This tasty Crunchy Thai Salad with Creamy “Peanut” Dressing is packed with crisp veggies and a simple allergy-free “peanut” sauce that will have everyone begging for seconds! Vegan and gluten-free.
Man oh man it feels goooooood to dig into a salad and be like “hot dayum, this is serious.”
Let’s break down this here wonder salad, shall we? For the base we’ve got a delectable mix of shredded cabbage (I used a pre-bagged cole slaw mix cuz I’m lazy like that), sweet sliced romaine, shredded carrots, and red bell pepper. Toss all those delightfully crisp veggies with a sweet, gingery “peanut” sauce (that’s actually made with Sunbutter!!) and your crunchy, toasty nut/seed of choice on top and voila! You just made a major salad.
IT’S MAJOR.
You should totally bring it to a party. A potluck. A gathering of sorts. It’ll be the star. You’ll be the star!!
I imagine you could get fancy with this one, too. Feeding carnivores? Toss in grilled chicken, wild salmon, or shrimp. Feeding hangry herbivores? Toss in baked tofu (this one is my fave), tempeh sausage, roasted chickpeas, a veggie burger, or edamame. I think cilantro would be a fantastic addition, too!
I wish I could take credit for this recipe my dears but I simply cannot. It’s from Detoxinista’s brand spankin’ new cookbook, No Excuses Detox! Now don’t get your panties in a bunch about the word “detox.” Megan has a super fun approach to eating—no dieting, juice fasting, or calorie counting required. My kinda lady!
The book is totally beautiful and chock full of super simple, affordable, and tasty recipes that anyone can make and enjoy. She’s the busy home cook’s best friend when it comes to whipping up impressive meals in a snap. From Deep Dish Chocolate Chip Cookies and Sloppy-Joe Stuffed Sweet Potatoes to Freezer Waffles and Cauliflower Baked Ziti, the recipes are totally drool-worthy yet easy enough to stay approachable. This ain’t no green juice cookbook!
Another thing I love about this book is the cost per serving, which really speaks to eating healthy not being so crazy epensive like some people make it out to be. This salad costs a mere $1.63 per serving! That’s hot.
As far as ingredients go, if you’re using fresh ginger, use the back of a spoon to peel it. Such a great hack! I always keep this bottled ginger in the fridge for when I don’t have fresh. I’m totally guilty of rarely squeezing lemons, so having this bottled lemon juice on hand is another life saver. If you have extra sunflower seed butter after this recipe, try it smothered over a baked sweet potato with sea salt and cinnamon. SOOO GOOOOOOD.
Psssst if you want to use peanut butter in this recipe (this and this are my fave), that’s totally fine. A lot of people have peanut allergies so that’s why Megan offered an alternative to traditional peanut sauce.
I adored Megan’s first book, Everyday Detox, so I knew this one would just as good if not better. I’ve been oohing and ahhing over her blog for a very long time and whipping up countless batches of Carrot Ginger Dressing and Coconut Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies along the way. Megan is a total role model when it comes to being a healthy blogging badass woman! I feel like everything has come full circle as I review the cookbook of someone who has inspired me since my blog was a little baby.
Now when I made this, I stored all the salad stuff separately from the dressing. In the morning, I threw a ton of salad in a Tupperware with the dressing on the side plus some leftover tempeh sausage, roasted chickpeas, a veggie burger, or whatever other toppings I was feelin’ like. On the side I’d pack carrot sticks with hummus or guacamole, a sliced apple with cinnamon, and a couple no-bake bites or a muffin for snacking. You know how I roll with all the sweet and savory!
Megan was sweet enough to offer a FREE copy of No Excuses Detox to one lucky Hummusapien reader! This giveaway is open to US residents only. The giveaway will end Friday, March 3rd at 12:00pm EST. The winner will be notified via email.
TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:
Complete all three of the below steps!
- Like Hummusapien on Facebook
- Like the post about this giveaway and leave a comment tagging a friend who’d love the cookbook
- Come back to the blog and leave a comment on this post telling me you did! If you don’t have Facebook, simply leave a comment on this post telling me why you’d like to win the cookbook
I hope your weekend is filled with fairy dust and butterflies. You deserve it!
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This tasty Crunchy Thai Salad with Creamy “Peanut” Dressing is packed with crisp veggies and a simple allergy-free “peanut” sauce that will have everyone begging for seconds! Vegan and gluten-free.
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 1/4 cup sunflower seed butter (can sub peanut butter)
- 1 tbsp raw apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp tamari (certified GF if necessary)
- 3 tbsp raw honey or maple syrup
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1-inch knob of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
- 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup water, or more to thin
For the salad:
- 2 heads of romaine lettuce, shredded (I used 1 large head)
- 1/2 head cabbage. or 1 (12-ounce) bag
- 3 carrots, shredded
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds (I used roasted cashews)
Instructions
- To prepare the dressing: In a high-speed blender, combine the seed butter, vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice, tamari, honey or maple syrup, garlic, ginger, salt, red pepper flakes, and water and blend until completely smooth. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, cabbage, carrots, bell pepper, and sunflower seeds. Pour the dressing over the top and toss well to coat. Serve immediately. This salad will wilt rather quickly after its dressed, so if you want to save a portion for later, store the salas and dressing separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
Reprinted with permission from No Excuses Detox, copyright © 2017 by Megan Gilmore, published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. Photography copyright © 2017 by Erin Scott
DID YOU MAKE IT?!
I love seeing your creations! Let me know how you liked this recipe in the comments below or snap a pic on Instagram with the hashtag #hummusapien! I love to re-post my favorites.
I’m trying to make healthier choices for my family which isn’t always easy on a tight budget. The simple, affordable, healthy recipes in this cookbook would definitely help with that.
Id love fresh, bright meals to cook for myself-I just was traveling and feel like this cookbook is just the thing I need to give me inspiration for healthy meals to make in the kitchen!
I liked your FB page and the photo/tagged someone who would love it! This salad looks amazing! and currently (aka always) obsessed with sunbather so this is definitely going on the meal plan xx
I am in dire need of some new culinary inspiration to help take better care of myself through nourishing food!
i tagged my sister who’d love the detox cookbook! she’s always trying to “detox” her diet, but struggles with the ups and downs.
Looks delicious. Liked and liked 😉
★★★★
I liked and tagged on Facebook! I loved her first book! Alexis I adore your blog and your outlook on food and life 🙂
I’d love to win this since it’s always fabulous to get new recipe inspiration!
Looks amazing! I’m always looking for more healthy recipes and ways to incorporate those meals into my kids diets.
★★★★
I love cooking healthy, delicious meals not only for myself but also for my friends who are always surprised and impressed by how easy and tasty healthy meals are. Let’s make delicious, nutritious meals the new norm!
I don’t have Facebook but still wanted a chance to win! 🙂
I liked the post on Facebook! I’d love to have a copy of this cookbook so I can make healthy recipes for my friends and family who think “healthy” has to be boring!
This salad looks wonderful would love to find more recipes like this to try
★★★★★
Hi! First off, love your blog!!! I make your recipes all the time! As an rd2be, and an aspiring blogger, you inspire me everyday! I completed all the Facebook requirements! Would love to add this cookbook to my very, very small collection!
★★★★★
Did all 3 steps!! Would love to cook for this book. ❤
I commented! I have a cowo who has a peanut allergy, so this would be a perfect alternative for office potlucks!
★★★★★
Did all three steps! My husband and I recently took a food sensitivity test (FIT) and are trying hard to cut all of the items out. Finding recipes that can exclude all of the things on our combined list can be really challenging (dairy, wheat, gluten, chicken, soy, etc, etc).
★★★★★
I liked the post and commented. I’m thinking this would make for a great potluck-type salad to bring to my community group! I like contributing healthier things to balance out the more indulgent offerings. 😉
I get tired of cooking the same things every week and when that happens I find myself eating bad or eating out. This cookbook would help with inspiration and new recipes to keep my fiancé and I eating good 🙂
I am trying to change our life style for my husband and myself. This cook book would be the best tool for a new way of eating.
I love this cookbook would be great to have and would give me an opportunity to. Cook more healthy flavorful recipes!
That book looks fabulous! I need to get my hands on it ASAP..I’m always looking for clean recipes that aren’t a total snooze fest and that cookbook looks like it’s full of inspiring, vibrant dishes. This salad…I want to do unspeakable things to it.
Yum!! This looks amazing! Anything that brings me back to my trip to Thailand is a must try for me 😊
I love this blog’s recipes, and I am discovering a newfound love of cooking. I commented on the Facebook post about the giveaway, and I’d be extremely grateful to win a copy of that great book!
★★★★
I followed all the steps. I’d love to get my hands on this cookbook- I’m making this recipe soon!!
I’d love to check out the book for some easy and healthy weeknight dinner inspiration!
thanks!
Did all three steps! Really enjoying the various food options on the blog.
I’m really weird about liking anything on Facebook, please forgive me! I’d love to win this cookbook! I have her other one and absolutely love it!! (I make her Kale salad w lemon dressing ALL the time!) 🤞🤞🤞
This recipe looks amazing! I’d love to win this cookbook. I’ve struggled with eating dormsorders for years and switching to a whole foods, plant based diet really saved my life. I’d love to explore the contents of this cookbook and feel good about eating the dishes! I liked the post on Facebook and tagged a few friends as well.
★★★★★
I never win anything but I am hoping to win this awesome cookbook! This salad alone looks relish!
I would LOVE to win this cookbook. I’ve been wanting to cook more and get some variety in there. Having this would make it so easy to try new recipes! Plus it’s a great reason to stay in and have cooking dates with the boyfriend. Yes please.!
I completed the steps. I love new cookbooks, especially those focused on clean eating!
★★★★★
Done! This cookbook sounds absolutely incredible and I want to shovel that salad in my face right this very minute!
★★★★★
Hey Jordan! You’re the winner! Email me your shipping info to hummusapien@hotmail.com 🙂
I deactivated my Facebook 5 years ago but I follow Megan’s blog and recipes religiously so I’d love to win a copy of her book 🙂
I would love to win a copy of this cookbook to refresh my body and kitchen!
I’ve been feeling uninspired with food lately, so this cookbook would be great to get me back on track!
I would love to win this book because it looks super nourishing, and would include recipes that I can eat since I can’t digest dairy. I would love to cook from it this spring/summer 🙂
I did it all! This cookbook looks so great 🙂
★★★★★
Waw its look very crunchy! I have to try this. I have allergy on peanut, But I am not going to miss this Salad. Looks easy to make. Thank you, Alexis:)
Totally love Megan’s approach to a detox! I’m always looking for healthy, creative ways to fuel my body and eat lots of veggies. And since I’m a graduate student, doing so on a budge is a must. This cookbook would be an excellent addition to my cooking library and help me stay healthy.
Also liked everything on FB 🙂
Entry complete! I’d love the cookbook!
★★★★★
I liked both your fb page and your post. This cookbook must be great!
I don’t have FB, but would loooove a copy of this cookbook!! I have a 4 month old and am desperately searching for easy, affordable and healthy recipes! Found out my gestational diabetes didn’t clear up after pregnancy, so I’m also in need of recipes that include the nutrition facts (which I’ve surprisingly found to be kind of rare). Pick meeee!:)
I would love a copy of the book. I am fairly new to eating a plant based diet and can use all the help I can get. I read both of your blogs and love them!
Liked and tagged! I can’t wait to try this recipe and check out the cookbook!
Liked and tagged, it looks so good.
I commented on fb too but I live healthy books
Is their a soy free sub for the tamari? Closest I know of would be coconut aminos , but that tends to be too sweet for recipes that also lists honey! Thanks!
I have Megan’s other cookbook. Looks like this is another great one
I LOVE thai food, this recipe makes me really want the cook book!
commented on the fb post!
I like you on facebook, commented and tagged a friend
Carolsue Anderson (facebook.com/MsCarolsueA)
no facebook, but i follow you on insta and snapchat! this looks like heaven!
I follow on Facebook, liked the post and tagged. I would love this cookbook because i do great most of the time but end up cheating because i get bored and start to feel deprived, i haven’t figured out how to make those healthy foods into indulgent and satisfying meals or snacks yet on my own.
★★★★★
I am a big an of Detoxinista recipes so I’d love to win this book so I can whip up some more yummy healthy recipes!
I’m loving this salad creation! I am so interested in seeing (and trying) other recipes from her cookbook!
I like your FB page, I liked the post and tagged my daughter. We’d both love to win it!
I was already following you on Facebook, I liked the post and I tagged a friend. =) It looks like a great book!
Made this last night and it was SO delicious!!I also added some maple roasted chickpeas to the dish for some added protein. Best part- I had leftovers for the next day and it was just as yummy! Thanks for a great one 😀.
oh my gosh maple roasted chickpeas sound like a dream! So happy you tried it.
This recipe was so good! After I liked the page, and the recipe post… I posted the recipe on my page.
★★★★★