Mandarin Almond Chicken Salad
A crisp, vibrant salad combining tender chicken breast, sweet mandarin orange, crunchy almonds, and refreshing cucumber over fresh lettuce with a light sesame citrus vinaigrette.
Prep
15 min
Cook
10 min
Total
25 min
Makes
1 serving
Created together. Shared with you.
Made by Ten + Lila
Ten created this recipe with Lila and shared it with the perimenopause community.
The feel-good payoff
Why this meal can feel especially good in perimenopause
Think practical wins: steadier energy, comfortable fullness and one less food decision. Your response is personal, so use the prompts below to notice what works for you.
Perimenopause symptoms and relief · Office on Women’s HealthComfortably satisfied
Fullness that has staying power
This meal is designed to feel substantial, so finishing it can feel like the meal is complete rather than the start of an evening of grazing.
Notice: fullness 2–3 hours later
Steadier energy
Feel fueled, not flattened
A complete meal with protein, carbohydrates and fats is designed to offer more staying power than a quick carb-only fix.
Notice: energy 1–3 hours later
Well-nourished skin
Support from the whole plate
Regular meals with enough protein, plants and fats support overall nourishment. Think consistency, not one miracle ingredient.
Notice: consistency + hydration
More staying power
Make the next few hours easier
This meal is built to be more sustaining than a snack-sized stopgap, with enough substance to carry you into the next part of the day.
Notice: energy + fullness later
Setup
Get set up
Choose your servings, gather what you need, then cook along below.
Prep
15 min
Cook
10 min
Total
25 min
How many are you cooking for?
The ingredient amounts update automatically.
Equipment
Large skillet · Whisk · Mixing bowl · Knife and cutting board
Time saver
Prep the vegetables and measure pantry ingredients earlier in the day to shorten cook time.
Do these three things first
- 1Set out all ingredients before cooking
- 2Measure the pantry ingredients before heating the pan
- 3Read through the steps once before you begin
Ingredients
Gather as you go
Ingredients
Cook along
Instructions
0 of 8 steps complete
Next: Cook the chicken breast by grilling or…
- 01
Cook the chicken breast by grilling or…
Cook the chicken breast by grilling or pan-searing until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), then let it rest for 5 minutes before shredding or slicing.
Look for: it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), then let it rest for 5 minutes before shredding or slicing
Tap card to mark done - 02
Whisk together the olive oil
In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, orange juice, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil until the dressing is thoroughly emulsified.
Look for: the dressing is thoroughly emulsified
Tap card to mark done - 03
Wash and dry the lettuce
Wash and dry the lettuce, then tear it into bite-sized pieces and place them into a large salad bowl.
Tap card to mark done - 04
Slice the cucumber into thin rounds and…
Slice the cucumber into thin rounds and peel the mandarin orange, separating it into individual segments.
Tap card to mark done - 05
Toast the sliced almond in a dry…
Toast the sliced almond in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes until slightly golden and fragrant, watching closely to prevent burning.
Look for: slightly golden and fragrant, watching closely to prevent burning
Tap card to mark done - 06
Add the sliced cucumber
Add the sliced cucumber, mandarin orange segments, and shredded chicken breast to the bed of lettuce.
Tap card to mark done - 07
Drizzle the light citrus sesame dressing over…
Drizzle the light citrus sesame dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
Tap card to mark done - 08
Scatter the toasted almond over the top…
Scatter the toasted almond over the top just before serving for optimal crunch.
Ready when: everything is assembled and ready to enjoy
Tap card to mark done
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