Description
A vibrant and flavorful Thai Peanut Chicken Salad combining tender shredded chicken, crunchy cabbage and carrots, fresh herbs, and a creamy, spicy peanut dressing. Perfect for a quick, healthy meal that bursts with authentic Thai-inspired flavors and a zesty kick from fresh chili peppers and lime.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded)
- 2 cups cabbage (shredded)
- 1 cup carrots (shredded)
- ½ cup peanuts (chopped)
- ½ cup fresh cilantro (chopped)
- ¼ cup green onions (chopped)
- 2 Thai chili peppers or jalapenos (optional, for spice)
- 1 lime (sliced into wedges)
Thai Peanut Dressing
- 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- ½ tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup (or honey)
- 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce
- ½ teaspoon fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Prepare the Thai peanut dressing: Add all dressing ingredients—creamy peanut butter, soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, maple syrup, chili garlic sauce, fresh lime juice, and water—into a blender. Blend until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy, creating a rich, flavorful dressing.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, toss together the shredded cooked chicken, shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, chopped peanuts, fresh cilantro, chopped green onions, and optional Thai chili peppers or jalapenos. This creates a colorful and textured base for the salad.
- Dress the salad and serve: Pour the freshly blended peanut dressing over the salad mixture. Toss thoroughly to ensure every ingredient is coated with the dressing. Serve the salad with lime wedges on the side for added freshness and a zesty squeeze just before eating.
Notes
- For extra heat, keep the chili peppers and seeds; for milder flavor, remove seeds before chopping.
- You can substitute shredded rotisserie chicken to save prep time.
- Maple syrup can be swapped with honey for sweetness.
- Serve immediately for best texture; leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 1 day but dressing may thicken, stir before serving.
- For a gluten-free version, use tamari instead of regular soy sauce.
- Add crushed peanuts on top before serving for extra crunch.
