This warm Asian salad kit recipe is the perfect solution to busy weeknights! Made with a pre-shredded coleslaw mix and a chopped Asian salad kit, it’s the ultimate last minute dinner idea. Savory, crispy, and perfectly flavored thanks to the addition of sesame oil. You’ll want to make this simple recipe again and again!
Why This Recipe Works
If you ever have those crazy busy days where you can’t possibly think about making a complicated meal, this recipe is for you! This recipe for a warm Asian salad kit takes two pre-prepped, pre-packaged items (an Asian salad kit + coleslaw mix) and brings the two together in the easiest weeknight meal EVER!
With just 15 minutes of active cooking time (not including the rice), this meal is ready in less time than it takes to get food delivered or go through a drive thru! I mean, talk about easy!
If you’re craving drive thru, by all means, go for it, (with intuitive eating you have permission to do that without guilt!) but if what you really want is a home cooked meal without all the fuss and time, then this easy recipe is for you. After you make this dish once, you’ll want to keep the ingredients handy for a quick and delicious last minute meal.
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But you know what one of the best things about this warm Asian salad kit is? There is absolutely no chopping, slicing, or dicing. The grocery store does the work for you, and all you have to do is add your bag of coleslaw mix and the salad kit into a pan and cook until soft. How easy is that!?
Oh, and if you’re loving this coleslaw mix shortcut as much as I am, you have to try my recipe for inside out egg roll. It’s super easy to make, and uses the same shortcut for a quick weeknight dinner idea.
Ingredients
- Chopped Asian salad kit: You can pick these up at almost any local grocery store! The Asian salad kit often comes with sliced almonds, wonton pieces, and a sweet and salty sesame dressing.
- Coleslaw mix: Another great shortcut! You’ll need one small bag of coleslaw mix, or about 2 cups.
- Ground turkey: Adding some ground turkey into the mix adds a boost of protein, flavor, AND texture. You can sub for any of your favorite ground meats (like chicken, pork, or beef) if you want.
- Rice: This warm Asian salad kit is served on a bed of cooked rice, meaning you’ll need ~1/2 cup of uncooked rice to get started.
- Sesame oil: This is the secret ingredient and adds a ton of flavor! If you can’t find sesame oil, you can totally sub for whatever you have on hand, but I highly recommend you go the sesame route if at all possible.
How to Make This Recipe
Before you get started, make sure to cook your rice according to package directions. I like to start my rice before I make the main part. Then, both components will be ready and warm at the same time!
1 Start off by heating a large skillet or wok over medium heat.
2 Once the pan is hot, drizzle with the sesame oil.
3 Add in the ground turkey, and break it up with the bottom of a wooden spoon or spatula.
4 Continue to cook until the turkey is browned. This shouldn’t take more than 5-7 minutes!
5 Heat some additional sesame oil (~1 tablespoon) in another large skillet with a cover (or Dutch oven).
6 Add the coleslaw mix, and the veggie portion of the Asian salad kit to the pan.
7 Cover with a lid, and allow to cook for 5 minutes, or until all the veggies are soft and semi-translucent.
8 Add your cooked rice into two bowls for serving.
9 Top the rice with the cabbage and veggie mixture.
10 Then, top each bowl with half of the ground turkey.
11 Add the toppings, about half to each bowl, or as desired. This includes the dressing as well!
12 Serve while warm, and enjoy!
FAQ’s
Most Asian salad kits contain a blend of savoy cabbage, carrots, green cabbage, celery, and green onion. For the topping options, fried wontons, sliced almonds, and a sesame dressing are often included.
A coleslaw mix is a blend of finely shredded cabbage and carrot. Cabbage takes up a large portion of a coleslaw mix, with the carrot only consisting of garnish amounts and will not impart a significant flavor to the finished dish.
This really depends on the salad, but for many salads, warming helps elevate any flavors in the dressing, and adds a really yummy, complex flavor. Serving your salad warm is a great way to make it a comforting, satisfying meal rather than a simple side dish. Add in some protein (like ground turkey) to help increase satiety and add a different texture.
Expert Tips and Variations
- If you have cabbage at home, you can totally substitute the coleslaw mix. Use a blend of shredded cabbage and carrot. You’ll need about 2 cups total, with most of that being cabbage.
- Store your leftovers in the fridge in a covered container. Eat them for a quick dinner, or for an easy lunch the following day.
- Feel free to get creative with the ground meat! I like to use ground turkey because its economical and easy to find, but you can use whatever you like best! Ground pork, chicken, or beef are all tasty options.
- Sesame oil is the secret ingredient when it comes to giving this warm Asian salad its flavor. But if you can’t find it, feel free to use whatever oil you have on hand.
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Warm Asian Salad Kit
Ingredients
- ½ cup uncooked rice
- sesame oil ~1-2 tbsp
- 1 bag of a chopped Asian salad kit
- 2 cups coleslaw mix
- ½ lb ground turkey
Instructions
- 1. Cook your rice according to package directions.
- 2. While your rice is cooking, first heat a medium-sized pan over medium heat and drizzle with sesame oil.
- 3. Once the oil is hot add your ground turkey and cook it for 5-7 minutes, turning the meat occasionally and breaking it up, until it is browned.
- 4. While your turkey is browning you will take a large pan, add another drizzle of sesame oil, and place the veggies from the salad kit and any additional coleslaw you’ll be using into the pan.
- 5. Place a lid on top and let this cook for ~5 minutes over medium heat until your cabbage has softened.
- 6. Now, once everything is done you’ll assemble your warm asian salad kit as follows:
- a. Place rice on the plate,
- b. Followed by the cabbage
- c. Then top with the ground turkey.
- d. Then, take the salad toppings (dressing, and the wonton pieces & almonds) and add them on top (split the packages in 2 servings- so you’ll use half of them per serving!)
- 7. Enjoy!
Samantha says
I’ve been making this is Colleen first started sharing on instagram. I’ve made egg-roll-in-a-bowl often, but the addition of the rice and the toppings from the salad kit (including the dressing- so smart!) makes this so satisfying. I could eat this weekly!