Thai Mango Chicken Salad (Printable Version)

Juicy mango, tender chicken, crisp veggies, and fresh herbs in a tangy lime-chili dressing bursting with Thai flavors.

# Components:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 10.6 oz)
02 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Salad

05 - 2 large ripe mangoes, peeled, pitted, and sliced
06 - 3.5 oz mixed salad greens (romaine, arugula, spinach)
07 - 1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
08 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
09 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
10 - 1 medium carrot, julienned
11 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
12 - 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
13 - 2 tablespoons roasted peanuts, roughly chopped (optional)

→ Lime-Chili Dressing

14 - 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
15 - 2 tablespoons fish sauce (or soy sauce for vegetarian)
16 - 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
17 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
18 - 1-2 teaspoons Thai red chili, finely chopped (to taste)
19 - 1 clove garlic, minced

# Method Steps:

01 - Season chicken breasts with salt and black pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken 4 to 5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Transfer to a plate, allow to rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
02 - Whisk together fresh lime juice, fish sauce, light brown sugar, vegetable oil, chopped Thai red chili, and minced garlic in a small bowl until sugar dissolves and dressing is well combined.
03 - In a large bowl, combine mixed salad greens, mango slices, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, carrot, cilantro, and mint leaves.
04 - Add the sliced chicken to the salad bowl and gently toss all ingredients with the lime-chili dressing until evenly coated.
05 - Sprinkle roasted peanuts over the top if using. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for those nights when you want something restaurant-quality without the stress.
  • The contrast between juicy mango, tender chicken, and that punchy lime-chili dressing creates a flavor experience that feels indulgent but still feels light.
02 -
  • Ripe mangoes are everything—a hard mango will leave you disappointed, so choose ones that yield slightly to pressure and smell fragrant at the stem.
  • The dressing's balance of salty, sour, and sweet is what makes this sing, so taste it before you pour it over everything and be willing to adjust based on your mangoes and your preference.
03 -
  • Toast your peanuts yourself if you have time—they taste incomparably better than store-bought, and the smell while they're warming in a dry pan is worth the two minutes of attention.
  • Warm chicken tossed with cold greens and fruit creates a temperature contrast that feels luxurious and balanced, so don't let the chicken cool completely before slicing and combining.
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