Whenever we eat at my favorite Asian restaurants, I always order a spicy Asian salad. I adore the simple ingredients bathed in the spicy Asian salad dressing. So, I planned an Asian dinner this evening, and I decided to make my own version of an Asian salad recipe with homemade Asian vinaigrette. Of course, my Asian salad dressing is oil-free as well.

What are the ingredients in a spicy Asian salad?

As I said before, the ingredients are fairly simple, and the combination of flavors with the spicy Asian dressing is the key to this delicious Asian salad recipe.

First, I chose to chop my Romaine lettuce into small bite-sized pieces similar to the restaurant version.

The Asian salad ingredients

Romaine Lettuce
English Cucumber
Carrots
Green Onions (Scallions)
Sea Weed
Sesame Seeds

Next, the spicy Asian salad dressing is the hidden gem of this Asian salad recipe. Although most Asian restaurants use sesame oil in their dressing, I skipped the oil and created my own spicy Asian dressing recipe.

Similar to the salad, the dressing ingredients are simple and don't require a blender.

Asian Vinaigrette Ingredients

Rice vinegar
Soy sauce (or Tamari for a gluten-free option)
Freshly grated ginger
Minced garlic
Water
Sriracha

And, the dressing goes a long way, so it only requires a small amount to dress the entire salad.

Tips

Wait to toss the salad with the dressing before serving
Begin with a smaller amount of Sriracha in the dressing if you are sensitive to spice. You can always add spice, but you can't take it away.
Add other vegetables like purple cabbage or white cabbage for an added crunch.
If eating this salad as an entree, add Tofu with Peanut Sauce or another favorite tofu recipe.
Or, choose to add diced avocado.

Once the salad is tossed, sprinkle with additional sesame seeds.

FAQs

What dishes go well with spicy Asian salad?

I made my General Tso Cauliflower for dinner tonight, which tasted fabulous with my Asian salad recipe.

Is the Asian dressing recipe fat-free?

Yes, and no oil-free.

What is Tamari?

Tamari is a Japanese soy sauce made by fermenting soybeans and usually gluten-free. Compared with most soy sauces, it's darker, less salty, and has a strong umami flavor.

Where can I buy Tamari?

Most grocery stores carry TAmari, where the soy sauce and other Asian foods are sold. If not, I buy my tamari on Amazon.

So, the next time you crave Asian food at home, give this spicy Asian salad a try.

📖 Recipe

Kathy Carmichael