Chinese Chicken Salad

From Gourmet

Ingredients:

For fried wontons (optional)

• 20 square wonton wrappers, thawed if frozen
• About 2 1/2 cups vegetable oil

For salad

• 1/2 pound snow peas, trimmed 1 lb Napa cabbage, cored, then cut crosswise into 1/3-inch-wide strips (about 6 cups)
• 1 (1-lb) head of romaine, torn into bite-size pieces (about 8 cups)
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon Asian sesame oil
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 6 cups coarsely shredded cooked chicken (from a 2 1/2-lb rotisserie chicken)
• 1/2 cup chopped scallions
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted

Make fried wontons:
Cut wonton wrappers into 1/2-inch-wide strips and separate on paper towels.

Heat 3/4 inch oil in a wide 3-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat until it registers 350°F on thermometer. Fry strips, 5 or 6 at a time, gently turning over once with a slotted spoon, until just golden, 15 to 30 seconds per batch (some strips will fold and curl). Transfer to paper towels to drain, then season with salt.

Make salad:
- Cook snow peas in a 4-quart pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 1 1/2 minutes.

- Transfer with a slotted spoon to a bowl of ice and cold water to stop cooking, then drain in a colander and pat dry.

- Cut diagonally into 1-inch-wide pieces and put in a large bowl with cabbage and romaine.

- Whisk together soy sauce, lemon juice, sugar, vinegar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl, then add sesame oil and vegetable oil in a slow stream, whisking until sugar is dissolved and dressing is combined well.

- Toss chicken and scallions with 1/3 cup of dressing in another large bowl.

- Whisk remaining dressing (it will separate), then add cabbage mixture, cilantro, almonds, and sesame seeds to chicken and toss with enough remaining dressing to coat.

- Sprinkle with wontons (if using).

I don't use almonds and I buy premade wontons that come in a bag