Guess what: Chinese chicken salad, like a number of dishes common in American-Chinese restaurants, is actually a Western invention. Even so, it's a simple, classic, and refreshing dish that successfully combines Asian flavors such as rice vinegar and sesame oil with the Western penchant for salads. Now, that's fusion cuisine. To keep the salad crisp and crunchy, be sure to dress it right before serving.

Preparation time: 30 minutes

Cooking time: 7 to 8 minutes

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients & Directions:

1/3 cup rice vinegar

2 tablespoons honey

2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce or chile garlic sauce

2 teaspoons sesame oil

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1-1/2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce

1 cup julienned carrots

1/2 red onion, julienned

1-1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken

1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

1. To make the dressing: Mix the rice vinegar, honey, hot pepper sauce, sesame oil, and dry mustard in a bowl and set aside.

2. Arrange the lettuce on a serving plate. In a small bowl, toss the carrots, onion, and chicken with the dressing. Place on top of the lettuce. Sprinkle with the toasted sesame seeds.

Variation: Three cheers for flexible recipes — this one included! If you like your dressing richer and creamier, add 2 teaspoons chunky peanut butter and 1 tablespoon cooking oil to the other dressing ingredients and mix thoroughly.

Variation: To add some extra crunch to the salad, deep-fry 1/4-inch strips of wonton skins in 350 degree oil for a couple minutes until crisp and golden brown, and sprinkle them liberally over the top of the salad. If you don't feel like firing up the wok for deep-frying, just buy some already prepared crispy Chinese noodles — available in the Chinese food sections of most grocery stores — and sprinkle those on instead. And, of course, a sprightly garnish of cilantro leaves can only improve the overall picture.