Won-ton Chicken Salad

I first tried this salad at a church gathering about 4 years ago.  Everyone was clamoring for the recipe that they had to send it out to everyone in a bulk email.  I have made this for several potlucks and wedding / baby showers.  It is always a crowd pleaser.  I recently made it for Kells baby shower and she loved it, along with everyone else. The recipe serves a crowd, but can easily be scaled down.

Won-ton Chicken Salad

From: Back Pocket Creations

Time: 45 minutes

Yields: 10 if serving for a main dish. 20 or more if serving as a side dish.

Print Recipe

4 chicken breasts (cooked and cut up into bite size)

2 heads lettuce chopped

2 small cans sliced water chestnuts, drained

6 whole green onions (use entire onion)

2 small cans mandarin oranges, drained

3 stalks celery, chopped

1 C sliced almonds, browned in 1T butter. 

1/3 pkg. won ton skins (cut in 1/8ths) and deep fried in hot oil until  

golden brown

Dressing

1/2 C. Sugar

4 tsp. salt

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. pepper

3/4 C. vegetable oil

3/4 C. rice vinegar

2 tsp sesame seeds

1/2 tsp sesame oil

Pour vegetable oil in to a large frying pan, enough oil to fill the entire bottom of the pan, about a 1/4 inch up.  Turn on heat. While oil is heating up cut each won-ton into 8 pieces.  Once the oil is hot, throw in about 15-20 pieces stir around with metal tongs until the are barely brown, remove them as quickly as possible onto a paper towel, repeat with remaining won-tons.

In a medium frying pan, melt 1 T butter, add almonds and stir to coat.  Let almonds brown, about 15 minutes, stir often.

Add lettuce, chicken and the rest of the salad ingredients into a large bowl, adding won-tons and almonds last.

In a bowl or a shaker cup add all the dressing ingredients and combine well. Pour over salad and enjoy!