How to Transform Yesterday’s Lechon Manok to a Fresh Chicken Salad

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What’s a nutritious all-in meal that kids would love? Since most chikitings enjoy anything crunchy, sweet, and meaty, a loaded chicken salad might be the clever choice. Look no further than this recipe for your family’s new go-to tummy filler! It replaces the usual olive oil and salt dressing with a smoky, mayo-based barbecue sauce. This dish is a major win for your little eaters – they get their fill of healthy ingredients and discover a newfound love for veggies. Are you ready to give this salad a go?

Chicken Salad with BBQ-Mayo Dressing

A full plate of fresh salad with grilled chicken, apples, and candied walnuts

Tasty food can be healthy, too! Take this roasted or grilled chicken salad as an example. It contains all the goodies your children will appreciate – and their bodies need. It comes with much-needed vitamins and minerals from the veggies, protein from the chicken and egg, and good fats from the walnuts and mayonnaise. What more can you ask for?   

To save time, marinate the chicken in advance. You can cook it any way you prefer. Besides roasting and grilling, you can also finish it in the air-fryer or steamer. Or skip all that and rely on yesterday’s lechon manok to cut the prep time in half. Remember: it’s your salad, so take control of what goes into the bowl. Do your kids love fruits? Toss in some apple slices, orange wedges, or pineapple chunks. Make this customizable recipe the starting point of your new family-favorite chicken salad!

Ingredients

  • 400 g chicken breast fillets
  • Knorr Liquid Seasoning, as needed
  • ½ cup Lady's Choice Real Mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup store-bought barbecue sauce
  • 1 pack mixed greens
  • 3 pcs plum tomatoes, sliced
  • 1 pc cucumber, sliced
  • 1 pc hard-boiled egg, peeled and sliced
  • 50 g walnuts, toasted and chopped roughly

Method

  1. Season chicken with Knorr Liquid Seasoning. Grill or roast until cooked through. Slice into strips. Set aside.
  2. Combine Lady’s Choice Real Mayonnaise and barbecue sauce in a bowl. Set aside. 
  3. Arrange mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggs, and walnuts in a bowl. Drizzle mayo-barbecue dressing on top and toss lightly to combine.
  4. Top salad with chicken. Serve immediately.

P.S. This fuss-free salad works as a quick baon option, too. When it’s time to assemble, ask your kids to help toss and mix the components for an extra fun time! Come break time, they’ll be extra proud to show off their meal and finish up every bit. Don't be surprised if they come home with empty lunch boxes.

Say Yes to Garnish!

This grilled chicken salad recipe already features all the major components – base, body, and dressing. But your kids might still ask for more! And who can guarantee that they won’t get bored with the salad eventually? Garnish is your friend to “trick” your kiddos into thinking that you’ve come up with an entirely different salad. Adding one or two of these ingredients will earn you another thumbs-up:

  • Fresh or dried berries
  • Croutons
  • Tortilla strips
  • Cheese (What kind? Up to you!)
  • Avocado slices
  • Air-fried tofu
  • Dried mangoes

Kids Can Love Salad, Too

An Asian boy eating a sausage off a plate of salad

The assumption that all kids abhor veggies since birth is simply untrue. Even picky eaters can learn to love eating salads. What moms need to discover is why kids like a specific dish or ingredient. Is it the taste or the texture? From there, you can understand their palate better.

As for kid-friendly salads, choose ingredients that have crunchy or juicy textures and naturally sweet flavors. At the very least, the veggies should not have any bitter aftertaste. Lettuce, tomatoes, sweet corn, and cucumbers are always reliable options — some are already part of this chicken salad recipe. All that’s left to do is enjoy this good-for-you treat with your family and make new heartfelt memories together! 

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