A wholesome Thai peanut salad that’s protein dense, flavour filled, and perfect for feeding a crowd! Crunchy slaw with a rich and creamy, peanutty dressing makes this one unforgettable.

Coleslaw salad in large square serving bowl.

This recipe was originally published in January 2019. It has been updated for content and photos.

This Thai peanut salad is perfect for potlucks, gatherings, or meal prep. It’s so simple to make and can be prepared in advance.

Serve it next to these juicy seitan burgers, or top some onto your potato tacos.

Ingredients + Substitutions

Here’s what you’ll need:

Cabbage: I like a mix of green and red, but you can use all one colour if you’d like. You may also purchase pre-shredded slaw for convenience.
Cilantro: Adds freshness to the salad, but you may sub for another fresh herb if you’re not a cilantro fan, such as parsley. Or you may omit.
Chickpeas: Cooked or canned will work, just drain and rinse if using canned.
Peanut Butter: Use smooth natural peanut butter without any added sugar or oil. For a peanut allergy, you may substitute almond butter in its place.
Tamari: This is gluten-free soy sauce, but you may use regular soy sauce if that’s what you have on hand and if you’re not avoiding gluten. The soy sauce adds the salt element, so no extra salt is needed.
Rice vinegar: Adds tang to the Thai peanut sauce, but if you don’t have any on hand, apple cider vinegar works as well.
Sriracha: Optional for a hint of heat. The overall dish is not spicy, so adjust to your taste, or omit, it if you prefer.

Instructions

(This is a summary with step by step photos, full recipe measurements and instructions are in the recipe card below.)

Shred the veggies (except the cilantro) and add them to a large mixing bowl, along with the chickpeas. (photo 1)

Then add all the dressing ingredients to a small bowl and mix well using a fork to help incorporate the peanut butter. (photos 2-3)

If serving straight away, pour the dressing on top of the Thai peanut salad and mix well to evenly coat it. (photos 4-5)

NOTE: If you’re preparing in advance, store the salad and dressing separately.

Serve with extra lime wedges (if you’d like) and enjoy!

Storage

You may prepare the salad ingredients up to 3 days in advance and keep it refrigerated, WITHOUT the dressing.

Store the Thai peanut salad dressing in a separate container and when you’re ready to serve, pour over the salad and mix well.

Leftover Thai peanut salad (with the dressing) will keep refrigerated for 1-2 days. I do not recommend freezing.

What else can I add?

Add some extra crunch to your salad with cashew or peanut pieces.
Use green onion instead of cilantro or parsley for a slight peppery/zesty flavour. (Especially if you belong to the ‘I hate cilantro’ club.) 😉
Thinly sliced bell pepper would add extra colour and a hint of sweetness to your salad. Opt for yellow, orange or red bell peppers.
For extra spice, increase the hot sauce, and/or add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to the dressing.

Equipment

To prepare the veggies for your Thai peanut salad, use the shredder attachment of a food processor, or similar tool. You may also use a cheese grater if you don’t have an automated tool, but do so with caution.

Expert Tips

If you’re working in advance, store the salad and the dressing separately until ready to serve.
For convenience, you may purchase pre-shredded slaw to cut down on preparation time.
Add 1-2 tablespoons of water to the peanut dressing, if needed, to thin.
This Thai peanut salad tastes best when freshly dressed, but leftovers keep refrigerated for 1-2 days.

More vegan salad recipes

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Buon appetito,
Rosa