Dear Merri Lou: Recently, I had the pleasure of experiencing Applebee’s great Oriental Chicken Salad. It was far better than any other chicken salad recipe that I have tried.
I would appreciate it if Applebee’s would choose to share their “secret,” or if not, do you have a favorite that you might publish? Sincerely, – Barbara, Spokane.
Dear Barbara: The South Hill Applebee’s kitchen manager, Greg Hobbs, was kind enough to share the salad recipe, minus the dressing. You can purchase the dressing at Applebee’s ($3. 50 for 16 ounces), or try the similar recipe printed here.
The Oriental Chicken Salad is Applebee’s most popular salad; I’ve adapted the recipe for 4 servings.
Distribute salad mixture among 4 large bowls. Top with almonds, chicken tenders and green onions. Serve immediately.
Nutrition information per serving, without dressing: 232 calories, 11. 1 gram of fat (43% of calories from fat), 18 grams of protein, 17 grams of carbs, 41 mg of cholesterol, and 90 mg of sodium.
Note: To toast almonds, heat oven to 350 degrees. Place almonds in single layer on baking sheet or in shallow baking pan. Bake 7 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until light brown. Cool completely.
This dressing, which comes from Todd Wilbur’s “Top Secret Restaurant Recipes” (Plume, 1997), tastes a lot like Applebee’s but isn’t quite as thick or smooth. Be sure to mix it well.
Using an electric mixer, blend together all ingredients in a small bowl. Chill in refrigerator while you prepare the salad.
Nutrition information per serving: 335 calories, 14. 9 grams of fat (40 percent of calories from fat), 1 gram of protein, 55 grams of carbs, 10 mg of cholesterol, and 288 mg of sodium.
Dear Merri Lou: I am looking for a Reuben Soup recipe. We had some at Michels Restaurant in Post Falls, and it was wonderful. Thank you. – Barbara, Spokane.
Dear Barbara: Vickie Michels at Michels Restaurant appreciated your request but wanted to keep the recipe private; it originally came from a German chef in Minnesota. I found another recipe that makes a rich and creamy soup. Hope you enjoy it.
In a large saucepan, cook onion and celery in butter until tender; stir in flour until smooth. Gradually stir in water and bouillon and bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.
Add corned beef, sauerkraut, cream and 1 cup of the cheese. Cook for 30 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring frequently.
Ladle into 8 ovenproof bowls. Top each with a slice of bread and put 1/4 cup of the cheese on top of the bread. Place in oven under broiler until the cheese melts and browns ever so slightly.
Nutrition information per serving: 456 calories, 31.5 grams fat (62 percent fat calories), 22 grams protein, 22 grams carbohydrate, 99 milligrams cholesterol, 635 milligrams sodium.
Dear Merri Lou: At a meeting I was served a cheesecake that had a spice taste, like spice cake. It was so good. Do you have a recipe for any cheesecake like this? Sincerely, – June, Spokane.
Dear June: Here’s an apple-spice cheesecake that may be similar to the one you enjoyed. It’s very rich, needless to say. This makes a 10-inch cheesecake; I used my 8-inch springform pan and poured the extra filling into a 9-inch pie pan (it won’t rise as much, but it’s still very good).
From “The 50 Best Cheesecakes in the World,” by Larry and Honey Zisman (St. Martin’s Press, 1993).
To make crust, coat the bottom and sides of a 10-inch springform pan with butter. Roll graham cracker crumbs to coat pan. Set aside.
To make filling, with an electric mixer set on medium speed, beat cream cheese until fluffy.
In a separate bowl, using an electric mixer set on medium speed, mix together sugar, salt and cornstarch and add to cream cheese, blending well. Stir in cream and vanilla, beating thoroughly.
Using an electric mixer set on medium speed, mix eggs and egg yolks together and then blend into cream cheese mixture. Mix together apple pie filling, cinnamon and nutmeg and then add to batter.
Pour filling into crust and bake for about 1 hour and 40 minutes; cheesecake will rise very high. Turn off oven, open door and let cheesecake sit in oven to cool until cheesecake drops.
Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. Remove rim of pan and chill for 4 to 6 hours.
Nutrition information per serving: 426 calories, 26.2 grams fat (55 percent fat calories), 7 grams protein, 43 grams carbohydrate, 171 milligrams cholesterol, 270 milligrams sodium.
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The Elusive Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad Dressing An Epic Quest for the Iconic Taste
As a long-time Applebee’s fan, the Oriental Chicken Salad has always been one of my favorite meals there. The soft grilled chicken, crunchy noodles, carrots, red bell peppers, and greens taste great, but the Oriental Chicken Salad Dressing is the real star of the show. That dressing takes the salad to the next level with its sweet and savory flavors that are hard to resist.
I’m certainly not alone in my love for this salad. It’s been a mainstay at Applebee’s for more than 30 years, and a lot of people love it. In order to recreate that restaurant experience at home, it seemed like the first thing I should do was get some bottles of that dressing. Easier said than done, I quickly realized.
Turns out, purchasing Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad Dressing isn’t so straightforward. Applebee’s doesn’t directly sell or distribute their dressing to the public. Believe me, I’ve checked grocery stores, online retailers, everything. The commercial recipe remains a closely guarded secret.
At first, I’ll admit, this apparent scarcity seemed like a hopeless quest. But I didn’t get where I am today by giving up easily. I was determined to get to the bottom of this mystery and ultimately taste that dressing again. Armed with persistence and creativity, I dove headfirst into the hunt.
After countless hours of research, I’ve identified several potential avenues to obtain or recreate the elusive Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad Dressing:
Coming straight from an Applebee’s restaurant: It’s a long shot, but I’ve heard that some places sell dressing bottles if you ask. Of course, policies vary by individual restaurant. Reaching out to request a bottle or two can’t hurt. At best, they say yes. In the worst case, a teenage host will give you a funny look.
Online Resellers
Sites like eBay or Craigslist may offer people reselling dressing bottles, but exercise caution. Verifying legitimacy is crucial, as many might be scams or expired/tampered products. I don’t recommend buying from an unverified source.
Similar Commercial Brands
Asian-style prepared salad dressings from brands like Kraft or Marzetti do mimic Applebee’s flavor profile. They use comparable ingredients like ginger, sesame, soy sauce, etc. Through trial and error, you may find one you enjoy.
DIY Copycat RecipesThis is the route I ultimately pursued. Numerous copycat recipes exist online, with helpful reviews and tips. You can choose how fresh it is and change the flavors to your liking. After many tries, my homemade version is now unbelievably close to Applebee’s.
Once I accepted that acquiring those elusive Applebee’s bottles would be near-impossible, making my own dressing became an exciting challenge. It satisfied my cravings for that tangy sweetness, while sparking a rewarding creative process.
If you’re also on this quest, I’d strongly suggest the homemade path. Start with a promising online recipe, thenpersonalize from there. Pay close attention to ingredient quality and proportions. With practice, you can absolutely produce a restaurant-worthy Oriental Chicken Salad Dressing from your own kitchen.
I’d recommend using low-sodium soy sauce, and adding honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, grated ginger, and garlic as the base. Whisk vigorously or use a blender for smooth emulsification. Let the dressed salad rest before serving, so the flavors can properly meld.
This homemade dressing also has great versatility beyond salads. I’ve enjoyed it as a marinade, stir fry sauce, dipping sauce, and so much more. The options are endless.
While buying Applebee’s exact Oriental Chicken Salad Dressing remains an elusive proposition, with some culinary creativity, you can fully recreate the delicious experience yourself. Considering Applebee’s has fiercely guarded this recipe for over 30 years, producing somethingindistinguishable is an impressive feat.
Who knows, maybe one day I’ll happen to spot a bottle in my local grocery store. But for now, I’m satisfied mastering my own rendition. The joy of cooking is taking an beloved idea and making it your own. This dressing has been a tasty vessel for that journey – I can’t wait to see where my culinary experiments take me next. The next big challenge? Perfection their queso…
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ORIENTAL CHICKEN SALAD | APPLEBEES COPYCAT RECIPES
FAQ
Can you buy Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad dressing?
You can purchase the dressing at Applebee’s ($3. 50 for 16 ounces), or try the similar recipe printed here. The Oriental Chicken Salad is Applebee’s most popular salad; I’ve adapted the recipe for 4 servings.
What is in the Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad?
Our Oriental vinaigrette is drizzled over fresh Asian greens, crunchy noodles, and almonds, and then topped with our crispy breaded chicken tenders. This dish has been a favorite for a long time. Served with a golden brown signature breadstick brushed with buttery garlic and parsley.
What are the salad dressings at Applebee’s?
How many calories inApplebee’sOriental Salad Dressing. Garlic Caesar Salad Dressing. Mexi-Ranch Salad Dressing. Lemon Olive Oil Vinaigrette. Buttermilk Ranch Salad Dressing. Dijon Honey Mustard Salad Dressing. Fat-Free Italian Salad Dressing. Chili Lime Vinaigrette.
Why is applebees Oriental Chicken Salad so high in calories?
The high calorie count in Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad is mainly due to the fried chicken, sweet dressing, and crunchy toppings like fried noodles and almonds. These components contribute a significant amount of fat and sugar, leading to a calorie-dense meal.