Thai Peanut Salad

I have high expectations when it comes to a salad. I don't have room on my plate for an average salad... It needs to dazzle. It needs to be delicious. And it needs to be the kind of thing that even people who don't like vegetables will love!

And this Thai-inspired Peanut Salad is one of those recipes! Like this Santa Fe Salad, it is the kind of salad you will actually want to eat even if there are other options.

Plus it is quick, easy to make and tastes even better the next day- great for meal prepping or taking to a potluck!

If you can't have peanuts (or any nuts for that matter), you can even make this salad nut free.

The Ingredients

• Coleslaw Mix- This is one of my favorite time saver ingredients- bagged, pre chopped cabbage and carrots. Feel free to try a broccoli slaw or you can use cabbage and carrots and chop them yourself- you need about 8 cups total.
• Bell Pepper
• Green Onions
• Snap Peas
• Cilantro
• Peanut Sauce Dressing:
  • Peanut Butter- I like to use natural, smooth peanut butter for this recipe.
  • Coconut Aminos- Soy sauce or tamari also works.
  • Lime Juice
  • Ground Ginger
  • Garlic Powder
  • Red Pepper Flakes
  • Water

The Method

1. Mix. In a large bowl, combine the chopped vegetables.

2. Dress. In a small bowl, stir together the ingredients for the dressing. Stir the dressing into the vegetables until combined.

3. Serve!

Leftovers

To Make Ahead: This salad arguably tastes better on day 2 so it is a great recipe to fully prepare ahead of time!

To Store: Store salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Make it Your Own

• Make it Spicier- add 1-2 teaspoon of hot sauce to dressing.
• Sweeten it- Add 2 tablespoon of honey or maple syrup to the dressing.
• Change up the Vegetables- You can add up to 2 cups of vegetables with no additional changes. If you would like to add more you can reduce the amount of coleslaw used or increase the dressing. The following would all be tasty in this salad:
  • Cucumbers
  • Radishes
  • Lettuce
  • Spinach
• Add Grains- Use 1 and ½ times the dressing and add 2-3 cups of a cooked grain such as:
  • Quinoa
  • Farro
  • Brown Rice
• Include a Protein- Turn this salad into a meal by adding up to 2 cups of cooked:
  • Shredded chicken
  • Leftover diced turkey
  • Pulled Pork
  • Shrimp
  • Chickpeas
  • Edamame
• Top it with:
  • Chopped peanuts, cashews or sunflower seeds
  • Crispy Roasted Chickpeas
  • Additional chopped green onions or cilantro

Serving Suggestions

• Enjoy it all on its own for a light lunch.
• Take it to a potluck or to serve it at a barbecue- it keeps very well and can be made ahead!
• Serve it as a side dish to:
  • Simple Barbecued Burgers
  • Pulled Pork

Dietary Notes

If you have dietary restrictions, check the packaging of specific ingredients that you use to ensure they are compliant. This recipe is:

• Dairy Free
• Gluten Free
• Nut Free- If you substitute sunflower seed butter for peanut butter.
• Paleo- If you use sunflower seed or cashew butter in place of peanut butter and substitute diced cucumber for the snap peas.
• Vegetarian
• Vegan

And if you liked this salad...

...you might also like these other fresh recipes!

• Asian Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce
• Mediterranean Salad
• Pineapple Salsa
• Crockpot Yellow Thai Chicken Curry
• Creamy Lemon Tahini Slaw

More Salads!