Thai Crunch Salad With Peanut Sauce

In the wide world of salads, leafy greens are usually the main ingredient—not today! This Thai Crunch Salad With Peanut Sauce defies the odds and will shock you with its deliciousness! Packed full of vibrant colors, fresh flavors, crunchy textures, and tossed in the most heavenly Thai peanut sauce you'll ever taste. It makes a great side or base for protein, and happens to be one of my favorite salads!

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How to Make A Thai Crunch Salad with Peanut Sauce

Prepare to fall in love with the flavors and textures in each bite. This is no ordinary salad recipe—every element comes together perfectly & I can assure you, it will leave you craving more. It’s also gluten free, dairy free, and refined sugar free! What you’ll need:

Thai Salad Ingredients

• 2 Cups Cabbage chopped
• 1 Cup Green Onion chopped
• 1 Cup Shredded Carrot
• 1 Red Bell Pepper chopped
• 1 Cilantro Bunch finely chopped (you will use some as a topping as well)
• 1 Cup Edamame you can use frozen

Peanut Sauce Ingredients

• ¾ Cup Peanut Butter unsweetened 
• 2 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar
• 1 Lime juiced
• ¼ Cup Maple Syrup or Honey
• 1 Teaspoon Salt
• 2 Tablespoons Coconut Aminos
• 1 Tablespoon Sesame Oil
• 1 Tablespoon Garlic
• 1 Tablespoon Fresh Ginger minced

Toppings

• Cashews

While the list of ingredients may seem long at first glance, fear not! Only a few of the ingredients need to be chopped. Otherwise it’s mostly just dumping everything in the bowl, and the dressing comes together effortlessly. So if you’re in a rush, or don’t want to spend much time in the kitchen—I can assure you this salad is quick & easy!

Step-By-Step Instructions

Begin by chopping the cabbage, green onions, red bell pepper, and cilantro. Toss them all together in a medium bowl. Stir in the edamame, shredded carrots, and minced garlic, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout the salad. Set the bowl aside while you make the Thai Peanut Sauce!

How to Make Thai Peanut Sauce

At the heart of every incredible salad lies the sauce that ties it all together. This creamy Thai Peanut Sauce is what brings this salad to unmatched levels of deliciousness. Creamy, salty, and sweet, this dressing is a masterpiece in itself. It’s made with unsweetened peanut butter, rice vinegar, zesty lime juice, rich maple syrup (or honey), coconut aminos, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. It’s so good I eat spoonfuls of it. Let’s make this sauce! 🥜

In a small bowl, combine the peanut butter, rice vinegar, lime juice, maple syrup or honey, coconut aminos, sesame oil, minced garlic, minced ginger, and salt. Mix until you have a smooth and creamy sauce. You can also use a food processor or blender, but I personally love it with the crunchy peanut butter chunks, as well as the larger minced ginger and garlic pieces still present. Once you’ve made it, pour the freshly made Thai Peanut Sauce over the salad in the bowl. Use a spoon or salad tongs to toss everything together, making sure all the vegetables are coated in the flavorful sauce!

Thai Salad Toppings

To finish off your Thai salad, sprinkle a generous handful of cashews on top! Not only do the nuts add a delightful crunch, but also enhance the flavor in the dish. You can also add a sprinkle of chopped cilantro, a squeeze of lime, or more Thai peanut sauce when serving the salad.

Ingredient Tips!

When it comes to ingredients, always feel free to add or omit whatever you like to your salad! I used my favorite combo of veggies to make this Thai Crunch Salad, but get creative with your own ingredients if anything comes to mind.

Salad Ingredients: You may find it difficult to find fresh edamame. If that’s the case, frozen edamame will work perfectly as well. Just microwave it for about a minute then add to the salad. Any color bell pepper will work wonderfully in this salad, and feel free to add more than one! Sometimes I like to add green snap peas to this recipe as well. If you aren’t a fan of cashews, use peanuts, or omit the nuts all together.

Sauce Ingredients: For the sauce, I like to use a unsweetened crunchy peanut butter, but use whatever suits your preference. Tahini or almond butter would work great as well if you don’t want to use peanut butter.

Adding Protein: While I didn’t include a protein in this recipe, feel free to add a protein of your choice. My favorite pairing with this recipe is chicken or shrimp, but tofu or steak would be great options as well. Adding a protein will make this salad into a main course!

Frequently Asked Questions

Enjoy!

Like I said, this Thai Crunch Salad with Peanut Sauce is not just any old salad recipe. It’s a true delight that will leave you craving more. In just a few simple steps, the Thai Crunch Salad is ready! Whether you're serving it as a main course or a side dish, this vibrant and flavorful salad is sure to be a hit at any gathering. I hope you have the best day! Tag me on Instagram when you make this salad! @entirelyemmy

If you loved this recipe I have a few more for you to try! My Sweetgreen Crispy Rice Bowl & Spicy Shrimp Spring Rolls are incredible and use Thai Peanut Sauce!