Did you know that the first Cheesecake Factory restaurant opened in Beverly Hills in 1978? The currently have 190 locations, including restaurants in Dubai, Canada, Mexico, Kuwait and Hong Kong.
One of my favorite dishes on their menu of 200 plus items is the Luau Salad. Of all the Cheesecake Factory salads, the Luau Salad is my favorite. Sadly, the restaurant chain has taken it off the menu. So, I had to add this recipe to my collection of salad recipes and start making it at home. The Luau Salad is supposed to look like the shape of Diamond Head in Hawaii. It’s packed with tropical flavors that’ll make you feel like you’re on an island getaway in Hawaii.
DRESSING:
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinaigrette
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
SALAD:
- 2 large chicken breasts grilled & sliced into thin strips
- 6 cups mixed greens
- 1 red bell pepper sliced into thin strips
- 1 yellow bell pepper sliced into thin strips
- 1 1/2 cups fresh green beans blanched, cut into pieces
- 1 fresh mango cut into small pieces
- 1 red onion cut into small pieces
- 1 cup cucumber slices
GARNISHES:
- 2 green onions sliced into 1-inch thin strips
- 1/2 cup sweet and sour sauce
- 1/2 cup macadamia nuts toasted and chopped
- 1 cup carrots peeled, sliced into 1-inch thin strips
- 2 teaspoons white sesame seeds
- 2 teaspoons black sesame seeds
- 8 6-inch egg roll wrappers, fry whole until crisp
Instructions:
Do ahead:. Cook/grill chicken, fry wontons, slice and chop vegetables.
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Place the mixed greens, cucumber slices, chicken, bell peppers, green beans, red onion, and mango, into a large mixing bowl. Season the greens with salt and pepper.
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In a separate bowl make dressing by whisking together the seasoned rice vinegar, balsamic vinaigrette, sesame oil and granulated sugar.
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Drizzle the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss together gently.
- Brush a little sweet and sour sauce onto each crispy egg roll wrapper. Build the salad on each salad plate. Start with salad mixture then top with a crispy glazed egg roll wrapper. Alternate layers several times with more salad mixture, another crispy glazed egg roll wrapper and then the remaining salad mixture. Top with green onions and carrots, sprinkle with nuts and sesame seeds.
Serve on a colorful salad plate and Enjoy this once famous item from the Cheesecake Factory salads menu!
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Serve on a colorful salad plate and Enjoy this once famous item from the Cheesecake Factory salads menu!