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
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.
If kale isn’t your thing, you can use any greens you love. Romaine, butter lettuce, or even a spring mix would work beautifully.
Absolutely! Grilled chicken, steak, shrimp, tofu, or even additional edamame alone adds a nice protein boost.
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.
Yes love the healthy influence but also a balance!
Delicious salad! I added avocado and some shredded chicken and would definitely recommend!
The ultimate salad....quick, crisp, spicy, and sweet!! Making it weekly and loving it!!!
Soooooo delicious, colorful and easy! This one will be on repeat in our house!
I just found your site a couple days ago and Over already made two salads! We loved this one. The dressing has a very vibrant flavor and compliments the flavors of the salad quite well. The only thing I would change is to cut the pepper even small as mine were longer than everything shredded and chopped.
Healthy fall meal options, please!!
Gaby-
Six months into quarantine and I have cooked my way through your cookbooks- and loved every minute/ meal. However, it is time to eat well but a little lighter. Would love more recipes- with the Gaby spin on lighter meals.
Thank you!
I can’t wait to try your Thai salad it sounds delicious
Thank you for sharing your recipes!
I want both
Thank you recipes are great
Love the dressing! I put the garlic through a press, or should it have been minced?
either way!!
How many does this serve? Family of 5 and was going to add a protein. One recipe enough or double it?
if you add protein you'll be good with this!!
I just love all these fresh ingredients and tasty dressing.
So perfect. I made a similar marinade and grilled chicken to go with it and some rice noodles to toss in. Delicious! Thank you!! Also makes enough for my lunches most of the days this week. Awesome!
This was GREAT! I tossed a bit of it with brown rice noodles for our 2YO and she loved it, too!
love this salad! have made it weekly since I discovered it, never disappoints <3