This healthy, low carb and keto friendly Asian Sesame Salad is bursting with fresh flavor! A simple teriyaki style marinated chicken is sliced over a cabbage slaw, tossed in a sweet and spicy Asian Cabbage Salad Dressing. Seriously addictive!
Searching for healthy, low carb salad recipes? Start your day off right with a Keto Breakfast Salad (lots of gorgeous options!), or try this fun Keto Broccoli Salad.
The BEST Asian Sesame Salad – made Low Carb!
This salad is adapted from one that I’ve made for years that is not low carb, the Addictive Asian Cabbage Salad from Sunkissed Kitchen.
It’s just as good (or maybe better!) made with low carb substitutions. If you’re craving a flavorful and filling salad, this one is for you!
Why You’ll Love this Asian Salad Recipe
- The delicious dressing is just a few ingredients shaken in a jar, and the result is a flavor explosion! All the things good Asian food is — salty, sweet, sour and spicy.
- Cabbage, carrots, and peppers give this salad the best sweet & crunchy texture!
- An easy 3-ingredient chicken marinade produces tender chicken with a lightly sweet glaze and tons of flavor, thanks to coconut aminos (soy & gluten free!).
- It’s a low calorie meal, with balanced fat, protein and carb ratios for a keto diet!
- The simple ingredients are easy to keep on hand and throw together for lunches or dinners!
What You’ll Need
- Fresh cabbage. I use both purple cabbage and green cabbage because they are beautiful, and also have different nutrients!
- Carrots and Red Pepper, for even more colors and nutrients. Variety is key!
- Fresh Cilantro & Green Onion
- Toasted ALMONDS give this salad a satisfying crunch
- Lots of toasted sesame seeds, of course!
- Mandarin Oranges are delicious. Feel free to add for higher carb needs!
Tender Marinated Chicken
I adore this grilled chicken marinade recipe! Perfect for a variety of dinners, including this cabbage salad!
- Boneless Chicken Thighs or Breasts
- Coconut Aminos (this is a soy free alternative to soy sauce. Sub soy sauce or tamari, based on needs.)
- Ginger Powder (or grate some fresh ginger root!)
- Sea Salt
- Sesame Oil (if cooking in a skillet. Not needed if the chicken is being grilled!)
Sweet Sesame Dressing Ingredients
- Toasted Sesame Oil (a light olive oil or avocado oil works but doesn’t give the same flavor. Avoid seed oils like canola oil for the healthiest dressing.)
- Rice Vinegar (unseasoned, no sugar)
- Sriracha Chili Sauce (omit for a sweet and mild dressing)
- Sea Salt
- Monk Fruit Sweetener (or other keto sweetener of choice) *can substitute honey or maple syrup for a higher carb salad dressing
Note: To give this a creamy twist, feel free to add 1-2 tablespoons of sunflower seed, almond, or peanut butter.
How to Make an Asian Sesame Salad
Step 1: In a storage container or bowl with a lid, add the chicken pieces, and cover with coconut aminos, ginger, and sea salt. If desired, also add 1-2 tablespoons of toasted sesame oil for extra flavor. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours until overnight. *Marinating chicken breasts overnight gives them the best flavor and a great sticky-sweet coating when cooking!
Step 2: When the salad is ready, grill chicken pieces over medium heat until cooked through to 165º F. If cooking the chicken inside, heat a large skillet over medium heat, and add 2 tablespoons of sesame oil. Cook the chicken on both sides until it reaches an internal temperature of165º F. Remove chicken from pan or grill, and let chicken rest until ready to serve.
Step 3: Add all the cabbage salad dressing ingredients to a jar and shake to combine. Adjust heat by adding more sriracha, or sweetness by adding more monk fruit sweetener.
Step 4: In a large bowl, add the shredded cabbage, red cabbage, julienne cut carrots, and sliced red peppers.
Step 5: Add sesame seeds and drizzle the salad with the dressing. Toss the evenly coat the vegetables.
Step 6: Serve the salads topped with sliced chicken, toasted almonds, cilantro, and green onions.
How to Store Salads and other FAQ
How to Store Leftover Asian Cabbage Slaw
Store leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Store the chicken, toasted almonds, and toasted sesame seeds separately, and top salads when ready to serve.
Tips for Using this Asian Sesame Salad for Meal Prep
This flavorful sesame chicken salad is one of my favorite things to make for meal prep. It’s so flavorful, I look forward to eating it meal after meal — I’ve been known to grab a bowl for breakfast (it’s that good!).
It also just gets better after it sits in the dressing for a day or two. The cabbage and carrots soak in the dressing, making it more flavorful
- Store the salad toppings separately. The toasted almonds, sesame seeds, cilantro and green onion will get soggy in the salad.
- The cabbage and carrots are great marinated in the dressing, so definitely dress the salad before packing away!
Mix up the Greens
This recipe is a great starting point for whatever greens you have on hand! Substitute half or all of the cabbage for:
- Romaine Lettuce
- Arugula or Baby Kale
- Napa Cabbage
Other Healthy Keto Asian Recipes
- Crockpot Asian Chicken (perfect for lettuce wraps or cauliflower rice bowls!)
- Keto Butter Chicken
- Coconut Aminos Grilled Chicken Marinade
Try this recipe? Be sure to share your cooking with me on Pinterest, Facebook, or Instagram, and tag @BlissfullyLowCarb !
Asian Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups cabbage finely shredded
- 2 cups purple cabbage finely shredded
- 1 carrot peeled and julienned
- 1/2 red bell pepper
- 1 recipe Marinated Chicken Breasts
- 3/4 cup sliced almonds toasted
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds toasted
- cilantro optional, to garnish
Asian Cabbage Salad Dressing
- 1/2 cup rice wine vinegar unsweetened
- 1/4 cup sesame oil
- 3 tablespoons monk fruit sweetener or erythritol
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1-2 teaspoons sriracha or finely chopped red chilis
Instructions
- Prepare chicken breasts as in the recipe instructions here.
- Add all dressing ingredients to a jar, and shake to combine.
- Combine the cabbage, carrots, and peppers in a large salad bowl, and pour dressing over the mixture. Toss to evenly coat vegetables.
- Top salad with grilled chicken, toasted almonds, sesame seeds and cilantro, if desired.
Video
Notes
How to Store Leftover Asian Cabbage Slaw
Store leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Store the chicken, toasted almonds, and toasted sesame seeds separately, and top salads when ready to serve.Tips for Using this Low Carb Cabbage Salad for Meal Prep
This is one of my favorite things to make for meal prep. It’s so flavorful, I look forward to eating it meal after meal — I’ve been known to grab a bowl for breakfast (it’s that good!). It also just gets better after it sits in the dressing for a day or two. The cabbage and carrots soak in the dressing, making it more flavorful- Store the toasted almonds and sesame seeds, along with cilantro, separately so they don’t get soggy in the salad.
- The cabbage and carrots are great marinated in the dressing, so definitely dress the salad before packing away!
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