This Thai Salad Recipe with Rice Noodles and Cabbage is unlike any you’ve seen before. Soft rice noodles, crunchy cabbage, red bell peppers and more drenched in a deliciously rich peanut sauce.
Hi friends! It’s Meg again from Meg’s Everyday Indulgence. I am so excited to be sharing another delicious and super flavorful recipe with you today, Thai Salad with rice noodles and cabbage. It’s just ONE of the many salad recipes here on Fantabulosity!
Thai Salad Recipe
Let’s break down everything in this textural Thai salad:
- Tender skinny rice noodles
- Crunchy cabbage
- Thinly sliced red bell peppers
- Shredded carrots
- Green onions
- Cilantro
- Dry roasted peanuts
- Delicious and simple homemade peanut sauce
Such an Easy Recipe!
What’s not to like, right?!
I know the ingredient list may seem long but please don’t let it scare you away. They are all common ingredients you can find in any decent sized grocery store. And you may already have them in your refrigerator and pantry.
And it is super simple to throw together with just a few minutes of chopping vegetables and a quick buzz of the food processor or blender for the peanut sauce. All of which can be done while you are waiting for the water to boil for the rice noodles.
And you can even take some shortcuts like I did by purchasing the cabbage and carrots already shredded. I’m always down for some store-bought help.
All About that Texture
The textures in this salad are out of this world good. Like, so so good. I love lots of texture in my food and this salad is packed full of it.
Shredded cabbage, shredded carrots, red bell peppers, and peanuts bring a major crunch factor while the noodles add something soft to the mix. Then, of course, there’s the creamy peanut sauce that brings it all together.
Thai Salad Dressing – Peanut Sauce
We need to talk about that peanut sauce next my friends. The base is honey roasted peanut butter and it’s a total game changer. It’s extra rich and nutty and the honey brings the perfect amount of sweetness to the sauce.
I mean, you could use regular peanut butter and add in a drizzle of honey if you HAD to but the honey roasted version really does make a big difference. My favorite is fresh ground from Fresh Thyme so if you have one of them in your area RUN there now and get some. It’s kind of life changing.
There’s a good amount of soy sauce in it which brings some extra depth and umami. Lime juice balances out the sweetness and the acidity helps balance out the richness of the other ingredients.
It’s so good you may want to drink it. Or dunk all the things in it.
Add Meat – Chicken, Beef
This is great as a side dish or if you wanted to turn it into a main dish, you could add some shredded or chopped meat like chicken (did somebody say Costco rotisserie chicken for a Thai Chicken Salad?) to bulk it up.
It would also be a really fun and different contribution to a potluck.
No matter how you decide to enjoy it, I’m pretty sure the flavors and texture are going to blow your mind.
Thai Salad Recipe with Noodles and Cabbage
Thai Salad Recipe with Noodles and Cabbage is the perfect way to enjoy all those Thai flavors. Super simple to make and packed full of flavor and texture.
Ingredients
- 4 oz. thin rice noodles
- 8.5 oz. shredded cabbage mix
- 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 2 green onions, white and green thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup shredded carrots
- 2 Tbsp. torn cilantro
- 1/4 cup dry roasted peanuts
For the Peanut Sauce:
- 1/2 cup honey roasted peanut butter
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- 1/2 tsp. grated fresh ginger
- 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp. lime juice
- 1 Tbsp. rice vinegar
- 1/2 tsp. sesame oil
Instructions
Cook rice noodles according to package directions. Meanwhile, slice the vegetables for the salad. Toss together cabbage, bell pepper, green onions, carrots and cilantro in a large bowl. Set aside.
In a food processor or blender, combine the sauce ingredients. Blend until sauce is completely smooth.
Once noodles are cooked, rinse well under cold water. Drain well and toss with the vegetables in the bowl. Pour about 3/4 of the dressing over the salad and mix together until everything is coated. Add remaining dressing if desired and toss again. Sprinkle salad with cilantro and peanuts.
Recipe Notes
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used.
What Do You Think?
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Looking for other easy side dish recipes? Then you’ll love our side dish archives. Give them a browse HERE!
Meghan is the author of the food blog, Meg’s Everyday Indulgence, where she shares family-friendly recipes using common, everyday ingredients in unique ways. She is a mom to two busy kids, wife and avid crafter who loves to travel. She loves how food can bring people together and create lifetime memories. Check out more recipes that are perfect for busy weeknights here.