Looking for a salad recipe that isn’t boring? You’ve got to make this crunchy thai peanut salad.

Think crunchy cabbage, sweet carrots, edamame and quinoa tossed in a sweet ginger-peanut dressing. Like what’s not to love?!

Plus, if you like the Trader Joe’s thai peanut salad, this is a great homemade alternative that is cheaper and so much healthier. 

bowl of crunchy thai peanut salad on a green linen cloth

Crunchy Thai Peanut Salad Ingredients 

Here’s your grocery list for this salad, along with a few suggestions and substitution ideas (full recipe is in the recipe card below).

And yes, this is one of those recipes with a long list of ingredients, but don’t let that deter you.

  • Purple cabbage 
  • Iceberg lettuce 
  • Carrots – this may seem silly, but I wanted to point out that you should test the carrots before using them. This thai salad relies on the sweetness of the carrots, so make sure the carrot you’re using is sweet and has a ton of flavor!
  • Edamame – most grocery stores sell non-GMO and organic pre-shelled edamame in the frozen section. 
  • Quinoa 
  • Cilantro 
  • Green onions 
  • Peanuts – I don’t do well eating peanuts, so I like to use almonds or walnuts in lieu of the peanuts. 
  • Peanut butter – as I said above, I don’t do well on peanut butter, so I like to use sunflower butter instead.
  • Honey – feel free to use maple syrup or date syrup instead 
  • Bragg’s amino acids or soy Sauce 
  • Rice vinegar – if you don’t have this, don’t sweat it. While the rice vinegar does add flavor, it’s not an integral component of the peanut dressing. 
  • Lemon juice 
  • Fresh garlic and ginger 
  • Spices 
bowl of crunchy thai peanut salad on a green linen cloth

How to Make Thai Peanut Salad Dressing 

Most salad dressings are packed with calories and unnecessary sugar and oils. But this thai peanut salad dressing couldn’t be healthier. It’s made with whole-foods and relies on honey to naturally sweeten the dressing. 

Here’s how to make it — it couldn’t be easier. 

  1. Add the peanut butter or sunflower butter into a bowl, along with the honey, amino acids, lemon juice, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger and spices. Give this a good mix. 
  2. Next pour in the water and gently whisk to combine. Continue to whisk until the water is completely mixed into the dressing, about 30 seconds. If the peanut dressing is still too thick, continue to whisk in tiny amounts of water until it reaches a consistency you like. 
  3. Once the dressing has become silky smooth and lightened in color, it’s done. Adjust for salt before using. 
bowl of crunchy thai peanut salad on a green linen cloth

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Can I substitute the peanut butter? Absolutely! I recommend using sunflower butter in lieu of peanut butter. It has the same flavor, similar protein content and it’s packed with nutrients! 
  • Do I have to use rice vinegar? Technically no, but it does add another layer of flavor to the dressing. That saiad, you can totally leave it out if you wish. 
  • Can I store the dressing? Yes, you can pop the dressing in a glass container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Any longer than that and the lemon juice will start to change the flavors of the dressing. 

Meal-Prep this Vegan Thai Peanut Salad 

If you want to take this salad to work or school, here’s how to prep it the night before. 

  1. Begin by making the dressing and then pop it into a small condiment container.
  2. Next, add all of the raw veggies, quinoa and edamame into a glass tupperware and place the dressing container inside. Pop the tupperware into the fridge to store overnight. 
  3. Once you’re ready to eat this salad, simply pour over the dressing and toss together with a fork. Or you use my favorite method for mixing salad which is to put the lid back on the tupperware and shake the whole thing around.
bowl of crunchy thai peanut salad on a green linen cloth

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bowl with tons of veggies and edamame

Crunchy Thai Peanut Salad

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.2 from 77 reviews
  • Author: Yasmeen Ali
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 2 1x
  • Category: Salad
  • Cuisine: American, Thai

Description

Looking for a salad recipe that isn’t boring? You’ve got to make this crunchy thai peanut salad. Think crunchy cabbage, sweet carrots, edamame and quinoa tossed in a sweet ginger-peanut dressing. Like what’s not to love?!


Ingredients

Scale

Peanut Dressing

  • 1 tbsp peanut butter or sunflower butter
  • 1 tbsp Bragg’s amino acids or soy sauce
  • 2 tsp honey or maple syrup
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp rice vinegar
  • 1 clove garlic, finely grated or minced
  • 1 tsp minced ginger
  • ¼ tsp kosher salt
  • ¼ tsp chili flakes
  • 2 tsp water

Crunchy Thai Salad

  • 1 cup frozen edamame (boiled, drained and rinsed)
  • ¼ cup dry quinoa (cooked according to package instructions)
  • 1 cup finely chopped iceberg lettuce
  • 1 cup finely chopped purple cabbage
  • 1 cup finely grated carrot (about 1 large carrot)
  • ¼ cup cilantro, minced
  • 3 medium green onions, finely chopped on a bias
  • 2 tbsp roasted and unsalted peanuts (sub with walnuts or almonds)
  • 2 tbsp sesame seeds

Instructions

  1. Begin by cooking the edamame and quinoa according to package instructions.
  2. While the edamame and quinoa cook, make the dressing. In a cup or bowl, add in all of the dressing ingredients and whisk well. The dressing will look thick and slightly lumpy — don’t worry, this is totally normal. Next, add in the 2 tsp of water and whisk into the dressing for about 30 seconds. The dressing will slowly transform and become silky smooth. Feel free to add more water to thin the dressing to a consistency you like. Adjust for salt and honey, and set aside.
  3. Next, prep all of the veggies (iceberg, cabbage, carrots, green onion, cilantro) and add them into a large salad bowl.
  4. At this point the edamame and quinoa should be done cooking. Add the quinoa, edamame, peanuts and sesame seeds into the bowl. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Adjust for salt and enjoy!