Deli Container Shaker Chicken Salad (Printable Version)

Tender chicken and crisp cucumbers tossed in savory soy-sesame dressing for easy, protein-packed lunches.

# What You Need:

→ Salad

01 - 280g cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
02 - 1 large cucumber, thinly sliced
03 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
04 - 1 small carrot, julienned (optional)
05 - 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds

→ Soy-Sesame Dressing

06 - 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
07 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
09 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
10 - 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
11 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
12 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
13 - Juice of 1/2 lime

# How to Make It:

01 - Combine soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, grated ginger, minced garlic, chili flakes if using, and lime juice in a small bowl or jar. Whisk until thoroughly blended.
02 - Place chicken, cucumber, scallions, carrot if desired, and toasted sesame seeds into a large deli container or mason jar.
03 - Pour the prepared dressing over the layered ingredients in the container.
04 - Seal the container tightly and shake vigorously for 30 seconds to evenly coat all components with dressing.
05 - Enjoy immediately or refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Shake again before serving to redistribute the dressing.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything goes into one container, shakes together in seconds, and somehow tastes like you spent an hour on it.
  • The dressing clings to every bite instead of pooling at the bottom like it does in a bowl.
  • You can make it Sunday night and it still tastes crisp and bright on Wednesday.
02 -
  • If you add the dressing too early and let it sit for days, the cucumber will get soggy and sad, so keep it to 24 hours max.
  • Shaking really does make a difference. I tried stirring once and half the chicken stayed naked while the rest drowned in dressing.
03 -
  • Use a container with a really tight seal, or you'll end up with dressing all over the inside of your fridge. I learned that the hard way.
  • Toast your own sesame seeds in a dry pan for 2 minutes if you have time. The smell alone is worth it, and the flavor is ten times better than store-bought.
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