I debated whether to do a Transformation Tuesday today or this Tuesday Tip and you know how that turned out! But in a way, today’s post is tied to my transformation because it’s about meal prep and mixing things up so that you don’t get bored while you’re trying to adopt a new lifestyle. While my hubby could eat your basic lettuce and tomato salad everyday, it drives me crazy! So for lunch today I’m changing things up with my version of an Asian Chicken Salad. I prepped all the chopped ingredients and dressing last night and I always cook a little extra protein during our dinner prep to have for lunch. Makes it easier overall and to date my meal prep and exercise has helped me lose 18.2 pounds! So excited. Goal for this month is to have lost 20 and so I think I’m well on the way. For now, here’s the recipe for my take on an Asian Chicken Salad.
Salad Ingredients
3 cups shredded Savoy Cabbage
1 cup shredded red cabbage
1 cup shredded carrots
3 scallions chopped (include some of the green parts also!)
1/4 cup thinly sliced red pepper
Dressing
1 heaping tablespoon peanut butter (I used chunky for the texture of the bits, but you can smooth if you’d like)
1/2 teaspoon Gochujang (red chili paste)(Find it at Korean markets like H-Mart. Great addition to BBQ sauce also for some kick)
2 tablespoons sesame oil
4 tablespoons rice vinager
1/2 teaspoon grated ginger
2 tablespoons soy sauce
Mix all ingredients together in a small jar and store in fridge.
The above will make enough for 2 to 3 servings. I’m adding about 2 ounces of chopped chicken once the salad is dressed. You can substitute other proteins like shrimp or salmon if you’d like. For some extra crunch, top with shopped peanuts, French’s fried onions, or crispy noodles.
As for the dressing, I noticed other recipes that included a few tablespoons of sugar as well as vegetable oil, but I decided to slim it down by substituting the peanut butter. It’s still a fat, but it has a lot more taste than plain vegetable oil and it also acts as an emulsifier for the dressing which gives it more body and mouth feel.
