Donna's Ramen Salad

I'm a sucker for Chinese Chicken Salad. There are restaurants that I only order it and no other items. I'm not sure what I like more, the crunchy bits or the dressing. For a while I would buy the kit that Costco sells. I would doctor it up adding more goodies. But those kits are expensive and that is not calculating the cost for cabbage and all the other goodies I like to add. A neighbor years ago shared with me a meatless Chinese salad recipe. (I have changed it just a tad) My family has been hooked ever since. Of course you could add chicken and make it a main attraction. That is what I am doing today. I am making it for lunch. Three out of four members in the household enjoy it. The leftovers are better in my opinion than the first sitting. I do make it meatless as a side for BBQs. It feeds a large crowd. It is always a favorite among the adults. I even had a friend who happens to be a "man's man" tell me it was a "sexy salad" which still makes me laugh because I imagine him only eating meat and potatoes.

Donna's Ramen Salad
1 head of cabbage shredded (I prefer to shred my own as it stays crispier than the bag variety. If you prefer the bag you will need two bags)
5 green onions sliced
2 Oriental Ramen noodle packs (break up the noodles and put the dressing mix aside-do not discard it)
1/4 cup sesame oil
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup rice wine vinegar
1 tsp pepper
2 seasoning packets from Oriental Ramen noodles
4 TB honey
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/2 cup sunflower kernels
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1 TB vegetable oil for browning noodle mixture

Core the cabbage.

Cut into quarters and shred or slice.

Put into a large mixing bowl
Add the green onions.

Break up the Ramen.


Here's all my goodies!
In a sauté pan add 1 TB vegetable oil. Brown the Ramen, sesame seeds, sunflower kernels, and almonds. Set aside to cool.

In a bowl mix sesame oil, vegetable oil, pepper, rice vinegar, and honey.

Taste it and make sure it has enough honey or vinegar. I usually make some adjustment. This time it needed more pepper.
I added a couple chicken strips from the deli. You could put leftover chicken or none.

Hello chicken strips..you are hard to see against the cutting board!
Add noodle mixture, chicken and dressing (all of it) and mix well. For best results stick in the fridge for 30 minutes but we are STARVING.