Simple Sustenance- Teriyaki salad

While not particularly inventive, one of my favorite meals to make during the summertime or any time at all, is Teriyaki Chicken Salad. I used to LOVE Wendy’s Mandarin chicken salad, but now I typically get freaked out by chicken at fast food joints due to its chewy texture and because I can purchase organic chicken for home use. So, to replicate my once-loved Wendy’s chicken salad, I enlisted the help of Ellie Krieger’s recipe for Chinese Chicken Salad . However, I wanted to give the chicken more flavor by baking and basting it with the following teriyaki sauce. The sauce is very easy, flavorful and is great over this salad. if you need more sauce just double the amount (I know some people like a LOT of sauce!).

When you need to change up your typical salad, this is great to put in the rotation. All you need to do is bake the chicken and cut up some veggies. Also, many of these items can be stored in the pantry which is great for when you are stuck about what to prepare for dinner. I would highly suggest making Ellie’s dressing which is very simple or relying on a favorite storebought- I like Newman’s Own Sesame Ginger. Choose as many veggies as you want for this salad. I suggest carrots, scallions, red peppers, bean sprouts, water chestnuts, and mandarin oranges. Refreshing and healthy!

Teriyaki sauce
1/2 cup of low sodium soy sauce ($2.99 for bottle, about 1/3 of bottle)- $0.99 cents
little less than 1/2 cup of brown sugar ($1 per package, about 1/6 of package)- $.16 cents
1/4 cup of cider vinegar (or any vinegar)-(1.47 per bottle, about 1/10 of bottle)- $0.14 cents
1 garlic clove, minced- discretionary amount
1/4 teaspoon of ginger- discretionary amount
1 tablespoon of cornstarch (dissolved in a little liquid)- discretionary amount

Whisk ingredients and set over medium heat. Cook until mixture becomes thicker. Then set aside.

Salad fixins
4 chicken breasts – $8.99
2 bags of salad – $ 5.00
4 carrots, sliced ($3 per bag; about 12 per bag)- $1.00
1 red bell pepper, sliced julienne- $1.27
bunch of scallions, diced – $1.19
1 can of water chestnuts- $0.79
few tablespoons of toasted sliced almonds- discretionary
1 can of mandarin oranges (rinsed)- $1.09
dressing of choice (I used Newman’s own- 3.49 per bottle, about 20 servings per bottle)- $.70 (for four servings)

Set oven to 375 degrees. Spray a nonstick baking dish and arrange chicken breasts. Pour about a little of the sauce over the chicken (only about 1/3 of the sauce). Cook for 30 minutes, however baste with sauce once during cooking and then pour remaining sauce over the chicken when done. Set aside, sprinkle sesame seeds over the chicken, and cut into slices.

Arrange romaine lettuce (or cabbage) and put vegetables and chicken over top. Serve with wonton strips and your favorite dressing!

Regarding the below- I realize that the total price for this dinner is larger than the typical amounts that we have done. However, I think it is important to mention that several of these items are pantry essentials (garlic, soy sauce, spices, vinegar, canned fruit, etc) and the serving size is quite large. Also, if you would like to cut down on the price, you can use non-organic chicken or cut down on the different types of veggies.

Grand total- $21.33
total= $5.33 per serving (1 chicken breast, 1 serving of dressing, and 1 big salad!)