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    Home » Appetizers

    Chicken Salad with Pine Nut Dressing

    Published 06/09/2019. Updated 09/26/2019

    Jump to Recipe

    This simple chicken salad recipe is made with shredded breast meat and a Korean pine nut dressing! It’s a healthy dish you can easily make for a quick lunch. Or, double/triple the recipe for a potluck or Korean BBQ party.

    DSC 4253 e1560136195899 - Chicken Salad with Pine Nut Dressing

    This Korean chicken salad is made with a traditional pine nut dressing. No mayonnaise! The pine nut dressing is light, creamy, nutty, and tangy! It certainly is a healthier option for you. Chicken salad is called dak naengchae (닭냉채) in Korean. Dak means chicken, and naengchae refers to a cold salad type that’s typically served with some sort of protein and a traditional dressing such as this pine nut dressing and hot mustard dressing.

    How to cook chicken for the chicken salad

    I usually use a poached chicken breast(s) for this salad for a nice clean taste. Boneless, skinless breast meat cooks up really fast. First, boil some water with aromatic vegetables such as onion, garlic, etc. And then add the chicken breast and simmer over medium low heat for about 8 -10 minutes. Remove the chicken and allow it to cool. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, shred and lightly season it with salt.

    To make this chicken salad recipe even faster and easier, you can use store-bought rotisserie chicken.

    DSC 4271 e1560136306974 - Chicken Salad with Pine Nut Dressing

    How to make Korean pine nut dressing

    Pine nuts have a rich nutty flavor and give the dressing a creamy texture. Always toast the nuts lightly to bring out the flavor, and then either finely chop or ground it in a blender. The garlic and hot mustard (called gyeoja in Korean) add robust flavors to the dressing. The acidity from the vinegar and lemon juice ties everything together, brightening the taste of the dressing.

    If pine nuts are not available, you can use other nuts such as peanuts or walnuts or sesame seeds. You can also make chicken salad with a mustard dressing (gyeoja sauce).

    How to serve chicken salad

    I often serve this salad over a bed of lettuce or spring mix. You can use any salad vegetables. Red radishes add some crunch and color. Cucumbers and carrots are excellent additions as well.

    Another option is to toss the salad, before serving, with crunchy vegetables such as cucumbers and colorful bell peppers.

    DSC 4320 e1560136358581 - Chicken Salad with Pine Nut Dressing

    Thinly slice the vegetables and mix well with the chicken salad before serving.

    PicMonkey Collage 2 - Chicken Salad with Pine Nut Dressing

    I love having this salad in my fridge for a quick lunch for week days. It’ll keep well up to 4 days in the fridge. Also, if you double or triple the recipe, it’s a great dish for a potluck or Korean BBQ party!

    More Korean Cold Salad Recipes

    Shrimp Salad with Hot Mustard Dressing
    Tofu Salad
    Potato salad

    For more Korean cooking inspirations, follow along on YouTube, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

    DSC 4271 e1560136306974 300x300 - Chicken Salad with Pine Nut Dressing

    Chicken Salad with Pine Nut Dressing

    5 from 5 votes
    Salad
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2
    Print Recipe

    Ingredients

    Pine nut dressing:

    • 4 tablespoons pine nuts
    • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (or any clear vinegar)
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoons water
    • 1 teaspoon hot mustard paste – gyeoja, 겨자 or dijon or yellow mustard if desired
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
    • salt to taste about 1/2 teaspoon

    Poached chicken:

    • 1 chicken breast 8 to 10 ounces
    • 1/4 medium onion
    • 1/2 stalk celery
    • 1/2 carrot
    • 3 garlic cloves
    • 1 bay leaf - optional

    To serve on a bed of salad vegetables:

    • a handful spring mix or other salad vegetables of choice
    • 2 to 3 red radishes thinly sliced

    Or to toss with salad:

    • 1/4 red bell pepper julienned
    • 1/4 yellow bell pepper julienned
    • 1 small Kirby cucumber cut lengthwise and then thinly sliced diagonally

    Instructions

    • To make the dressing, toast the pine nuts in a pan over medium heat for 2-3 minutes. This will enhance the flavor. Grind the pine nuts in a blender or food processor (or finely mince them with a knife). Add the remaining dressing ingredients and blend well. Refrigerate while preparing the chicken and vegetables.
      chicken salad with pine nut dressing2 e1560138278377 - Chicken Salad with Pine Nut Dressing
    • In a medium size pot, bring 5 cups of water and the aromatic vegetables to a simmer over medium heat. Add the chicken breast and simmer over medium low heat for about 8 -10 minutes (increase the time if cooking more than 1 chicken breast). Remove the chicken and allow it to cool.
      chicken salad with pine nut dressing1 e1560138343884 - Chicken Salad with Pine Nut Dressing
    • When cool enough to handle, shred and lightly season with salt. Refrigerate while preparing vegetables. Wash salad vegetables in ice water and drain well. Cut them into desired sizes if needed.
      DSC 4213 640x427 - Chicken Salad with Pine Nut Dressing
    • Combine the shredded chicken with the dressing, leaving a couple of tablespoons of dressing.
      DSC 4234 640x427 - Chicken Salad with Pine Nut Dressing
    • Line the platter with the salad vegetables. Place the chicken salad in the middle. Drizzle with the remaining dressing, and garnish with a few pine nuts if available.
    • OR thinly slice the optional vegetables and mix well with the chicken salad before serving.

    Notes

    This chicken salad can be stored in the fridge up to 4 days. 
    Tried this recipe?Mention @koreanbapsang or tag #koreanbapsang!

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    « Spicy Grilled Shrimp Skewers (Gochujang Saewu Gui)
    Shrimp Salad with Hot Mustard Dressing (Saewu Naengchae) »
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rose Martine says

      February 09, 2020 at 11:17 pm

      Fried chicken in all forms make me happy. The great thing about boneless fried chicken is sandwiched with lots of crunch. GREG

      Reply
    2. Online Ayurvedic Medicine in Noida says

      December 31, 2019 at 7:12 am

      Congratulations and thanks for the recipe! The best Chicken Salad I have ever eaten!!!

      Reply
      • Hyosun says

        December 31, 2019 at 10:19 pm

        Aww so happy to hear that! Thank you for trying it out and letting me know.

        Reply
    3. Kaden Wlosko says

      June 19, 2019 at 12:17 pm

      5 stars
      I ended up a bit short on the pine nuts, so I substituted in just a few almonds. The salad over all is DELICIOUS, especially the dressing! It does have a little bit of a bitter aftertaste, but I’d love to make this again some time – once I can get some more pine nuts!

      Reply
      • Hyosun says

        June 23, 2019 at 10:06 pm

        Thank you! I’m glad you liked it. The bitter aftertaste might have been from the garlic if you used it. You can leave it out next time and see how you like it.

        Reply
    4. Gourmet-Blog says

      June 11, 2019 at 6:56 am

      Love your Recipe, thanks for the Insight of Korean Kitchen. 🙂 I tried 2 Recipes already and they are brillant.

      Greetings from Germany.
      Dirk @gourmetblog

      Reply
      • Hyosun says

        June 23, 2019 at 10:04 pm

        That’s great to know! Thank you!

        Reply
    5. Koje Kap says

      June 19, 2012 at 11:51 am

      i loved your blog and the efforts. Actually I love korean food, presently I am living korea and enjoying the moments. I also made my blog. Please see:
      http://kojeblogger.blogspot.kr
      http://winsomebeauty.blogspot.kr

      Reply
    6. Anonymous says

      April 29, 2012 at 5:38 am

      Is hot mustard 계자? The yellow hot mustard …? Can’t wait to try this delicious recipe!!:)

      Reply
      • Hyosun Ro says

        April 29, 2012 at 12:33 pm

        Yes it’s gyeoja. Thanks for pointing out. I’ve added it to the post. The next post, shrimp salad, has the photo. Enjoy!

        Reply
    7. Hyosun Ro says

      October 19, 2010 at 1:28 am

      Roxan, Denise and Biren – I hope you get to try this recipe. It is really good. Thank you for stopping by.

      Judy – Hope your noodle dish turned out good. Thanks for visiting.

      Reply
    8. Judy says

      October 15, 2010 at 10:50 pm

      Mmm, your salad looks amazing and refreshing. Thank you for sharing! I am going to make one of your noodles dishes tonight. One day, I hope to post it with a link to your blog. 🙂

      Reply
    9. Biren @ Roti n Rice says

      October 12, 2010 at 12:30 pm

      That pine nut dressing sounds really interesting. I love pine nuts too but they are expensive. That’s a beautiful salad!

      Reply
    10. denise @ quickies on the dinner table says

      October 06, 2010 at 2:05 pm

      The dressing makes this a rather unique salad. I love pine nuts though they’re expensive – I’d really like to try that dressing…

      Reply
    11. roxan says

      October 01, 2010 at 6:46 am

      Pine nut dressing, I love that!
      Pine nuts always remind me of New years…

      Reply
    5 from 5 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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    Hi! I'm Hyosun, and I am a Korean-American mom of two wonderful grown-up children. Here, you will learn how to cook Korean dishes the way we Koreans traditionally eat at home. Read More...

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