Asian Chopped Salad

This nutrient-dense Asian chopped salad is loaded with a crunchy combination of freshly chopped vegetables, topped with sweet ginger dressing, and chopped cashews. You will love this Asian chopped salad recipe.

Since I love Asian food, I'm continuously trying to recreate healthy versions of my favorite Asian foods. For example, one of my favorite meals at a local Asian restaurant we frequent often is a chopped Asian salad.

So, to create my version of the Asian chopped salad recipe, I combined my favorite ingredients and made a unique sweet ginger dressing. And similar to many of my recipes, I focused on nutrient-dense ingredients to develop a hearty, healthy Asian chopped salad recipe the whole crew would love. 

Jump to:

• Asian Chopped Salad Ingredients
• Asian Chopped Salad Ingredient Substitutions
• Other Possible Ingredients
• Sweet Ginger Dressing Ingredients
• Sweet Ginger Dressing Ingredient Substitutions
• Other Dressing Options:
• Recipe FAQs
• TIPS
• More Vegan Asian Inspired Recipes
• 📖 Recipe
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• 💬 Reviews

And loved it; they did! There's something about a chopped salad that makes it simple to eat. Every bite-sized ingredient fits perfectly on the fork without needing a knife. But the best part of a chopped Asian salad is getting every ingredient in every bite. It's a win-win!  

Asian Chopped Salad Ingredients

Even though all the ingredients are essential, it begins with the base. 

To build a nutrient-dense salad, first, consider the base of the salad. For this chopped salad recipe, I chose a variety of greens.

• Kale: Chopping kale finely makes it easier to eat and digest.
• Romaine Lettuce: Romaine lettuce is crunchy and nutritious.
• Red Cabbage: Red cabbage is purple in color and provides additional crunch as well as nutrients.
• White Cabbage: White cabbage, similar to red bagge, is crunchy and delicious.

Once chopped finely, place the greens on the base of a large plate, bowl, or serving platter. Then, add the rest of the goodies. 

• Carrots: Shredded carrots give the Asian chopped salad a different texture and sweet flavor.
• Red Bell Peppers: Red bell peppers are vibrant in color and sweet tasting.
• Yellow Summer Squash: Flavor-wise, yellow summer squash is mild-tasting with a hint of vegetable sweetness.
• Red Onions: Red onions are sweet yet tangy and add a wonderful flavor to the salad.
• Cucumber: I prefer using English cucumbers because they have fewer seeds than regular cucumbers preventing the salad from getting watery.
• Cashews (optional): The cashews are salty and provide another layer of crunch.

Now, top this crunchy combination of freshly chopped vegetables with chopped cashews. But, if including the optional cashews, do not add them until right before serving. 

Asian Chopped Salad Ingredient Substitutions

• Choose any preferred greens.
• Buy a bag of pre-shredded slaw and carrots to save a step in prepping the salad.
• Any parsnips replace carrots.
• Instead of yellow summer squash, choose zucchini which is similar in flavor.
• Green onions, or scallions, substitute red onion.
• If using regular cucumber, remove the seeds before adding them to the salad.
• Persian cucumbers are similar to English cucumbers.
• Skip the nuts, or choose your favorite nuts. I also like peanuts with this salad.

Other Possible Ingredients

• Mandarin Oranges: Adding a little citrus ad sweetness adds a different flavor.
• Mame (Shelled Edamame): Mame are bite-sized mildly tasting soy beans.
• Bok Choy: Bok choy adds another layer of crunch.
• Snow Peas: Snow peas are a fun addition to an Asian chopped salad.

To prepare the chopped vegetables quickly, I use a vegetable chopper! Sometimes, the most inexpensive kitchen gadgets are a blessing. As a result, chopping vegetables for any recipe can be simple and easy. 

Sweet Ginger Dressing Ingredients

As with all of my dressings, this sweet ginger dressing is oil-free as well as gluten-free. However, what I love most about this Asian salad recipe, is it can be dressed ahead of time and maintains its crunchiness once dressed. 

• Garlic: I prefer using fresh garlic cloves.
• Fresh Ginger Root: Ginger is fresh, strong, and sweet all at the same time.
• Rice Vinegar: Rice vinegar is sweet and adds acidity to the dressing.
• Soy Sauce: Soy sauce provides an umami flavor.
• Maple Syrup: Maple syrup is a great way to sweeten the dressing without using sugar.
• Water: The water thins and neutralizes the dressing.
• Sriracha: Sriracha gives the dressing a little kick.

Sweet Ginger Dressing Ingredient Substitutions

• Use ⅛ teaspoon of garlic powder in place of each clove. Garlic salt: Use ½ teaspoon of garlic salt in place of each clove.
• Substitute ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger for every 1 tablespoon of grated ginger.
• Champagne vinegar is often used as a substitute for rice vinegar.
• Tamari or liquid aminos substitute soy sauce in the dressing.
• Agave or date syrup replaced maple syrup.
• If you don't like it spicy, skip the Sriracha.
• Red pepper flakes substitute Sriracha. You can just use a pinch.

Other Dressing Options:

• Carrot Ginger Dressing
• Peanut Thai Dressing
• Lemon Basil Dressing
• How to Make an Asian Tahini Sauce With Miso & Lemon

Recipe FAQs

TIPS

• Use a vegetable chopper to save time and cut the vegetables into similar sizes.
• Prepare the dressing ahead of time and refrigerate for at least an hour before use. 
• Do not add cashews until right before servings to keep crunchy.
• Finely chop the kale and cabbages.

Enjoy this Asian chopped salad for lunch or dinner! The combination of flavors is delicious!

More Vegan Asian Inspired Recipes

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