You’ll want this Asian Chopped Salad with Ginger Peanut Dressing on repeat all year. It’s the perfect balance of fantastic flavor paired with healthy, simple ingredients-like crunchy fresh vegetables, peanuts, ginger, edamame, and much more. Top off this vibrant, colorful salad with tangy peanut dressing for a nourishing plant-based lunch or dinner. Following a special diet? It’s gluten-free, vegan, and low FODMAP friendly too!

White plate with Asian Chopped Salad and a fork on a white background.
  • It’s the ultimate pairing of healthy meets delicious.
  • It’s easy to meal prep ahead of time and keeps well in the fridge.
  • It’s super versatile. Check out the list of ingredients for swaps and substitutions.

Asian Chopped Salad Recipe Ingredients

Ginger Peanut Asian Dressing Ingredients

3 photo collage with ginger peanut salad dressing in a jar, ingredients in a blended, and hands tossing a salad.
  • Oil. Avocado oil provides a tasty, neutral flavor, but any heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, like extra-virgin olive oil, will do!
  • Acid. I use a combination of rice vinegar and lime juice. Other options include white balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, or orange juice.
  • Nut Butter. Peanut butter is my go-to. But you can also use almond butter or cashew butter and swap the peanuts in the salad for almonds or cashews.
  • Sweetener. A little maple syrup adds a hint of sweetness. Feel free to omit or substitute honey (not vegan).
  • Seasonings. Garlic (omit or use garlic-infused oil for a low FODMAP option), fresh ginger, and gluten-free Tamari soy sauce. Pro tip! Be sure to read labels as not all tamari is gluten-free. You can also use Bragg’s amino acids in place of the gluten-free tamari.

Asian Chopped Salad Ingredients

Collage with ingredients to make an Asian chopped salad recipe.
  • Fresh Cabbage. Red Cabbage and Napa Cabbage, aka Chinese Cabbage, are my go-to’s in this Asian Chopped Salad. No cabbage? Make this with chopped leafy green veggies like kale or romaine lettuce.
  • Chopped Vegetables. Like carrots, red bell pepper (use any colorful bell peppers on hand), and radishes.
  • Fresh Herbs. I love this with lots of fresh cilantro, but feel free to omit it if that’s not your thing, and add other Asian-inspired herbs like Thai basil, chives, or mint.
  • Protein. Pre-shelled/cooked edamame and peanuts add a boost of plant-based protein. But feel free to add various nuts (I think cashews would be fabulous), crispy chickpeas, or crumbled tempeh.
  • Optional: Chopped green onions, sesame seeds, snow peas, snap peas, or a drizzle of sesame oil.

How to Make Asian Chopped Salad

White plate with Asian Chopped Salad and a fork on a white background.

You can make this Asian Chopped Salad lickety-split (20 minutes-LOL!), and you should be able to find all of the ingredients at your local grocery store.

  1. Make the dressing. Blend all peanut sauce ingredients in a blender until smooth and creamy. Feel free to make the dressing ahead of time and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
  2. Chop the cabbage and veggies. Time-saving tip! By pre-chopped veggies, shredded carrots, and coleslaw mix for a super quick, easy, yet still delicious Asian Chopped Salad!
  3. Add the cabbage, veggies, edamame, peanuts, and dressing (to taste) to a large bowl. Toss well and serve.

Asian Chopped Salad Nutritional Information & Health Benefits

Overhead shot of salad in a mason jar.
  • A main dish serving is ~ two cups with 430 calories, 12 grams of protein, and 7 grams of fiber.
  • This recipe is gluten-free, vegan, and easy to make low FODMAP.
  • Avocado oil is rich in anti-inflammatory and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats.
  • Cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables (like arugula, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kale, and more) are nutrition superstars. Regular consumption of cruciferous vegetables may help lower inflammation, improve blood sugar control, balance hormones, promote heart health, and reduce the risk of cancers. (1)
  • Nuts, vegetables, and legumes (edamame) are all MIND diet-friendly foods to promote brain health and reduce Alzheimer’s risk.

Asian Chopped Salad FAQs

Absolutely! Both the Asain dressing and salad are easy to meal prep ahead of time. I mix and store the sauce in a mason jar. And, the chopped salad vegetables keep nicely in the fridge for a few days, making this a fabulous make-ahead meal!

You can make a light lunch or dinner from this Asian Chopped Salad. Or, if you eat meat, enjoy it with grilled chicken breast, leftover rotisserie chicken, or some yummy pan-seared salmon.

Like any regular salad, the healthfulness depends on what you add (or don’t add) to it. I’ve skipped the crunchy chow mein noodles, and wonton strips added to many restaurant-style Asian salads and used heart-healthy avocado oil in the dressing to keep the calories and saturated fat down. In addition, I’ve added many cruciferous fiber-rich veggies to keep this Asian salad recipe flavorful yet nutritious.

P.S. It’s Harry approved too!

I recently updated this post and had to share this photo of my sweet Harry the Labradoodle (who passed away last year) after he ate (stole!) the peanuts the first time I made this Asian Chicken Salad recipe. LOL!

Cream colored labradoodle wearing a pink shawl and pink tutu.
Square photo of Asian Chopped Salad on a white plate.

Crunchy Asian Chopped Salad with Peanut Dressing

This Asian Chopped Salad with Napa Cabbage and Peanut Dressing, is loaded with healthy, crunchy veggies, peanuts, and edamame. Top it off with this tangy peanut dressing for a nourishing lunch or dinner.
5 from 3 votes
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Prep Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 main servings or 8 side servings

Ingredients

Peanut Dressing

  • 3/4 cup avocado oil
  • 1/4 rice wine vinegar
  • Juice from 1/2 of a lime
  • 1 tablespoon peanut butter
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 teaspoon fresh minced ginger
  • 1 teaspoon gluten-free tamari, or to taste

Salad

  • 2 cups chopped Napa cabbage
  • 2 cups chopped red cabbage
  • 1 cup thinly sliced carrots
  • 1 cup chopped red peppers
  • 1 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1/2 cup chopped radishes
  • 1 cup shelled and cooked organic edamame
  • 1/2 cup peanuts
  • 1/2 cup peanut dressing , or more to desired taste

Instructions

  • Make the dressing by combining all the ingredients in a high speed blender, and blend until smoothy and creamy. Set aside or refrigerate until ready to use.
  • Chop/cut the cabbage, carrots, red peppers. cilantro, and radishes, and place them in a large serving bowl. Add the edamame and peanuts, and toss well to combine.
  • Add 1/2 cup (or more to taste) of the dressing to the salad and toss well before serving, or serve the dressing on the side. You will probably have dressing left over.

Notes

Low FODMAP Option: Omit garlic in the dressing or use garlic-infused oil.
Dressing Ingredient Swaps (not all are low FODMAP)
  • Oil. Avocado oil provides a nice, neutral flavor, but any heart-healthy monounsaturated oil, like extra-virgin olive oil, will do!
  • Acid. I use a combination of rice vinegar and lime juice. Other options include white balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, or even orange juice.
  • Nut Butter. Peanut butter is my go-to. But you can also use almond butter or cashew butter and swap the peanuts in the salad for almonds or cashews.
  • Sweetener. A little maple syrup adds a hint of sweetness. Feel free to omit or substitute honey (not vegan).
  • Seasonings. Garlic (omit or use garlic-infused oil for a low FODMAP option), fresh ginger, and gluten-free Tamari soy sauce. Pro tip! Be sure to read labels as not all tamari is gluten-free. You can also use Bragg’s amino acids in place of the gluten-free tamari.
Salad Ingredient Swaps & Options
  • Fresh Cabbage. Red Cabbage and Napa Cabbage, aka Chinese Cabbage, are my go-to’s in this Asian Chopped Salad. No cabbage? Make this with chopped leafy green veggies like kale or romaine lettuce.
  • Chopped Vegetables. Like carrots, red bell pepper (use any variety of colorful bell peppers you have on hand), and radishes.
  • Fresh Herbs. I love this with lots of fresh cilantro, but feel free to omit it if that’s not your thing, and add other Asian-inspired herbs like Thai basil, chives, or mint.
  • Protein. Pre-shelled/cooked edamame and peanuts add a boost of plant-based protein. But, feel free to add any variety of nuts (I think cashews would be fabulous), crispy chickpeas, or crumbled tempeh.
  • Optional: Chopped green onions, sesame seeds, snow peas, snap peas, or a drizzle of sesame oil.
Nutrition Information: Is based on 4 main-dish servings (~ 2 cups each)

Nutrition

Serving: 2cups | Calories: 430kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 21g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Sodium: 116mg | Potassium: 782mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 7401IU | Vitamin C: 91mg | Calcium: 122mg | Iron: 3mg
EA Stewart, RD | Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine Asian, Gluten Free, Grain Free, Low FODMAP, MIND Diet, Vegan, Vegetarian
Keyword chopped salad recipe
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Did you make this recipe?I’d love a 5-star review and rating if you liked this recipe! Any questions about the recipe or ingredients? Please let me know! Your rating and comments are so appreciated as they help me understand how I can serve you best. Thank you!

Let’s Chat! Are you a fan of chopped salads? What are your favorites? Anything else you would add to this Asian chopped Salad? If you enjoyed this recipe, please give it a 5-star rating. And, please share this post with your friends and family. Thanks so much for your support!

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35 Comments

  1. Altaf Gilani says:

    The combination of salad and the peanuts is damn brilliant!! The salad was so crunchy and colorful. the peanuts took the salad on the next level, here in India the grocery stores have masala (spicy) peanuts and damn that tasted so good. what is the name of your dogo?

  2. I love Asian chopped salads AND peanut dressing. This sounds like a fabulous combination! Your pup is so cute 🙂

  3. Rebecca Bitzer & Associates says:

    Always looking for easy things to pack for lunch, this will surely be on my list!

  4. Jamie @ Dishing Out Health says:

    Looks so delicious!! I love a good chopped salad – the Asian twist makes it even better!

  5. This looks amazing! It reminds me of a healthified version of the salad my gymnastics coaches used to make for us when we had meets! I’m definitely gonna have to try it out! <3

    1. The Spicy RD says:

      Thanks so much Farrah! Wow-what a fabulous gymnastics coach you had. My coaches never fed me so well 🙂

  6. Great salad but I had to comment about the macadamia nuts which are extremely toxic to dogs. Even one nut can be toxic. Clinical signs usually develop within 12 hours after ingestion. The most common presenting sign is weakness and inability to walk, especially in the hind legs. Other signs include: vomiting, staggering gait, depression, tremors and elevated body temperature (hyperthermia). Paralysis is usually temporary in a healthy dog without any underlying problems, but in a dog with hidden health problems, it can be fatal. Chocolate is also extremely toxic to dogs as are raisins and advocados, both can kill in tiny amounts. Sorry to be a party pooper but I worked in clinical practice for over 15 years and it’s amazing how many people don’t know this.

  7. Melanie @ Nutritious Eats says:

    Asian salads are one of my favorites. Might need to make this happen on the meal plan this week!

  8. Oh my goodness, the colors are beautiful! I usually just use a simple balsamic, but this dressing looks amazing- need to try!!

  9. amy @ fearless homemaker says:

    LOL, your dog is adorable .. even if he is a bit rotten on occasion. My dog has eaten a few forbidden things in her day, too! =) And this salad? Looks SO good. You have no idea how much I wish it was in front of me right now!

  10. Kristen @ Swanky Dietitian says:

    Perhaps he thought you they were a gift for him from Hawaii. 🙂 Glad he is ok though.
    My friend’s dog got into lollipops once in her pantry and had them stuck all over his fur. It was so sad but at the same time pretty funny.
    This salad looks amazing. So fresh!

  11. kellie@foodtoglow says:

    Gorgeous crunchy, savoury salad – love it! And I think you have just got your dog back with that photo. He/she must be livid! What a cutie-pie 😀

    1. The Spicy RD says:

      All is forgiven by Harry as long as he gets his treats :-). Thanks Kellie!!

  12. Kristi Rimkus says:

    Okay – I want the dog – he’s just too adorable. The recipe looks fantastic too.

    1. The Spicy RD says:

      Thank you Kristi!! You can borrow him anytime you want 🙂

  13. Barbara | Creative Culinary says:

    The salad looks positively beautiful but the real truth is I can not get over the dog. How adorable; don’t you dare tell me he isn’t just perfect; look at him all pretty in pink and a tutu even. SO cute!

    1. The Spicy RD says:

      Thanks so much Barbara, but has he fooled you too?? Just kidding! I think he’s (almost) perfect 🙂

  14. The Spicy RD says:

    That’s my 11 yo, going on 21 yo daughter wearing the blue nail polish~ I thought it would be a fun photo with the colorful salad. I swear she washed her hands first 🙂 Thanks for your sweet comments Terra! xo

  15. Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies says:

    Your raw power salad is still my favorite salad ever. I can’t wait until I’m done with recipe development for my book and I can get back to eating it for lunch every day again. 🙂 But I might have to throw this one into the mix too–you had me at peanut dressing! 😀

    1. The Spicy RD says:

      Thanks so much Kiersten and I’m so glad you’ve gotten lots of yummy lunches out of my raw power salad 🙂 Can’t wait for your cookbook to come out!!!

  16. This looks wonderful! Great make-ahead lunch option!

    1. The Spicy RD says:

      Thanks so much Karman and so glad you stopped by 🙂 I ate this for dinner the first night I made it, then 2 days in a row after that for lunch-it keeps fantastically!

  17. Deanna Segrave-Daly says:

    Gorgeous and I cannot wait to make this! Alas, no dogs here (daughter is terrified) but had a chuckle over that innocent looking photo and then reading about the nut incident 🙂

    1. The Spicy RD says:

      Thanks Deanna!! One of my son’s good friends used to be terrified of Harry, but they are good buddies now-not a mean bone in his furry body. Just sneaky ones 🙂

  18. Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers says:

    Your salad looks delicious, it’s one of my favorite kinds! Your pup is adorable! I do know how sneaky they can be! I have two!!

    1. The Spicy RD says:

      Ha! I don’t think I could handle two sneaky dogs 🙂 Thanks Jennifer!!

  19. The Candid RD says:

    Sounds wonderful!! I’m in love with peanut dressings (and, your dog!)

    1. The Spicy RD says:

      Aww…thanks Gina! And, Harry says thanks too 🙂

  20. Yum! I love peanut dressing and will pour it into anything ;). I love that you use sunflower seed oil..haven’t seen that before. So colorful and full of textures. Love it! Aww your dog is sooo cute. He sure knows how to work it..just look at that innocent face. Sounds a lot like my dog. Can’t believe he just licked the chocolate. Kona (my miniature schnauzer) would have ate the whole thing in no time. And I would have freaked out that he ate chocolate! I have not tried the salad-in-a-jar. However, in Korea, the “use your styrofoam cup” is very popular right now. Basically, you fill that lil’ cup with whatever and that’s suppose to be your meal..I know…that’s like nothing. It’s summertime so very typical of Korean women to take dieting to the extreme.

    1. The Spicy RD says:

      Thanks Min! Salad in a styrofoam cup would not work for me at all. Harry {the dog} has eaten many a chocolate in his life. We try and keep it away from him, but as you can see, he is a very big dog {although he does not look very manly in that outfit-LOL}. Fortunately, it does not affect him 🙂

      1. I know right..styrofoam is meant for fluids not food. I like to dress Kona too..he even has booties for walking ;). Harry truly looks great in pink hehe. I can tell he’s full of personality!

  21. this looks great and your dog is so funny sorry about the carpet stains

    1. The Spicy RD says:

      Thanks so much Rebecca! Luckily I got the stains out of the carpet 🙂

  22. This salad looks so colorful and delicious!! I love a crunchy salad with a peanut dressing… Yum!

    1. The Spicy RD says:

      Thanks Gretchen! I always love a colorful salad too 🙂