Simple Thai Salad Peanut Sauce (Printable)

Fresh vegetables with creamy peanut dressing come together in minutes for a vibrant Thai-inspired dish.

# What's Needed:

→ 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 tablespoons soy sauce
10 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
11 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
12 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
13 - 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
14 - 1 garlic clove, minced
15 - 1-2 tablespoons warm water
16 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes or sriracha (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Shred the green cabbage and carrots. Thinly slice the red bell pepper and julienne the cucumber. Slice the green onions. 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. Whisk until smooth and well combined.
03 - Add warm water one tablespoon at a time, whisking continuously, until the sauce reaches a smooth, pourable consistency.
04 - Drizzle the peanut sauce over the prepared vegetables. Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly with the dressing.
05 - Top the salad with chopped roasted peanuts and fresh cilantro leaves. Serve immediately while vegetables are crisp.

# Tips for Success:

01 -
  • You get restaurant-quality flavor in just 15 minutes with zero cooking required
  • The peanut sauce doubles as a dip for anything else you have in the fridge
02 -
  • The sauce will thicken as it sits in the fridge, so keep a little warm water handy to thin it before serving
  • Massaging the cabbage with a pinch of salt before dressing makes it even more tender
03 -
  • Toast your own raw peanuts in a dry skillet for five minutes for an even deeper flavor
  • Let the dressed salad sit for ten minutes before eating to let the flavors really meld together

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