Chinese Chopped Chicken Salad with "Wok"-Fried Spicy Peanuts

Name: Chinese Chopped Chicken Salad with "Wok"-Fried Spicy Peanuts
Yield: Serves 2 to 4
Cuisine: asian
Ingredients: 12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breasts; 1 teaspoons salt; 1 head romaine lettuce, shredded very thin; 1/2 head iceberg lettuce, shredded; 1 carrot, shredded; 1 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped; 1 teaspoon peanut oil; 1/2 cup peanuts (see headnote); 1 tablespoon ponzu; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; 1/4 cup sesame oil; 1 teaspoon sugar; 1/2 teaspoon chile flakes; 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar; 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

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Chinese chopped chicken salad is a classic on both sides of the Pacific and a bestseller at the Grove in San Francisco. Use a lightly salted peanut with no skin or a blanched white peanut-avoid cocktail-style peanuts with brown skins on them. You can substitute a tablespoon of soy sauce if you don't want the citrus taste of ponzu. Whichever sauce you choose, the combination of crunchy lettuces and flavorful dressing creates a delectable small, tapas-style plate or a nutritious (but not heavy) full meal.

Yield: Serves 2 to 4

Yield: Serves 2 to 4

Ingredients

12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breasts

1 teaspoons salt

1 head romaine lettuce, shredded very thin

1/2 head iceberg lettuce, shredded

1 carrot, shredded

1 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

1 teaspoon peanut oil

1/2 cup peanuts (see headnote)

1 tablespoon ponzu

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1/4 cup sesame oil

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon chile flakes

1/4 cup rice wine vinegar

2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

Directions

1. Fill a medium pot with enough water to cover the chicken by 2 inches. Add the salt to the water. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat to just below a simmer. Place the chicken in the water, making sure the water does not boil so that the chicken stays tender. Once the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 150 degrees F or is firm and white in the center (not pink), remove from the pot and set on a plate to cool. Then cut into 1/2-inch cubes.
2. In a salad bowl, combine the romaine, iceberg lettuce, carrot, and cilantro.
3. To prepare the "wok"-style peanuts, in a medium skillet over medium-high heat, add the peanut oil, peanuts, sugar, and chile flakes. Stir occasionally until the peanuts have small char marks on them but are not burned, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate to cool.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together the rice wine vinegar, orange juice, ponzu, soy sauce, and sesame oil until well combined. Adjust the seasoning to taste. Toss all the ingredients together with the dressing and serve.