Chopped Asian Salad

Sometimes I look at my favourite brown and beige ingredients and want nothing more (think pasta, bread, rice, and beans). Then there are the days, when my body is screaming for as much colour as is plant possible. Today is a brown and beige day. Just kidding! A rainbow of colours, is what my body was craving, and a rainbow of colours you shall get. A reward for being such a mighty fine body- a body that moves me all the way to Starbucks while my brain is still sleeping. Now that’s a body that deserves this salad.

Why I love this salad? Let me count the ways…

1.  It’s super yum. A sesame orange Asian inspired dressing, lightly enhances the abundance of carrots, peppers, red and green cabbage, and edamame in all their vegetable glory. Topped with slices of almonds, sesame seeds, cilantro, and green onion, a taste paradise.

2.  It’s super easy to make. Just chop to your hearts content. It doesn’t even really matter if everything is chopped evenly… like that large piece of cabbage right front and center in the photograph that is now annoying me and making me wish I had noticed it before taking the photos. Go away big piece of cabbage! Ok, so maybe just eat the ugly pieces first.

3.  It stores super well. Leftover wilted, dead, waste of greens- no more! This salad actually holds up pretty well as leftovers, and often tastes even better the next day! This makes it perfect for bringing to parties, or potlucks because it will be totally happy just hanging out looking all beautiful, getting checked out by the ladies.

4.  It’s super good for you! I mean that’s pretty obvious right? I am sure you have heard the expression eat colour, well here is a bowl of colour, so eat it.

5.  It’s a super beautiful work of art! Who says so? I say so! I have a masters of fine art, so I can say stuff like that and people assume I know what I am talking about. Anything that pretty deserves artistic appreciation.

Did you count the ways with me? That’s five super reasons to love this salad! As if you even needed to get past number 1.

Make the dressing by mincing the garlic and ginger, and then mix them with the remainder of the dressing ingredients. Set aside to let those flavours build. I don’t like heavily dressed salads, so the dressing amount this recipe makes is just enough to lightly enhance the flavour of all of those marvellous veggies without being overpowering.

If on the other hand, you prefer to taste dressing with a vegetable aftertaste, then I recommend doubling the dressing recipe. Dress at your own risk!

Chop, grate, slice and sprinkle all that goodness into a big bowl. Then toss with the dressing. There you have it, an Asian Chopped Salad. Enjoy it right away, or let it sit for flavours to build even further. If you have leftovers just store them in an airtight container in the fridge for tomorrows lunch.

5 from 1 vote

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Chopped Asian Salad

Prep Time

20 mins

Total Time

20 mins

 

An orange sesame dressing, lightly enhances the abundance of carrots, peppers, red and green cabbage, and edamame in all their vegetable glory. Perfect for bringing to parties, or potlucks, as the flavours just get better as it sits. 

Course: Salad

Cuisine: American, Chinese

Servings: 8 servings

Calories: 131 kcal

Author: Sam Turnbull • It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken

Ingredients

For the orange sesame dressing:

• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 3 tablespoons agave
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 inch piece fresh ginger, minced
• 1 teaspoon Sriracha
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil

For the chopped Asian salad:

• 1 cup frozen edamame, thawed
• 2 carrots, peeled and grated
• 1/4 of a red cabbage, thinly sliced
• 1/4 of a green cabbage, thinly sliced
• 1 red pepper, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup green onions, chopped
• 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds

Instructions

1. For the dressing: add all the remaining dressing ingredients to a small bowl and mix. Set aside so that the flavours can intensify. You can also make this dressing ahead of time and store in an air tight contained in the fridge.

2. For the salad: in a large bowl, add all of the salad ingredients. Pour the dressing over top and toss well to combine. You can serve this right away, or you can let everything marinate and serve later. It will just get more flavourful as it soaks. 

Recipe Notes

This is a great recipe to bring to pot lucks as it just keeps getting better as it sits, and is even still good the next day!

Featured Ingredient: Sesame. 86 days, 54 recipes to go!

Bon Appetegan

Sam.