Asian Chicken Red Cabbage and Peach Salad

Asian Chicken Red Cabbage and Peach Salad (0013) by Meeta K. Wolff

I, probably not unlike many of you, am a seasonal produce shopper. Between the food market and my organic/local produce box I get my weekly supply of crisp, fresh vegetables and deliciously sweet fruit. Nonetheless, I still go to grocery stores to lavishly indulge in exotic fruits like mangoes or kiwis, fruit I grew up on but are not grown in Germany. 

Last year Soeren and I embarked on a yearlong home project, which was originally initiated by his school project “Green Earth”. Our home project was a very basic one, however for Soeren, who was keen to understand how eating seasonally and locally helped keep our earth greener, this home project turned out to be something he took very seriously.

Asian Chicken Red Cabbage and Peach Salad (0014) by Meeta K. Wolff

We created a few charts, one where the months of the year were listed and blank columns were to be filled. In this chart Soeren drew the vegetables or fruit that arrived in our produce box or from the market. As the seasons turned we then followed up by researching on the internet, what really was in season and if we were way off mark with what we had consumed. Another one of our charts was a map of Germany and Tom had circled a 10, 20, 40 and 100 km radius around Weimar. Each week Soeren would interview the delivery person, who brought our box, asking him where each item came from and each week we would hang up that specific chart on the fridge. It became our weekly challenge to keep within the 10-20 km radius. 

Asian Chicken Red Cabbage and Peach Salad (0006) by Meeta K. Wolff

The project became the source of many discussions at school, with friends and neighbors, who in some form or other created similar projects. For us, it made us aware that we are doing a pretty good job of eating „greener“ and thus helping in a small but hopefully effective way to “save the earth”. Yes – we do step out of line every now and then (that would be me when I reach for my Indian mangoes) and no – we do not mind and take it in a composed manner.

Asian Chicken Red Cabbage and Peach Salad (0003) by Meeta K. Wolff

Obviously, there is certain produce that we would never think about in the summer. Cabbage is one of them. Even though there are different varieties available all year round, we tend to totally neglect these during the warmer months in favor of all the other vegetables we are deprived of in winter. Asparagus, aubergine, courgette, fresh peas, fennel are just some of the things we absolutely look forward to getting in our produce box. So why then want cabbage?

Asian Chicken Red Cabbage and Peach Salad (0017) by Meeta K. Wolff 

Don’t get me wrong, we love cabbage here. Used quite widely in the Indian and German cuisine, we usually enjoy a variety of cabbage dishes during winter. But when the ingredients for Paper Chef were announced, at first I was slightly disappointed:

  • quail
  • lime
  • cabbage
  • and an ingredient that is typically available in July where we live 

Asian Chicken Red Cabbage and Peach Salad (0006-10) by Meeta K. Wolff

However, soon I had several ideas zipping in my head. Light, summery and full of exotic flavor was what I planned on going with. My poultry butcher, however did not stock quail so I substituted with meat from a small free-range rotisserie chicken.

Ginger complimented lime perfectly and soon I was heading towards delicate and aromatic Asian flavors. My July ingredient of choice was peach. Sliced finely and tossed into the refreshing salad, it is put together within minutes, providing a fantastic alternative to any coleslaw.

Recipe: Asian Chicken Red Cabbage and Peach Salad

Printable version of recipe here

 Asian Chicken Red Cabbage and Peach Salad by Meeta K. Wolff
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 60 ml lime juice
  • 2-3 teaspoons ginger, very finely chopped
  • 4 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
  • 4- teaspoons sesame seed oil
  • 1-2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 6 spring onions, chopped
  • 1 small red cabbage, shredded
  • 4 carrots, grated or cut into julienne
  • 2 peaches, thinly sliced
  • 350g skinless grilled or rotisserie chicken meat, shredded

Method:

  1. In a small bowl whisk together lime juice, ginger, sesame seeds, oil and soy sauce until thoroughly incorporated.

  2. In a larger bowl toss cabbage, carrots, spring onions, peaches and chicken together with the lime-ginger dressing. Allow to infuse for about 15-20 minutes.


Verdict

Asian Chicken Red Cabbage and Peach Salad (0008) by Meeta K. Wolff

Although I was slightly challenged with the ingredients, the final creation was incredibly sublime. This Asian inspired chicken, cabbage and peach salad offers layers of flavors and a multitude of sensational aromas. The characteristic flavors of ginger with its spicy and lemony notes, paired with lime juice and the soy sauce provides a wonderful basis for the dressing, which permeates through the entire salad.

We’re counting down to our summer vacation towards the end of next week. Two weeks of fun in the sun. More on that next week, in the meantime enjoy the rest of the week and have a blast on the weekend.

Hugs!

More Asian Flavors from WFLH:

Thai Red Curry Noodles Beef Vegetable and Tofu Stir Fry Coconut Cashew Chicken Satay Skewers


All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2011 Meeta Khurana Wolff unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First

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29 comments:

  1. Sounds awesome - summery and light. I love Asian-inspired dishes (being asian) that are accessible and of course, delicious :) I made a variation of your sticky toffee cake last week and my family loves it. Thanks! Have a great week ahead :) -shaz

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  2. This salad is delightful! What a fabulous combination of great produces.

    Shopping seasonally cannot be beat! That is how food tastes better.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

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  3. I love the way Asian condiments often tie together ingredients that don't seem like they want to come together. The salad is beautiful, and even better for being grown close to home.

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  4. This sounds just delightful. I love the combination of peaches with savory ingredients and the Asian dressing!

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  5. Ah so well done Meeta! I love your beautiful chicken salad and with that peach included it does sound very summery. And why o why did I not think of using chicken instead of quail.. Not sure if you got the story but I bought two quails but sort of managed to destroy them beyond use.. Hardly any flesh left after my - not so professional - cleaning attempt... I should have just kept them whole but I wanted something different and then ended up with nothing..lol.. So no paperchef for me!

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  6. Wow, what a unique and beautiful salad!

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  7. I think you did really well with combining your allotted ingredients! I would definitely have no problems gobbling a bowl of that up. Even with it being winter over here.

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  8. Nice project and the results look good in this awesome salad:)

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  9. I love the flavours in this and it looks absolutely gorgeous! This sounds like the perfect summer meal!

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  10. this is such a delicious mix of flavours and so colourful too! Perfect spring or summer lunch, eaten out on the deck...

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  11. Thank you everyone - glad you are all liking this! The salad really does have a brilliant diversity of flavors all coming together in this dish. It works well. Hope you enjoy it!

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  12. wow - that looks incredible! i love new and interesting salad ideas :)

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  13. I admire the project and think we should all do something like this with our kids! And sublime I can imagine: adore the Asian flavorings and so love fruit with meat. Perfect salad and you'll inspire me to do the same. Fab recipe!

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  14. Such a beautifully coloured salad, and what zingy flavours. And great job on the school project, you are lucky to be able to get food grown within a 20km radius of where you live. (20km from our apartment is the big smoke!)

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  15. Must be delicious! We found a lot of good recipe on your blog! Really nice!

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  16. Must be really delicious and nothing beats shopping from farmer's market. Cabbages salad are ideal for those in South Beach diet and I am going to try this for sure.

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  17. I'm totally in love with this salad Meeta! I would never have thought to pair these ingredients together but I can see a delicious harmony! Thank you!

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  18. That looks so refreshing and yummy! love the combination of flavours!

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  19. The new look of your site is great. Fresh and vital. Dynamic, too. It reflects your personality well.

    Gorgeous pictures you have!

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  20. What a pretty salad with refreshing flavors and lots of crunch. Love it!

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  21. Soeren is a treasure! :) Love this salad - have always lover raw cabbage, especially if it is red. Love the bamboo bowl too from you-know-who ;o)

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  22. I have always been a fan of Asian food and culture. This seems a great food for the high temperatures this summer. :)

    Steve

    Cheapholidays

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  23. This looks delicious! I love cabbage but even for myself I tend to leave it till there is cooler weather to enjoy it when I should be enjoying it now! Thanks for the inspiration :D
    And I love your project! What a great idea!

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  24. nice i want to cook this now thanks buddy really yummy now.

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  25. That is one nice looking salad! I like the Asian flavours in it!

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  26. I was looking for a new way to surprise my family with a dish. This recipe is amazing. Thanks a bunch, everyone at home loved it!

    Miller

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  27. Wow this salad looks perfect! Red cabbage looks interesting where can it be found? I havent seen one here in the philippines. Its kind of new to me.

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Thank you for visiting What's For Lunch, Honey? and taking time to browse through my recipes, listen to my ramblings and enjoy my photographs. I appreciate all your comments, feedback and input. I will answer your questions to my best knowledge and respond to your comments as soon as possible.

In the meantime I hope you enjoy your stay here and that I was able to make this an experience for your senses.

Hugs
Meeta