This crunchy Asian ramen salad with chicken and juicy oranges, radishes, and snow peas makes eating salad your new favorite thing! It's my take on ramen noodle salad with mandarin oranges and your family will love it.
By adding some crunchy noodles to this Asian mandarin salad, you get a more-filling, fun meal. There are a ton of different Chinese chicken salad recipes out there, using different dressings and flavors. I'm going to tell you why this one is my favorite!
I love fresh veggies and cabbage with sesame dressings. That classic Asian flavor isn't overpowering, like some Italian vinaigrettes or tangy coleslaw dressings.
Plus, I usually have the ingredients for an Asian dressing it in my kitchen. I used my Ginger Sesame Dressing on this ramen noodle salad.
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Another shredded salad: try this shaved Brussels sprouts salad next - it is packed with tart pomegranate arils and sweet apples.
Asian slaw with ramen noodles
What is Asian slaw made of? Traditionally, Asian slaw has a mixture of green and red cabbages, napa or Savoy cabbage, sweet bell peppers, carrots, scallions, and cilantro.
Instead of spending a ton of time chopping all of that, I suggest using a bag of premixed "Asian chopped salad" or "Asian coleslaw" mix. You're welcome! I just saved us all about ten steps!! You can also use a standard coleslaw mix.
This Asian ramen salad comes together in a flash with pantry staples like ramen noodles and salad mix. I added chopped cashews for extra yum.
Crispy noodle salad prep tips
There really isn't a right or wrong way to prep the fruit and veggies for this ramen noodle salad with oranges. Even so, I still wanna share some of my favorite food prep tips with you.
How to supreme an orange
Using canned mandarin oranges is easy for a ramen noodle salad, but for me, they are too sweet because they are canned in a sugary syrup. It's an easy swap though if you like them!
If you'd like, you can supreme the orange for this salad. That means I cut the fruit away from the membrane. It leaves just the tender, juicy centers and is perfect for salad.
• Cut the rind and pith off of the entire orange, following along the curve of the fruit.
• Use a sharp knife and cut on either side of each slice of orange, slipping it right out of the thin membrane.
• Cut the skinless segments into bite-sized pieces.
Use a mandolin slicer
One of my favorite kitchen gadgets is the mandolin. It slices my veggies paper-thin so easily. I used it for the radishes in this salad. When you slice them really thin, they don't have as much bite and, the flavors mix with everything else.
Try this Japanese mandolin, it's my favorite. And make sure to don a protective glove so you don't cut your fingers!
Let the Asian ramen salad rest
I call for letting this crunchy Asian slaw rest in the fridge for a bit.
Because you are using raw ramen (noodles that haven't been boiled), this allows the dressing to soften the noodles a little. They are a bit too crunchy without resting.
Asian slaw mix-in ideas
The best thing about salads is that you can add any of your favorite raw veggies. What tastes best with ginger sesame dressing? Anything!
This is such a vibrant and beautiful salad, so add in veggies with color and crunch. Since this is a slaw-based salad, you'll want to chop your veggies really small. That way you get a little of everything in each bite.
Here are some mix-in ideas:
• Finely-diced broccoli or cauliflower.
• Matchstick or shredded carrots.
• Sliced cucumber.
• Sliced sweet bell peppers.
How about different types of salad greens? Yup - have fun with those too! Add or use some chopped romaine or iceberg, a few handfuls of baby spinach, or some bold arugula.
What to eat with ramen noodle salad
With the chopped chicken, this salad is a complete meal all on its own. If you want to serve other things with the salad try these vegetable spring rolls. That recipe has my favorite sweet and sour mint sauce for dipping!
This salad also tastes perfect as an appetizer for a Chinese-takeout-inspired dinner. Make some sesame chicken skewers. They have lots of the same flavors.
More salad recipes
- The New Wedge Salad, with iceberg lettuce, beets, pancetta, hazelnuts, and of course blue cheese.
- Chicken and Rice Lettuce Wraps are kind of a salad you can eat in your hand!
- Sesame Ginger Beef Salad has lots of the same Asian-inspired flavors.
- Beet and Roasted Carrot Salad is packed with bold kale, spicy pecans, and flavorful goat cheese.
If you like this Asian ramen salad recipe, then you will all my easy salad recipes.
Crunchy Chicken Noodle Salad - Perfect Asian Ramen Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pkg ramen noodles discard flavor packet
- 1½ cups cooked chicken diced
- 6 radishes thinly sliced
- 1 orange peeled and diced
- 1 scallion thinly sliced
- 5 oz snow peas (1 cup) chopped
- ½ cup unsalted cashews coarsely chopped
- 1 pkg coleslaw mix (16 oz pkg)
- ¾ cup Ginger Sesame Dressing
Instructions
- Break uncooked ramen into small pieces in a large bowl. Combine with chicken, radishes, orange, scallion, snow peas, cashews and coleslaw.
- Toss salad with dressing, cover with plastic wrap or a lid, and refrigerate 25 min or up to 1 hour.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge up to a day (the noodles will get softer the longer they sit).
Notes
Nutrition
Awesome Side Dish Recipes!
About Tara Teaspoon
I’ve been in the food publishing business for over 20 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television & advertising. Order my new cookbook & stick around for amazing things to eat.
Recipe by Tara Teaspoon. Photography by Antonis Achilleos. Food Styling by Paul Grimes. Prop Styling by Paige Hicks. LHJ May 2011
