Guilt Free Spicy Thai Peanut Salad Dressing Recipe

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This totally guilt-free Thai peanut salad dressing is the perfect topping for any salad, zoodles, or chicken. 

Thai Peanut Salad Dressing Recipe

Ingredients: (For the Salad)

• 1lb cooked chicken breast, cubed or shredded
• 2 heads romaine lettuce, chopped
• 1 cabbage, shredded
• 1 carrot, shredded 
• 1/2 cup green onions, finely chopped
• 1 large apple, cubed
• 1/4 cup almonds, slivered

Ingredients: (For the peanut dressing)

• 8 tbsp peanut butter powder
• 4 tbsp water
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 tsp fresh ginger, minced
• 2 tbsp soy sauce (low sodium is ideal)
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (more to taste)
• 1 lime, juiced

Instructions:

Whisk together peanut butter powder with water, stirring until creamy. Add garlic, ginger, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, and lime juice to the mixture. Whisk until well combined and set aside. (Another way to combine all of your ingredients is by adding them to a blender and pulsing for a few seconds.)

Combine lettuce, cabbage, carrot, green onions, apple, and almonds. Top with chicken and drizzle with the Thai peanut dressing. Serve hot or cold!

About This Thai Salad Recipe

I’ve recently started to try to eat healthier… which means I had to create some delicious, sugar-free, protein and veggie-packed recipes that will feed a crowd AND taste good.

The best part of my diet? Any calorie-free beverage is allowed, so I haven’t had to give up my beloved Diet Coke!

So when it comes time for the big game- whether it be college or pro football, I want to make sure that there are lots of options on the table when it comes to food.

There’s almost always the requisite chips and salsa, veggie tray, and fruit salad for the kids, but this season I wanted to focus on a delicious recipe that everyone would love and would be healthy. Plus, I absolutely adore Asian flavors with salad. 

In order to keep things sugar free for the Thai peanut dressing, I’m using peanut butter powder instead of the spread. When it’s mixed together with water, you get a protein-packed peanut butter paste that’s also zero sugar and super low calorie. I have been incorporating it into all kinds of recipes- including this dressing! Add in pre-chopped veggies and rotisserie chicken, and this recipe can be ready in literally 10 minutes.

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Substitutions

Though it will bring up the sugar content a bit, 1/4 cup of creamy peanut butter can be swapped in for the powdered peanut butter and water combination. 

Variations

If you would like a slightly sweeter Thai sauce, try whisking in a few teaspoons of honey– it really brightens up the flavor and is an all-natural sweetener!

For the salad, you’re welcome to add in any extra vegetables or garnishes that might sound tasty! Some of my favorites include cucumber slices, cilantro sprigs, and a handful of sesame seeds. 

Serving Suggestions

I often will make this healthy spicy Thai peanut dressing with grilled chicken and lightly cook some zoodles and heat everything thoroughly- even the dressing. It’s also super delicious for dipping veggies, or for making chicken skewers with veggies.

You can serve this sugar-free spicy Thai peanut dressing hot or cold depending on your mood! The other day I was craving something crunchy in my diet, so I decided to make the dressing and add cabbage, carrots, and almonds- and just kept building the salad from there. Absolutely delish.

FAQ

1. How long does Thai peanut dressing keep for?– In the refrigerator, peanut dressing should last for about a week and a half.
2. Is Thai peanut sauce healthy?– Peanut sauce is a great source of protein but should be enjoyed in moderation due to its concentrations of fats and salts.
3. How do you thicken Thai peanut dressing? – To thicken this dressing, decrease the amount of liquid you put into it or add in a few tablespoons of peanut butter. The sauce should also thicken a bit on its own over time. 

Printable Recipe

Yield: 6 servings

Spicy Thai Dressing

Print

This delicious Asian inspired cabbage salad is so fresh and healthy! Cabbage, apples, green onions, romaine lettuce, carrots, slivered almonds, and grilled chicken topped with the most delicious and healthy spicy Thai peanut dressing. It's the easiest healthy recipe for make-ahead, dinner, or lunch on the go!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

• 8 tbsp peanut butter powder
• 4 tbsp water
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 tsp fresh ginger, minced
• 2 tbsp soy sauce (low sodium is ideal)
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (more to taste)
• 1 lime, juiced

Instructions

1. Whisk together peanut butter powder with water, stirring until creamy.
2. Add garlic, ginger, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, and lime juice to the mixture. Whisk until well combined and set aside.
3. Combine lettuce, cabbage, carrot, green onions, apple, and almonds. Top with chicken and drizzle with the Thai peanut dressing. Serve hot or cold!

Notes

Another way to combine all of your ingredients is by adding them to a blender and pulsing for a few seconds.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 36Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 310mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 5g

Please double-check this information with your favorite nutrition calculator.

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