This crunchy Thai salad will wake the sleepiest of tastebuds. It’s vibrant, zingy and utterly delicious!
There is something almost poetic about the flavours used in Thai cooking, or non-cooking, as is the case here.
Flavours are balanced to include a little hint of sweet, sour, bitter and salty and the final flourish is provided by the heat from fresh chilli peppers. I only used a mild chilli, but for anyone that has eaten real Thai food, they’ll know this is a total cop out.
Feel free to pimp your salad with a more traditional mind numbing levels of heat as you see fit :)
To really get the joy of eating this crunchy Thai salad, you kinda want to pick really crunchy veggies. The clue is most definitely in the name. White cabbage, carrot, radish, beetroot, broccoli stem, really fresh cucumber and peppers are all perfect, I think apple would also work if you’re going to eat it all up straight away.
Slice all the veggies as thin as you can. I used a mandoline slicer, but if you don’t have one of those, try grating into long shards or just cutting them super fine with a sharp knife.
Jonny and I had a big bowl full each with some leftover roast chicken, and Jonny had some cooked & cooled noodles with his too. Stunning food to look at, and even more stunning to eat.
And not only do the leftovers make a surprisingly good breakfast (no, really!) they are also fab in a packed lunch. Although if you’re anything like me you’ll have to make a second batch of that dressing for any leftovers as it is so darn good!
- 300 g white cabbage
- 1 red - or yellow, or orange pepper
- 1 large carrot - peeled
- 6 spring onions - cleaned and sliced thinly
- 1 bunch coriander - loosely chopped
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 lime - juiced
- 1/2 tsp fish sauce - also known as Nam Pla
- 1/2 lime - zest
- 2 cloves garlic - crushed
- 1/2 red chilli pepper - thinly sliced
- 75 g salted peanuts crushed
- In a small bowl, mix the sugar & lime juice and leave to sit for a while whilst the juice dissolves the sugar.
- Shred or grate all the veggies into thin pieces and mix in a serving bowl.
- Crush any remaining sugar with the back of a spoon until is has all dissolved, then mix in the other dressing ingredients.
- Serve the salad drizzled with the dressing and sprinkled with the crushed salted peanuts.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
I love making Thai salad, I usually add papaya or mango to mine too. I have been meaning to blog mine for a while.
Jane Sarchet says
Mmm, perfect choices Dannii!
Janie x
Simone says
Well i just made roast chicken today, which ofcourse means I have leftovers which in turn means I will have to make this salad tomorrow! Looks good!!
Jane Sarchet says
Oooh, lucky you! I’m getting some more veggies today so I can make it up again! it’s SOOO addictive Simone!
Janie x
London Unattached Lifestyle Food and Travel says
what a lovely sounding salad! Now if you could just bring back the weekend’s sunshine this might make it onto my menu!
Jane Sarchet says
Oooh, it’s bright and sunny down here Fiona. Windows & doors all open, just heavenly!
Janie x
Karen says
LOVE LOVE LOVE this Janie darlink and I also LOVE your pretty salad bowl too!
Laura says
This looks delicious, can the Nam Pla be replaced by anything else or should I really get a bottle?
Jane Sarchet says
I would really recommend getting some Laura. The dressing will be tasty enough without it, but the fish sauce elevates it to a whole new level. If you haven’t used it before, the smell neat from the bottle is quite hideous, but it brings a sublime flavour to a dressing.
Janie x
Madeleine Morrow says
Something poetic about your photographs actually. Gorgeous salad which I will make as it ticks all my healthy boxes except for the salted peanuts – but hey, you have to live a little! Can just feel the crunch.
Jane Sarchet says
It’s enough to make your jaws ache a little Madeleine!
Enjoy :)
Janie x
Choclette says
Love Thai food and this looks perfect after all the winter stooge.
Jane Sarchet says
Absolutely! The sun does bring out the lighter foods!
Janie x
Jacqueline says
I love it, I really do! What a great recipe. Thanks for sharing it.
Jane Sarchet says
Cheers Jac!
Janie x
Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry says
I love everything about this (except the peanuts, but I can just skip them). Yum
Jane Sarchet says
You don’t do peanuts? I never knew that :)
Janie x
Nayna Kanabar (@SIMPLYF00D) says
I make this often yours looks fresh and delicious.
Jane Sarchet says
Thanks so much Nayna
Janie x
Tina Anand says
I love eating Green Papaya Salad at Thai restaurants but sadly green papaya isn’t readily available. Your beautiful salad is bursting with flavours and will be a great alternative when having a craving at home.
Jane Sarchet says
Absolutely Tina, I used to love eating green, crunchy mango in Thailand too, but there’s no chance of finding them here in Cornwall!
Janie x
Tammy/Our Neck of the Woods says
This sounds so delicious! I love Thai food and crunchy salad is so satisfying. I will have to give this one a try. Sounds like a great one to make for dinner one night, then have the leftovers for lunch the next day. Love those kinds of meals!
Tammy/Our Neck of the Woods says
PS – Forgot to say that your photos are lovely! Really pretty styling :)
Jane Sarchet says
Thank you so much, I think it’s become my favourite part of food blogging, well second maybe to the eating of the food :)
Janie x
Jane Sarchet says
Oh me too, I’m all for an easy life :)
Janie x
Janice Pattie (@FarmersgirlCook) says
So simple, but a great mixture of textures and flavours.
Jane Sarchet says
Sure is Janice, and beats a bit of iceburg and a slice of tomato any day of the week :)
Janie x
Morgan @ Peaches, Please! says
Fish sauce is so good in food and such an integral part of Thai cuisine, but after my brother explained to me how it’s made I always cringe a little when using it. I also really like the comment made by one of the US Master Chef contestants upon using it for the first time: “What is this and why does it smell like death?” Makes me laugh every time.
Jane Sarchet says
SO true! It is the most hideous smell, but what it can do to food? Incredible!
Janie x
Helen @ Fuss Free Flavours says
I fully agree with you with leftovers for breakfast! What an excellent start to the morning!
Jane Sarchet says
Indeed! :)
Janie x
Louisa Foti says
Immediately pinned to my Awesome Salads board!. Lunch’s like this I so need in my life! Love a crunchy Thai salad but rarely actually make anything so exotic these days. Your dressing sounds bang on. I shall be making.
Jane Sarchet says
Aww, thank you for the pin Louisa! I hope you enjoy that dressing, it’s delish!
Janie x