Chinese Chicken Salad

Adapted from The Sunset Cookbook. Copyright  2010. Published by Oxmoor House.

Ingredients:
* 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
* 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
* 1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
* 1 tablespoon chili sauce
* 1 1/2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
* 1/4 cup canola or grapeseed oil
* Salt
* 1/2 pound asparagus, bottoms trimmed and cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces
* 2 navel oranges or 1 can (11 ounces) mandarin orange slices, drained
* Chinese noodles
* 6 cups finely shredded cabbage
* 2 cups cubed cooked chicken
* 1 large firm-ripe avocado, pitted, peeled, and cubed
* 4 green onions, trimmed and sliced diagonally
* 2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted

Procedures:
1. In a bowl, whisk together vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, chili sauce, and ginger. Slowly drizzle in oil, whisking constantly. Season with salt. Set dressing aside.
2. In a 2- to 3-quart pan over high heat, bring about 1 quart water to a boil. Add asparagus and cook until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain, then plunge asparagus into ice water to stop the cooking. Drain and set aside.
3. Cut off and discard ends from oranges. Following curve of fruit, cut off peel and outer membrane. Slice oranges crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick rounds, then cut rounds into quarters. Set aside. Or use canned mandarin oranges.
4. In a large serving bowl, toss cabbage, chicken, and asparagus with dressing. Top with avocado, orange slices, and Chinese noodles, then garnish with green onions and sesame seeds.

Toast sesame seeds in a nonstick frying pan over medium heat, shaking often, until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes.