Thai Salad Peanut Sauce (Printable View)

Fresh vegetables tossed in creamy peanut dressing for a quick, healthy meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad Vegetables

01 - 2 cups shredded green cabbage
02 - 1 cup shredded carrots
03 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
04 - 1 cucumber, julienned
05 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced
06 - 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
07 - 1/4 cup roasted peanuts, roughly chopped

→ Peanut Sauce

08 - 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
09 - 2 tbsp soy sauce (use gluten-free if needed)
10 - 2 tbsp lime juice (about 1 lime)
11 - 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
12 - 1 tbsp rice vinegar
13 - 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
14 - 1 garlic clove, minced
15 - 1–2 tbsp warm water (to thin, as needed)
16 - 1/2 tsp chili flakes or dash of sriracha (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Shred cabbage and carrots, slice bell pepper into thin strips, julienne cucumber, and slice green onions. Place all prepared vegetables in a large salad bowl.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, and chili flakes if using.
03 - Add warm water one tablespoon at a time, whisking continuously until sauce reaches smooth, pourable consistency.
04 - Drizzle peanut sauce over salad and toss gently to coat all vegetables evenly. Top with chopped peanuts and fresh cilantro just before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The peanut sauce comes together faster than you can find takeout menus online
  • You can prep all the vegetables in the morning and toss it together at dinner
  • Clean eating that actually satisfies your craving for something rich and savory
02 -
  • The sauce thickens as it sits, so make it slightly thinner than you think you need
  • Salted peanuts will change the balance, so reduce soy sauce if that's what you have
  • This salad gets soggy after a few hours, so dress only what you'll eat immediately
03 -
  • Toast your peanuts in a dry skillet for 2-3 minutes first, the depth of flavor is worth the extra step
  • Let the sauce sit for 10 minutes before serving, the garlic and lime really meld together in that time

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