Favorite Chinese Chicken Salad

Ingredients

• 5 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 cup sesame oil
• 1/8 cup canola oil
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon chicken base
• 3 precooked boneless chicken breasts, shredded
• 1 large napa cabbage, shredded
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup of thin julienned slices jicama (or water chestnuts if you prefer)
• 16 ounces frozen peas and carrots, unthawed
• 3 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
• 3 tablespoons blanched slivered almonds

• 1 (3 ounce) package uncooked oriental-flavor instant ramen noodles or chicken-flavored ramen noodles, crushed (save 1 seasoning mix packet for dressing)

Directions

1. 1

   Mix the first 7 ingredients in a saucepan and heat until all ingredients are dissolved and mixed well.

2. 2

   Pour this warm dressing into a bowl and add the shredded chicken.

3. 3

   Cover bowl and refrigerate dressed meat while preparing the other ingredients so that the chicken will marinade and flavor the meat.

4. 4

   Put the 3 Tablespoons of Canola oil in a skillet and heat over medium heat.

5. 5

   Brown the crushed Ramon noodles, slivered almonds and sesame seeds in the hot oil until golden brown, stirring often.

6. 6

   Drain the toasted items on paper towels and set aside.

7. 7

   Mix the shredded napa cabbage, sliced green onions and jicama in a large bowl.

8. 8

   Put the frozen peas and carrots into a colander and rinse well with water.

9. 9

   Add the drained peas and carrots to the salad and mix.

10. 10

    With a slotted spoon, remove the marinated chicken from the dressing and add the chicken to the salad.

11. 11

    Pour the dressing ingredients over the salad and mix well.

12. 12

    Refrigerate salad if not serving immediately.

13. 13

    Just prior to serving add the toasted ingredients to the salad and blend well,. (toasted ingredients will stay crunchy if not added until just before serving.).