I promised you on Thursday that there would be a round two to the Macadamia Crusted Chicken recipe and here it is! It is a really easy reinvention, turning the chicken into a salad topper and the salsa into a dressing in about 30 seconds. Mixed greens are topped with fresh chopped pineapple, macadamia nuts, crispy wonton strips and leftover crispy chicken. We re-imagine the salsa into a delicious vinaigrette with the addition of rice vinegar and olive oil. 
This salad is a tropical escape and even with the addition of the olive oil, this dressing is a light accompaniment to the salad. You can also use grilled chicken in this salad, the rest of the flavors are bright enough that it will still be completely delicious!
This week has been a wonderful one! Yesterday I celebrated my anniversary to the greatest person I have ever met and on Thursday Clinton Kelly from The Chew actually retweeted me. Excuse me while I have a total nerdy moment. I mean, c’mon…how cool is this! If it wasn’t the week of our anniversary, this alone would have made my week.
Have you ever been on Twitter and had a celebrity moment? This blog is six weeks old and in that time I have been retweeted or favorited by some of the coolest people: Clinton Kelly, Sarah Moulton, Wolfgang Puck (I nearly screamed out loud when this happened) and Emeril Lagasse. Before the blog, I was not quite sold on the concept of Twitter. Seeing the level of interaction I have experienced in such a short period of time, I am now a convert.
The irony of it is I grew up in Los Angeles and have had many interactions with celebrities who aren’t chefs and they’ve never fazed me. A couple of days ago my husband and I were driving in Yountville, CA and drove past French Laundry only to see Chef Thomas Keller in the picture window of the kitchen just a dozen feet away working with his staff. I was in complete and utter shock and just wanted to drive up and down the street to get another glimpse. Being the amazing husband he is, he completely understood why I completely freaked out and actually got excited for me. Isn’t he the best?
I’ve gone off topic, haven’t I? We were here to make a salad! Don’t worry, we will be done with this salad in just a couple of minutes!
Chop up leftover macadamia chicken. Great eaten cold, or you can put in 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes. Put mixed greens in a bowl. Top with pineapple and macadamia nuts. 
To make dressing:
Combine leftover pineapple salsa with rice vinegar, olive oil and cilantro in food processor until smooth. 
Finally lets top the salad with the crispy wonton strips. You can buy these pre-made if you would like, but I had just made an easy shortcut ravioli using wonton wrappers so I had extra left over. I cut them into half inch wide strips and fried them in canola oil for about 20 seconds. Then I let them drain and cool on a baking sheet.
Tropical Luau Chicken Salad with Crispy Wontons
Ingredients
- Mixed Greens
- Leftover Chicken from Macadamia Crusted Chicken
- Chopped Pineapple , in 1/2 inch chunks
- macadamia nuts
- wonton wrappers
- oil for frying
Dressing
- Pineapple Salsa
- 3 tbsp Rice Vinegar
- 6 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
- Put mixed greens in a bowl.
Top with pineapple and macadamia nuts.
Chop up leftover macadamia chicken. Great eaten cold, or you can put in 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes.
To make dressing:
Combine leftover pineapple salsa with rice vinegar, olive oil and cilantro in food processor until smooth.
Recipe Notes
Made from Macadamia Crusted Chicken with Pineapple Jalapeno Salsa which was adapted from Clinton Kelly's Chicken Recipe on The Chew
Macadamia nut covered chicken sounds exactly what I have been craving without knowing! This looks incredible!
This salad looks like Hawaii in a bowl! Perfect 🙂 Would love to try this asap!
Oooh I love that! Hawaii in a bowl!
This really looks good! I love salads with chicken in them, this is pin worthy for sure!
Aww, how sweet! Thank you so much for the pin!
Aww, man. Here I thought I had my dinners all planned out for the week. This just made the menu!
Wonderful!
Yum, I can see using this with my vegetarian chicken for an absolutely delicious meal. The flavors look fantastic.
Thank you 🙂
Great use of those extra wontons I need to remember that idea! This looks delish, now if you came over and made me some I would provide the wine! 🙂
Haha, I love that! At home, I cook and he cleans. With friends I cook they bring drinks! Works great for everyone!
I have been seeking some new salad recipes. I am loving the fresh flavors incorporated into this one. Especially the nuts. YUM! Pinned & Yummed!
Thanks so much for the pin! I hope you enjoy it!
This sounds/looks amazing! I most definitely can’t wait to try the pineapple vinaigrette!
Thanks! Hope you love it!
Sounds so yummy. Sounds like a great summer salad.
Congrats on the anniversary, the re-tweet and turning one dish into two! I would call that a hat trick! Looks amazing!
Thanks! It was quite a day!
Oh my gosh does that look good! I LOVE a good salad with amazing fixings and fruit and tastes!
Thanks! It was a really fun salad!
I DO love summer salad season, and this one will just fill the bill I think. PLUS I love any salad with surprise crispy bits. Wontons are a clever addition. Kudos!
I know right? Crispy wontons are always wonderful!
That looks delicious! I love a salad with interesting flavors and textures. Yum!
Thanks!
I’ve never made my own salad dressing. Seems so easy and probably much healthier.
I love making dressings! When you compare the cost to a good quality one in a grocery store, you’ll never go back!
I also have never made my own dressing! I bet it tastes a lot better.
Oh it is so easy! I usually toss all the ingredients into my mini food processor, it is done in seconds!
The chicken salad looks delicious. Congrats on the tweets ~ very exciting!
Thanks! I know it seems so googly eyed, but it was a really cool moment!
If I could get my son and my hubby to like nuts I would be all over this! I LOVE these nuts! The are by far my favorite! Maybe I will make this next time they are out of town! ; )
I have to say I love making special things only I love when I get to eat alone too!
Macadamia chicken sounds good! I will have to try this out.
Hope you love it!
I have been craving salads a lot lately. I love the tropical part of it!
This salad feels so fresh, you’ll love it!
This salad is totally exploding with delicious flavors – I love the fruity sweetness from the pineapples and the crunch from the wonton wrappers!
Me too! I love fresh wonton strips, I had to stop myself from eating them all as I was making them!