe!