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
free email bonus
Dinner Made EASY
5 days of simple yet flavorful recipes that take the stress out of dinnertime!
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.
Courtney 02.13.2018
I am not a fan of raw veggies so I sauteed the chicken and lightly sauteed the veggies with the dressing. This was wonderful warm too!!!
Kristina 02.09.2018
This recipe is seriously so good! I always wanted to learn the secret of a Thai dressing. This is now one of my regulars. Thanks so much for sharing!
Friday Favorites: 2/9/18 - Key Ingredients 02.09.2018
[…] This is on the menu for next week as I keep hearing such great reviews on it. […]
Thai Peanut Chicken Thighs - Map Fitness 02.07.2018
[…] know I’ve talked at length on this blog about my love for Kristin’s Thai Crunch Salad but if you haven’t made it yet, please add it to your must-try list ASAP. I have my whole family […]
Thai Peanut Chicken Thighs – Debora Mary – Blog 02.06.2018
[…] know I’ve talked at length on this blog about my love for Kristin’s Thai Crunch Salad but if you haven’t made it yet, please add it to your must-try list ASAP. I have my whole family […]
Thai Peanut Chicken Thighs (Easy, Healthy and Delicious!) 02.06.2018
[…] know I’ve talked at length on this blog about my love for Kristin’s Thai Crunch Salad but if you haven’t made it yet, please add it to your must-try list ASAP. I have my whole family […]
Kelsey Baker 02.01.2018
Amazing!
Aimee 01.28.2018
I have been following Iowagirleats.com for the last 6 years… And you have yet to disappoint.
This was easy, good, quick, AND I already had all the ingredients in my fridge!
My husband loved it because it was filling and the dressing tasted like his favorite dish from Big Bowl = score!
Thanks again!
Namrata 01.25.2018
My son is allergic to sesame. do you recommend any substitute? would it taste good if i skip sesame completely..it looks so yummm
Kristin 01.25.2018
Oh darn it! I would give it a try without the sesame oil – it should still taste good!
Beth 01.22.2018
Aaaaand you’ve done it again, another winner! Made this as a mason jar salad for my work lunches and I can’t wait for tomorrow’s lunch! I used cashew butter and cashews instead of peanuts, as we have an allergy in the house, but this is Definitely going in the regular rotation!
kiran 01.08.2018
I made this for dinner last night and it turned out great! I swapped stir-fry sauce for the soy sauce as I didn’t have any. Brought leftovers to lunch and really enjoyed it again. Will be making this again soon!
A Very Bundled-Up Weekend – Debora Mary – Blog 01.08.2018
[…] Thursday: Thai Crunch Salad […]
Jenn 01.06.2018
SERIOUSLY almost drank the last drops of dressing from the jar. Your take-out recipes are some of my absolute favorites! In my area we do not have a huge amount of Asian restaurant choices and this hands-down beat what I’ve had. Thank you for sharing!
Kristin 01.30.2018
Thanks for your great review, Jenn! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Brittany 01.06.2018
This sounds right up my alley. Can’t wait to try it!
Things I’m Loving Friday #217 - Map Fitness 01.05.2018
[…] Tuesday’s blog post, I mentioned my love for Kristin’s Thai Crunch Salad. It’s truly one of the BEST blogger recipes I’ve ever made and you MUST try it ASAP if you […]
Things I’m Loving Friday #217 – Debora Mary – Blog 01.05.2018
[…] Tuesday’s blog post, I mentioned my love for Kristin’s Thai Crunch Salad. It’s truly one of the BEST blogger recipes I’ve ever made and you MUST try it ASAP if you […]
Jess 01.04.2018
This salad was so yummy! Thanks for sharing the recipe :)
Roanna 01.04.2018
I am drooling over this salad. We have 3 with Celiacs in our home. Thank you so much for the recipes!
First Tuesday of 2018 - Map Fitness 01.03.2018
[…] threw together a Thai Crunch Salad which was initially supposed to be our dinner but the flavors of the Thai peanut dressing called to […]
marti @fitwithheart 01.03.2018
so excited to try this! i have the dressing prepped and chicken shredding in the crockpot <3