If there’s one thing I love, it’s a salad with major crunch, vibrant colors, and a dressing so good you’ll want to drink it straight from the bowl. This Chopped Thai Salad checks every box and then some—prepare your knife skills, this is a keeper!
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
This Chopped Thai Salad is everything I want in a meal: fresh, crunchy, colorful, and packed with flavor! The vinaigrette is the real star here—garlicky, gingery, with just the right amount of heat. It ties all the vibrant veggies, creamy avocado, and sweet mango together into a salad that feels light yet totally satisfying. Plus, it comes together in no time and makes for the perfect lunch, dinner, or side dish for any occasion. If you love my Mango Cucumber Chopped Salad - this one is going to be right up your alley.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Low sodium soy sauce
- Water
- Rice wine vinegar
- Honey
- Chili garlic sauce
- Sesame oil
- Fresh ginger
- Lime
- Frozen shelled edamame
- Baby kale
- Carrots
- Red bell pepper
- Yellow bell pepper
- Fresh cilantro
- Green onions
- Cashews
- Avocado
- Mango
How to Make
- Whisk the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside.
- Cook the edamame according to the package directions. Drain and allow it to cool.
- Meanwhile, combine the kale, carrots, peppers, cilantro leaves, and green onions in a large bowl.
- Add the cooked edamame, cashews, avocado, and mango to the bowl with all the ingredients.
- Pour the dressing over the Chopped Thai Salad and toss to combine.
- Serve the Chopped Thai Salad immediately.
Tips & Tricks
- Make It Ahead: The vinaigrette can be made up to a week in advance and stored in the fridge. Just give it a good shake before using.
- Maximize Crunch: Keep the kale, carrots, and peppers super dry to avoid a soggy salad. I like to run everything through my salad spinner for extra crispness.
- Edamame Shortcuts: Buy pre-cooked, shelled edamame from the refrigerated section to save time.
- Get Creative: This Chopped Thai Salad is super adaptable. Swap out the kale for romaine or butter lettuce, use almonds instead of cashews, or throw in any veggies you need to use up.
- Protein Boost: Add grilled chicken, grilled steak or poached or grilled shrimp to make it a complete meal.
FAQ's
Can I make this salad ahead of time?
Yes! You can prep all the veggies and make the dressing a day in advance. Just keep everything separate and toss it all together right before serving to maintain that perfect crunch.
What can I substitute for kale?
If kale isn’t your thing, you can use any greens you love. Romaine, butter lettuce, or even a spring mix would work beautifully.
Can I add protein to this salad?
Absolutely! Grilled chicken, steak, shrimp, tofu, or even additional edamame alone adds a nice protein boost.
How long does this salad keep?
Once dressed, the salad is best eaten right away. If you expect leftovers, dress only what you need and store the remaining ingredients separately for up to 2 days.
Similar Recipes
Chopped Thai Salad
Ingredients
For the Vinaigrette
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic peeled
- 4 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1 lime zested and juice
For the Salad
- 8 ounces frozen shelled edamame
- 6 cups shredded baby kale
- 3 large carrots shredded
- 2 bell peppers thinly sliced
- 1 cup cilantro leaves
- 1 cup sliced green onions
- ¾ cup cashews roughly chopped
- 1 avocado diced
- 1 mango diced
Instructions
- Whisk the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside.
- Cook the edamame according to the package directions. Drain and allow it to cool.
- Meanwhile, combine the kale, carrots, peppers, cilantro leaves, and green onions in a large bowl.
- Add the cooked edamame, cashews, avocado, and mango to the bowl with all the ingredients. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Serve immediately.
So amazing. I didn’t add the cashews, mangos or avocado but I bet that would make it ever more delicious. I absolutely love the dressing!
Looks delicious! Yes, I would love to see more healthy recipes!!