Thai Mango Chicken Salad (Printable View)

Juicy mango, tender chicken, fresh herbs, and crisp veggies tossed in a tangy lime-chili blend.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 10.5 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 option)
16 - 1 tablespoon light brown sugar
17 - 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
18 - 1-2 teaspoons finely chopped Thai red chili (adjust to taste)
19 - 1 clove garlic, minced

# How To Make It:

01 - Season chicken breasts with salt and black pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 4 to 5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from skillet, let rest for 5 minutes, then slice thinly.
02 - Whisk together fresh lime juice, fish sauce, light brown sugar, vegetable oil, chopped chili, and minced garlic in a small bowl until the sugar dissolves and dressing is well combined.
03 - In a large bowl, toss mixed salad greens, mango slices, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, carrot, cilantro, and mint leaves until evenly distributed.
04 - Add 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 desired, and serve immediately for optimal freshness.

# Best Practices:

01 -
  • It comes together in 30 minutes but tastes like you've been working all day.
  • The lime-chili dressing hits all five tastes at once—salty, sweet, sour, spicy, and savory.
  • You can prep everything ahead and assemble it right before eating, which makes it perfect for when people are coming over.
02 -
  • Let the chicken rest for five minutes after cooking; this keeps the meat tender instead of dry.
  • Dress the salad right before eating or the greens will wilt and the mango will turn mushy.
03 -
  • If you can't find Thai red chili, jalapeño works in a pinch, though the flavor profile shifts slightly.
  • Make a double batch of the dressing and keep it in a jar for the next few days; it tastes even better as the flavors settle.
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