Raise your hand if you’re craving something fresh, healthy, and NOT made entirely from butter and/or sugar?
Man I love the holidays but over the past few weeks I have eaten crazy amounts of sugar cookies, plenty of Puppy Chow and boatloads of bark. It’s been fun but right now all I want to do is eat a MASSIVE salad. The little boys and I were at my parent’s house yesterday where I made Lincoln a healthy snack of sliced apples and peanut butter…then sat down and chowed down on Lay’s potato chips. #WHY My point is, unhealthy habits beget unhealthy habits and this freight train needs to be stopped.
Thai Crunch Salad with Peanut Dressing is just the thing to do it!
Watch How to Make It
Crispy coleslaw mix is combined with green onions, red bell pepper, cilantro, peanuts, and chicken then tossed with an easy Thai Peanut Dressing that I had to double the amounts for in the final recipe because I spoon drank too much and didn’t have enough left to dress the salad with.
What can I say, self control is not one of my strengths.
This healthy salad recipe is super crunchy and filling, plus if you’re a fan of mason jar salads – these work beautifully! Scoop several Tablespoons of the dressing into the bottom of a 16oz mason jar then layer in coleslaw > red pepper > chicken > green onions > peanuts > cilantro. Pour onto a plate at lunchtime, and you’re set. Let’s do this!
How to Make Thai Crunch Salad
Start by adding bagged coleslaw mix (green cabbage, red cabbage, and carrots,) chopped cilantro, peanuts, and green onions, plus red bell pepper cut into matchsticks, and shredded chicken breast into a large bowl. I poached my chicken breast for about 10 minutes before shredding, but you can cook it any way you like and/or use rotisserie chicken.
How to Make Peanut Dressing
To a mason jar or small bowl add peanut butter, honey, warm water, gluten-free Tamari, rice vinegar, lime juice, toasted sesame seeds, sesame oil, ground ginger, fresh garlic, salt, and pepper then shake or whisk to combine. Whew! Sounds like a lot of ingredients but I always have everything in the house.
Drizzle the dressing on top then toss well and scoop into two bowls with extra lime wedges for drizzling.
I hope you love this fresh and healthy, yet fun and filling salad – enjoy!
More Fork Busting Salad Recipes
- Big Mac Salad
- Jennifer Aniston Salad
- Italian Sub Salad
- Southwestern Chopped Salad
- Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
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Thai Crunch Salad with Peanut Dressing
Description
Thai Crunch Salad with Peanut Dressing is a light and healthy salad recipe that's packed with craveable flavor and crunch!
Ingredients
- 3 cups coleslaw mix (green cabbage, red cabbage, carrot mix)
- 1/2 red pepper, sliced into thin matchsticks
- 1 chicken breast, cooked then shredded
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 3 Tablespoons peanuts, finely chopped
- 3 Tablespoons chopped cilantro
- For the Thai Peanut Dressing:
- 4 Tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 2 Tablespoons honey
- 2 Tablespoons hot water
- 1-1/2 Tablespoons gluten-free Tamari or soy sauce (dish will not be GF if using traditional soy sauce)
- 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1/2 lime (slice remaining 1/2 lime into wedges)
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- heaping 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 large or 2 small cloves garlic, pressed or finely minced
- salt and pepper
Directions
- Add ingredients for Thai Peanut Dressing into a mason jar or bowl then shake or whisk to combine. Taste then adjust lime juice for more acid, and/or add water to thin if necessary.
- Add remaining ingredients into a large bowl. Drizzle desired amount of dressing on top then toss well to combine. Scoop into bowls then serve with lime wedges.
Notes
- This recipe would make great mason jar salads! To the bottom of a 16oz mason jar, scoop in several Tablespoons dressing then layer salad ingredients in the order listed in the recipe above (coleslaw mix, red pepper, chicken, etc.)
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Made this salad-it is soooooo goood!!
Ahh, I’m so glad you loved it, Crystal! Thanks so much for your feedback!
I absolutely loved this salad and the dressing is delicious! I used a rotisserie chicken so it was extra easy to put together. I’ll be making this again soon!
Can you post the nutritional information. especially for the dressing? I’m on Keto and just want to adjust if I need to. Thanks so much!
PS: I just made this tonight but won’t be indulging until tomorrow with friends. It smells and looks delicious!
I have made this salad several times and it is one of my favorites! I don’t add the ginger to the dressing as I’m allergic to it, but, I think the dressing is delicious with out it.
Oh I’m glad to hear that, Sherry! Happy you’re able to tailor it to meet your needs. Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
What are the crunchy things that look like wonton strips? No mention of this ingredient in the text.
Hi Jodi! I’m not sure which picture you’re looking at specifically, but it’s either cabbage or chicken. There’s no wonton strips in here – they aren’t gluten free. That said, if you don’t need to eat GF, they’d be delicious inside!
Restaurant quality delicious! My husband and I couldn’t stop eating it. So simple and the dressing was fabulous.
It would be so helpful to have nutrition info on the recipe.
Hi Michele! Recipe nutritional calculator plugins provide only an estimate – I personally don’t feel comfortable providing nutritional information if it’s not verified by a registered dietitian. I hope you understand!
Easy to follow every single step. Learnt much thing from your sharing. Keep doing that! Have nice days!
Hi. Is there Nutrition information for this recipe? Thank you!
Oh my gosh. Thank you Kristin! This is a new favorite and will now appear in our regular rotation. We made it with rotisserie chicken and it is just YUM. Thanks for all you do to keep us fed!
Completely my pleasure! I’m so glad this was a hit for you guys!!
Easy and scrumptious! Another winner, for sure!
Wohoo! So glad you enjoyed, Jennifer!
Was too lazy to make the chicken after a long day, but this recipe was great without it. Tastes just like my favorite Thai crunch salad at the restaurant. :)
Hi! I just made the dressing and doubled it, its looks way more peanut buttery then yours does. Did I do something wrong?
Hi Melissa! Is it possible that one of the ingredients was mis-measured? I’m sure it will still taste fantastic!