Chopped Thai Salad with Sesame Garlic Dressing

Chopped Thai Salad with Sesame Garlic Dressing


Those looking for a colorful lunch option can try making this chopped Thai salad, which is bright orange, red, and green and contains plenty of nutritious vegetables.

The main ingredients are carrots, kale, peppers, and edamame beans. Kale is full of iron and protein, making it a particularly healthful addition. Edamame beans are among the richest sources of protein for people eating vegetarian and vegan diets.

Chopped Thai Salad with Sesame Garlic Dressing


This Chopped Thai Salad with Sesame Garlic Dressing is THE BEST! A rainbow of power veggies with a yummy homemade dressing.

INGREDIENTS:
for the dressing:

  • 1/3 cup canola oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 3 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 2 tablespoons white distilled vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemongrass paste (ginger would also work)
  • a squeeze of lime juice


for the salad:

  • 16 ounces frozen shelled edamame
  • 5–6 cups baby kale
  • 3 large carrots
  • 2 bell peppers (1 red, 1 yellow)
  • 1 cup cilantro leaves
  • 3 green onions
  • 3/4 cup cashews (if you can find them, Trader Joe’s Thai Lime and Chili Cashews are the bomb)


INSTRUCTIONS:

  1. Puree all the dressing ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Taste and adjust to fit your preferences. Transfer to a dressing jar and rinse the food processor out for use later.
  2. Cook the edamame by boiling it for 3-5 minutes in a pot of boiling water. Drain and allow it to cool. Meanwhile, slice up the kale, carrots, peppers, cilantro leaves, and green onions into thin strips or shreds.
  3. Place the cooked edamame in the food processor and pulse 5 times to get a minced texture. Transfer to a bowl and repeat the same process for the cashews. Toss the kale, carrots, peppers, cilantro, green onions, edamame, and cashews together until well combined. Drizzle with the dressing, toss gently a few times, and serve immediately.


NOTES:
The salad will stay fresh longer if you store the dressing separately from the salad ingredients, tossing them together just before serving. Agave nectar or sugar would work in place of the honey for vegans. Those 3 cloves of garlic pack a spicy garlicky punch, so if you don’t love garlic, use less.