Thursday, March 12, 2015

Recipe: Chopped Thai Chicken Salad

from the kitchen of Namrita Kumar, PCG nutritionist


Chopped Thai Chicken Salad

Serves 4

Salad Ingredients

  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 small head green or white cabbage (2 cups shredded)
  • 1 large carrot (1½ cups shredded)
  • 1 green papaya (1½ cups shredded)
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
  • 1/2 cup green onions
  • 1/2 cup chopped peanuts
  • 2 cups cooked brown rice   

Dressing Ingredients

  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1/2 teaspoon minced hot pepper
  • 2 tablespoons tamari or coconut aminos
  • 2 tablespoons vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon fish sauce
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup water

Directions

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add the chicken breasts, cover, and cook for 15-20 minutes. When the chicken is done, remove from heat, drain water, let cool, and shred with two forks.

Chop the cabbage into very thin pieces, like for coleslaw (I did this by rolling up several leaves together, making thin vertical slices across the roll, and then chopping them once horizontally). Peel and grate the carrots. Cut off the skin of the papaya, remove the seeds, and grate. Roughly chop the cilantro and green onions. Toss the chicken and vegetables in a large bowl and keep chilled.

Mince the garlic and chili peppers. Place garlic and peppers in a small mixing bowl with the tamari, vinegar, sugar, lime juice, oil, and fish sauce. Whisk until smooth. Add the peanut butter and water and whisk again until smooth and creamy.

Toss the salad with the dressing. Add the crushed peanuts. Serve each serving chilled over ½ cup rice. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to one day. For best results, keep the leftover salad and dressing separate until ready to serve.

Nutrition information: 511 kcal, 24.5 grams fat, 52.5 grams carbohydrates, 27 grams protein

This recipe is from Namrita's e-book, Carbs are King: The Importance of Post-Workout Recovery.Click here to get your copy

Photo credit: hercheyk.blogspot.com


Namrita's racing background is primarily in endurance mountain biking and, more recently, some XC distance racing and XTERRA off-road triathlon. She works with triathletes, ultra-endurance mountain bike racers, self-supported ultra racers, marathon runners, and more. She is an active member of the American College of Sports Medicine, Professionals in Nutrition for Exercise & Sport (PINES), and the National Interscholastic Cycling Association (NICA) Honorary Board, and she is a founding member of the Georgia High School Cycling League. Namrita can be contacted directly through Peaks Coaching Group.