Panera Bread Asian Sesame Chicken Salad - Copycat

mailbelle's Note:

Chicken, romaine, cilantro, almonds, sesame seeds, crispy wonton strips, and an Asian sesame vinaigrette. Mmmmmmm! From America's Most Wanted Recipes - Copycat Versions of Everyone's Best-Loved Food.

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 2 wonton wrappers
• canola oil, for frying
• 2 tablespoons sliced almonds
• 4 cups loosely packed bite-size pieces romaine lettuce
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
• 3 ounces boneless skinless chicken breasts (grilled and sliced thin)
• 1 tablespoon sesame seed

Asian Sesame Dressing

• 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup toasted sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame seed, toasted
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 3/4 cup canola oil or 3/4 cup vegetable oil

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°.
2. Cut the wonton wrappers into 1/4-inch strips.
3. Heat about 2 inches of canola oil to 365° in a heavy skillet. Fry the wonton strips in the oil until they are crisp, about 30 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
4. Spread the almonds out on a baking sheet. Toast them in the oven for 5 minutes, toss them around, and then toast for 5 minutes more. Remove from the oven and let cool.
5. To make the dressing, in a bowl, mix together all of the ingredients except the oil. Use a wire whisk to blend well and then slowly drizzle in the oil to create an emulsion.
6. To assemble the salad, in a large bowl, toss the romaine lettuce, cilantro, fried wonton strips, chicken and dressing.
7. Transfer to plates and top with the sesame seeds and almonds.

Reviews

[Kunzeman]

The salad was okay, but did not taste like Panera's salad at all. The dressing wasn't sweet enough and there was some type of seasoning missing on the chicken. Maybe it's just that I'm pregnant and was really craving the true salad recipe... but both me and my husband were disappointed.

[mmmagique]

I'm not putting any stars, I just have a question; does anyone know how to make the citrus chicken they put on this? That and the dressing is what makes this salad SO good!

[Chef #1387849]

Good Recipe! but where's the Panera bread? The dressing is a winner! Can substitute finely-chopped Char Siu--chinese roast pork--and purchase packaged wonton strips to save time. Will be adding this recipe to my cookbook, thanks to mailbox.