Skinny Chinese Chicken Salad

Celebrated in China and much of Asia for centuries, Chinese or Lunar New Year is a major holiday also known as the Spring Festival. Regional customs and traditions vary, but often Lunar New Year Eve is a time for families to gather for a feast. Many families also clean their homes to "sweep away" or avoid bad luck. Others decorate doors and windows of the home with red paper cut-outs marked with themes like good fortune, happiness, longevity, and wealth. Other traditions include fireworks and the gifting of money in red paper envelopes. Like New Year's Day and spring cleaning here in United States, Lunar New Year is a time of rebirth and renewal. It's a wonderful time to reflect and start working toward healthy goals.

For this month’s featured recipe we chose our Skinny Chinese Chicken Salad. The dish is familiar to most and a wonderful way to celebrate Lunar New Year and the approach of spring. This light, satisfying salad is perfect for anyone as an entree or side dish -- especially those who are counting calories or watching their weight. Using shirataki noodles, a good source of fiber, in the recipe helps increase a feeling of fullness that lasts for hours without extra carbs or calories.

Skinny Chinese Chicken Salad
Ingredients

Dressing:
  • 1/4 C rice wine vinegar
  • 1/2 Tbsp chopped fresh ginger
  • 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp honey
  • 2 tsp sesame oil
  • 1/2 C canola oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Salad:
  • 1 8 oz package Skinny Noodles Angel Hair, drained and rinsed well and cut into 8-inch length
  • 1/4 head Napa cabbage, shredded
  • 1/4 head red cabbage, shredded
  • 1/2 head Romaine lettuce, shredded
  • 4 large Romain lettuce leaves (save for serving)
  • 1/4 C coarsely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1/4 C thinly sliced green onions
  • 2 C shredded cooked chicken
  • 1/4 C Mandarin orange sections for garnish
  • 1/4 C sliced almonds for garnish
Directions:
Whisk together vinegar, ginger, pepper flakes, soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, and canola oil in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Combine Skinny Noodles, shredded cabbage, shredded lettuce, cilantro, green onion, and chicken in a large bowl. Add dressing and toss to combine. Transfer to large Romaine lettuce leaves, garnish with almonds and oranges segments.
Makes 4 servings.

Per Serving, Salad without dressing: 182 calories, 5g fat, 11g carbohydrates, 5g fiber, 24g protein
Per Serving, Dressing alone: 279 calories, 30g fat, 5g carbohydrates, 0g fiber, 0g protein

Visit us at www.getskinnynoodles.com to learn more about shirataki noodles, get cooking tips, and explore all of our shirataki noodles recipes!

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup with Shirataki Noodles


There's a chill in the air. And everyone you know has a cold, the flu, or some other nasty bug. It's the perfect time to curl up with a warm bowl of chicken noodle soup. But how can one possibly improve on Mom's soothing recipe? The answers are simple: Shirataki noodles and Alice from The Brady Bunch.

Confused? Allow us to explain. You see, we've always wanted our own personal Alice. A housekeeper and cook who ensures the family always has something healthy and satisfying to eat after a busy day. What's the modern, real life equivalent of Alice? The slow cooker. That's right. Throw a few ingredients into the slow cooker, turn it on, then come home later to the delightful aroma of a delicious meal that's ready to serve. We've never understood why more people don't use this convenient little appliance. Low carb, low calorie, gluten-free shirataki noodles are the perfect companion to the slow cooker because they are healthy and ready-to-eat right out of the package. Just drain, rinse thoroughly, then add to the slow cooker in the last 20 minutes of cooking time. It's that easy to save time while also cutting carbs and calories. And did we mention you didn't have to hire or pay Alice?

If you're new to shirataki noodles, soups are one of the best ways to start using them in place of less healthy ingredients like pasta, white rice, or potatoes. The possibilities are endless: chicken noodle, minestrone, ramen, pho, even chicken & shirataki "rice." Visit getskinnynoodles.com to browse all of our Skinny soup recipes and more.


Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup with Shirataki Noodles
Ingredients:
  • 4 cups water
  • 4 cups low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1 cup carrot, cut into 1/4-inch slices
  • 1 cup celery, cut into 1/4-inch slices
  • 1 cup onion, chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 4-6 small skinless chicken breasts (about 18 oz)
  • 3 packages Skinny Noodles Spaghetti, drained and rinsed
  • Salt and fresh black pepper to taste
Directions:
In a 4-1/2 to 6-quart slow cooker, combine water, broth, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, bay leaves, thyme, salt, and pepper. Place chicken breasts on top of veggies. Cover slow cooker with lid, then cook on low setting for 6-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours. Remove chicken and shred. Remove and discard bay leaves. Add chicken and shirataki noodles to slow cooker; cover with lid and cook (on low or high) 20 minutes. Skim any fat from surface of soup and serve immediately.
Makes 6 servings.
Per Serving: 247 calories, 13g fat, 29mg cholesterol, 20g carbohydrates, 3g fiber, 13g protein
Glycemic Load: 7. Weight Watchers PPV: 6

Visit us at www.getskinnynoodles.com to learn more about shirataki noodles, get cooking tips, and explore all of our shirataki noodles recipes!