Panera's Thai Chopped Chicken Salad Copycat Recipe
This easy summer salad recipe from Panera is so delicious that you'll want to recreate it all year 'round!
Looking for a delicious and easy summer salad? You have found it with this Homemade Panera Thai Chicken Chopped Salad. This knockoff version of the famous Panera salad offers cool and refreshing flavors you know and love.
The flavors of the homemade Thai dressing recipe meld perfectly with the fresh vegetables. A little peanut sauce drizzle and wonton strips on top make this salad stand out. This filling salad recipe makes for an easy lunch or healthy dinner.
Serves4
Preparation Time25 min
Cooking Time10 min
Ingredients
- 1 small head of Romaine lettuce, washed and torn into bite sized pieces
- 1 cup shredded red cabbage
- 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, grilled or seared, and cut into bite sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup edamame
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 1 large carrot, diced
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1/2 cup cashews
- 1 cup wontons
- 2 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon finely minced fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoon Thai chili garlic paste
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/4 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Kosher salt to taste
- 2 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1/2 tablespoon Thai chili garlic paste
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 4 tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
Instructions
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To prepared the edamame: In a skillet, heat a tablespoon of olive oil. Add the edamame, red pepper, and diced carrot. Cook until lightly cooked and roasted. Set aside.
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To prepare the vinaigrette dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the rice vinegar, lime juice, minced ginger, Thai chili garlic paste, sesame oil, brown sugar, garlic powder, and salt. Set aside.
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To make the peanut butter sauce: Heat 2 tablespoon of oil in a small sauce pan. Add the Thai chili garlic paste, and cook for 30 seconds. Whisk in the peanut butter and hoisin sauce. Cook until heated. Remove from the heat and whisk in the rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, and water until smooth. Whisk in the sesame oil.
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To assemble: In a large bowl or on a large platter, arrange the Romaine lettice, cabbage, chicken, cooked vegetable mixture, green onions, and cashews. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad. Drizzle with peanut sauce over the whole thing, and top with wonton strips.
Did You Know: the Founding of Panera
Many of you are probably familiar with the Panera Bread restaurant chain, but as a native of the St. Louis area, I’ve always known it as St. Louis Bread Co. or just Bread Co. for short.
St. Louis Bread Co. was founded in 1987 by Ken Rosenthal in a suburb of St. Louis. As the restaurant and bakery grew in success around the city, Au Bon Pain Co. purchased St. Louis Bread Co. in 1993. The name was changed to a combination of the Italian word for bread (pane) and time (era). However, the company remained operating under its original name in the St. Louis area with its over 100 locations.
Since then, the company has grown to have over 2,000 locations across the country. The company even opened a few locations by the name of Panera Cares, where the customers could pay what they could for the foods and services provided as a charitable gesture to those in need. This chain successfully cornered the fast casual dining style and is still popular today.