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The Manila-to-Miami Sweet & Sour Chicken & Pickled Mango Desk Escape

The Manila-to-Miami Sweet & Sour Chicken & Pickled Mango Desk Escape

Welcome back to my favorite departure gate—our cutting board! If your week is anything like my chaotic mom-life right now, you need a tropical vacation immediately. Since we can't hop a flight, we are hacking a sad desk lunch and turning it into a first-class sweet-and-sour getaway with electric quick-pickled mangoes, massive handfuls of fresh herbs, and my ultimate secret weapon: shredded rotisserie chicken.

Chef Mira Lin
Chef Mira Lin
Prep: 15 minutes
0
4
easy
saladlunch
desk-lunchno-cook15-minute-mealsmason-jar-dressing+1

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Timeline

8 minutes
0m5m8m
Quick Pickle Mango
5m
Shake Mason Jar Dressing
2m
Prep Crunch Base
4m
Assemble and Dress
3m

Ingredients

  • 1 large semi-ripe mango(Peeled and julienned. You want it firm enough to hold its shape!)
  • 1/2 red onion(Thinly sliced)
  • 1/2 cup rice vinegar(Unseasoned)
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp granulated sugar(For the pickling liquid)
  • 1/4 cup lime juice(Freshly squeezed)
  • 3 tbsp fish sauce(The funky, salty engine of our dressing)
  • 2 tbsp brown sugar(Packed)
  • 1 tbsp chili garlic sauce(Sambal oelek works beautifully too)
  • 4 cups Napa cabbage(Finely shredded)
  • 1 red bell pepper(Thinly sliced)
  • 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken(Skin removed, meat shredded (about 1 small chicken))
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro(Roughly torn, stems and all)
  • 1 cup fresh mint(Roughly torn)
  • 1/2 cup toasted coconut chips(Unsweetened, for that crucial final crunch)

Instructions

  1. 1

    Let's kick off our itinerary by quick-pickling the star of the show. In a medium bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup rice vinegar, 1 tsp kosher salt, and 1 tsp granulated sugar until dissolved. Toss in the julienned 1 large semi-ripe mango and thinly sliced 1/2 red onion. Set this aside to marinate and work its tangy magic while we prep the rest.

    5 min

    Tip: If your mango is super ripe, slice it a bit thicker so it doesn't turn to mush in the vinegar.

  2. 2

    Grab your trusty mason jar—the ultimate vehicle for weeknight flavor! Add the 1/4 cup lime juice, 3 tbsp fish sauce, 2 tbsp brown sugar, and 1 tbsp chili garlic sauce. Screw the lid on tight and shake it like a cocktail shaker until the sugar dissolves. Boom. Your sweet and sour dressing is cleared for takeoff.

    2 min

    Tip: Taste the dressing on a leaf of cabbage. If it's too tart, add a pinch more brown sugar.

  3. 3

    At your cutting board, build your crunch base. Add the shredded 4 cups Napa cabbage and sliced 1 red bell pepper to a massive salad bowl. This is the crisp foundation that will hold up beautifully, even if you pack it for the office tomorrow.

    4 min

  4. 4

    Time for assembly! Pile the 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken onto the cabbage base. Use a fork to lift the pickled mango and onions out of their liquid and add them to the bowl. Shower everything with the torn 1 cup fresh cilantro and 1 cup fresh mint. Drizzle your shaken sweet-and-sour dressing all over, toss aggressively, and finish with a heavy snow of 1/2 cup toasted coconut chips.

    3 min

    Tip: If meal-prepping this for a desk lunch later in the week, keep the dressing, coconut chips, and pickled mango in separate small containers until right before eating.

Chef's Notes

Do not skip the massive handfuls of herbs—they are your boarding pass to Flavor Town! The interplay between the sweet coconut, the sour pickled mango, and the salty fish sauce is what makes this dish totally irresistible. It completely erases the mid-day slump.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does The Manila-to-Miami Sweet & Sour Chicken & Pickled Mango Desk Escape take to make?

The Manila-to-Miami Sweet & Sour Chicken & Pickled Mango Desk Escape takes about 15 minutes total. That includes 15 minutes of prep.

How many servings does this recipe make?

This recipe makes 4 servings.

What skill level is needed for The Manila-to-Miami Sweet & Sour Chicken & Pickled Mango Desk Escape?

This recipe is rated easy — it's beginner-friendly and straightforward.

What ingredients do I need for The Manila-to-Miami Sweet & Sour Chicken & Pickled Mango Desk Escape?

The main ingredients are: semi-ripe mango, red onion, rice vinegar, kosher salt, granulated sugar, lime juice, fish sauce, brown sugar, chili garlic sauce, Napa cabbage, red bell pepper, shredded rotisserie chicken, fresh cilantro, fresh mint, toasted coconut chips.

What type of meal is The Manila-to-Miami Sweet & Sour Chicken & Pickled Mango Desk Escape?

The Manila-to-Miami Sweet & Sour Chicken & Pickled Mango Desk Escape is categorized as: salad, lunch.