Colorful, crunchy Thai-inspired Quinoa Salad tossed in the most amazing homemade garlic-ginger peanut sauce! (Vegan, gluten-free, and oil-free)
This salad is bursting with bright rainbow colors, delicious Thai-inspired flavors, plenty of fresh crunch, and awesome plant-based nutrition. I’m continually surprised at how pleasantly filling it is. The key component for me is really the peanut sauce. Delicious, savory, and so full of flavor. Plus it’s a great choice for make-ahead meals & lunches. (It still tastes awesome the next day after the flavors get a chance to mingle.)
I’ve made versions of this salad with quinoa as seen here, but also the more typical rice noodles and enjoy it both ways. So feel free to substitute the quinoa for your own favorite noodles/rice noodles as well. I find myself trending more towards the quinoa option for both the nutrition boost and sometimes the delicate rice noodles break apart on me creating a bit of a mess. (But a happy, delicious mess nonetheless!) For more notes and detailed instruction on the sauce, see my full post here for the Easy Peanut Sauce. Hope you enjoy as much as we do!
PS – come join The Garden Grazer on Instagram and share a photo if you make this! (Also please leave a review & star rating below if you give it a try. Your feedback is greatly appreciated – thank you!)
Fresh Thai Quinoa Salad with Peanut Sauce
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup quinoa (uncooked)
- 1 1/2 cups red cabbage
- 1 medium carrot
- 1 red bell pepper
- 2 green onions
- 1/3 cup cilantro
- 1/2 cup cashews (or peanuts, or a combo of both)
For the peanut sauce:
- 1/2 cup peanut butter (I use creamy, natural)
- 2 Tbsp. brown sugar or maple syrup (more/less to taste)
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. tamari (or soy sauce)
- 2 Tbsp. fresh lemon or lime juice
- 1-2 cloves garlic
- 3/4 tsp. fresh grated ginger (or more to taste)
- Hot water (to thin to desired consistency)
- Optional: red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Rinse and cook the quinoa according to package instructions.*
- Meanwhile, make the peanut sauce: mince garlic and grate ginger. In a mixing bowl, add all ingredients except water. Heat about 3/4 cup of water to just under boiling. Slowly add water, a couple tablespoons at a time, and whisk. Continue adding water and whisking until sauce reaches your desired consistency. (I usually end up adding roughly 1/2 cup water.) Set aside.
- Prepare veggies: thinly slice or shred cabbage, grate carrot, thinly slice or dice bell pepper, slice green onions, and roughly chop cilantro (stems removed). Place in a large mixing bowl.
- Add cashews (and/or peanuts) and cooked quinoa.
- Add dressing and toss well to combine.
- Top with more nuts or cilantro if desired.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving (estimate)
Enjoying this Thai-inspired Quinoa Salad? Check out the full “Vegan Salad” archives on the site for more inspiration! (Or this ultra-fresh Quinoa Tabbouleh.)
Looks delicious and I want to make it this week. Are the cashews raw or roasted?
Hi Lisa! I used raw cashews but feel free to toss in whatever you have on hand 🙂 Hope you enjoy it – have a beautiful week! -Kaitlin
Thanks Kaitlin! Hope to make this today. I bought all the ingredients last week and never got around to it.
This was an amazing recipe. So colorful and nutritious. I'm afraid it won't last long! Thank you thank you. A real winner
So great to hear you enjoyed! Wishing you a wonderful weekend!
I made this today for lunch for my husband and myself and wow! it was delicious. I added edamame to my serving and my husband ate his in lettuce wraps. So good!!
Hi again Lisa! Thanks for your sweet and helpful feedback – edamame & lettuce wraps are fantastic ideas! Thrilled you and your husband enjoyed it!
I made this for a family gathering. It was so delicious! Loved it!! It was devoured, I'll definitely be making this again. I like the other commenters suggestion to use in lettuce wraps.
Hey Kat! So great to hear – thanks for the kind feedback 🙂 (And yes to trying this with lettuce wraps! Such a great idea.) Have a beautiful week!
This was delicious! The peanut sauce was my favorite part. We used crunchy peanut butter
Hi Margaret! Yay! So happy to hear you enjoyed this – thanks for the feedback. Glad it worked well with the crunchy PB too (I like the sound of some added texture!)
How do I download ur recipes?
This salad is so delicious!! Thank you for sharing.
Wonderful to hear you’re enjoying it Judy! Appreciate your feedback 🙂 Have a beautiful week!
If I am going to make this for the week, it best to mix in the sauce initially or right as I am about to eat it?
Hi Aliya! Apologies for my delayed response! I love it both ways but it’s all about personal preference 🙂 It will be a bit softer & creamier if you leave it separate and mix right before eating. Hope you enjoy it if you give it a try! Have a lovely week!
So flavorful and delicious! I have made this for lunch several times now, and it never disappoints.
Hi Sophie! So great to hear you’ve enjoyed this for lunch! Thanks so much for the kind feedback – very appreciated. Wishing you a lovely week! 🙂