Green Goddess Nugget Salad (Printable Version)

A crunchy cabbage salad topped with air-fried nuggets and a creamy herb dressing.

# Ingredient List:

→ Chicken Nuggets

01 - 16 frozen chicken nuggets
02 - Cooking spray

→ Salad

03 - 4 cups green cabbage, finely shredded
04 - 1 cup romaine lettuce, chopped
05 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
06 - 1 cup sugar snap peas, thinly sliced
07 - 1/2 cup green onions, thinly sliced
08 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
09 - 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

→ Green Goddess Dressing

10 - 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
11 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
12 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves
13 - 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
14 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives
15 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
16 - 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
17 - 1 clove garlic
18 - 2 anchovy fillets (optional)
19 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
20 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# Steps:

01 - Set the air fryer to 400°F and allow it to preheat fully.
02 - Arrange chicken nuggets in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Lightly spray with cooking spray. Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, turning halfway, until golden and crisp. Let cool slightly, then cut into bite-sized pieces.
03 - Combine shredded green cabbage, chopped romaine, diced cucumber, sliced sugar snap peas, green onions, parsley, and basil in a large bowl.
04 - In a blender or food processor, combine Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, parsley, basil, chives, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, garlic, optional anchovy fillets, salt, and black pepper. Blend until smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste.
05 - Pour the Green Goddess dressing over the salad ingredients and toss thoroughly to ensure even coating.
06 - Top the dressed salad with warm, cut chicken nuggets. Serve immediately for optimal texture and flavor.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes indulgent but comes together in under 40 minutes with minimal fuss.
  • The Green Goddess dressing is creamy and herbaceous enough to make anyone forget they're eating salad.
  • You can customize it endlessly depending on what's in your crisper drawer.
02 -
  • Do not toss the nuggets into the salad too early or they'll get soggy; they go on top just before eating.
  • Make the dressing a few hours ahead if you want, but assemble the salad and dress it within 15 minutes of serving so the cabbage stays crisp.
03 -
  • Don't skip preheating the air fryer; it's the difference between golden nuggets and pale, floppy ones.
  • Taste the dressing before you dress the salad and adjust seasonings to your preference—this one moment saves you from bland or oversalted disappointment.
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