Thai Salad Peanut Sauce (Printer-friendly)

Fresh Thai-inspired salad with crisp vegetables and creamy peanut dressing

# What You Need:

→ For the Salad

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

→ For the 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 a dash of sriracha (optional, for heat)

# How to Make It:

01 - Shred the green cabbage and carrots, thinly slice the red bell pepper and green onions, julienne the cucumber, and place all prepared vegetables in a large salad bowl.
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together the 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 the sauce reaches a smooth, pourable consistency.
04 - Drizzle the peanut sauce evenly over the prepared vegetables and toss gently to coat all ingredients thoroughly.
05 - Top the salad with chopped roasted peanuts and fresh cilantro leaves before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The peanut sauce comes together in literally three minutes and tastes like something from a restaurant
  • You can prep all the vegetables ahead and keep everything crisp for days
  • Its that rare salad that actually satisfies hungry people
02 -
  • The sauce thickens as it sits, so always keep a splash of warm water handy to loosen it up before serving
  • Cabbage and carrots stay crisp for days, making this meal prep gold
  • Dont toss the salad with all the sauce at once, you can always add more but you cant take it back
03 -
  • Use a vegetable peeler to create quick, uniform ribbons from the carrots and cucumber
  • Let the dressed salad sit for 10 minutes before serving, the cabbage softens slightly and absorbs the flavors better
  • Toast your own peanuts in a dry pan for 3 minutes to amp up the nutty flavor

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