Ama B's Sesame Chicken Salad

 This was one of Ama B's church lady recipes.  She used to make this for church receptions, but I think that it would be good for a cool supper in the summer.  It would also be good with grilled salmon.  If you want to make this a quick and easy recipe, buy a roast chicken at the supermarket. Remove the breasts and slice them.

Serves 6-8

1 16 oz pkg. Spaghettini or vermicelli, broken into fourths

3 raw chicken breasts, boned and cut into 1/4" strips

2 tbl. vegetable oil

1/2 C. scallions, finely sliced

1/4 C. sesame seeds, lightly toasted

1/2-1 C. snow peas, blanched 

1 C. whole cashews, lightly salted

4-5 lettuce leaves

Dressing:

3 tbl Kikoman soy sauce

3 tbl sesame oil

1 tbl rice vinegar

1 tbl sugar

2 tsp hot chili oil

Cook and drain pasta, rinse in cold water until chilled.

If snow peas are large, cut in half. Blanch snow peas in boiling water, 1-2 minutes.  Plunge into ice water, drain, and pat dry.  

Make dressing: mix all dressing ingredients together.

(Optional:  Marinate chicken in 1 tbl. soy sauce, 1 tbl oil; 1 tbl dry sherry; 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated; 1 glove garlic, minced; 2 tsp cornstarch)

Saute chicken strips in oil until just cooked, remove and cool.  Add chicken to pasta, scallions, sesame, snow peas, and cashews.  Pour dressing over all and toss.  Chill 3 hours or more and serve on lettuce leaves.

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