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    Home » Recipes » Salad

    Asian-Style Chopped Salad with Sesame Dressing

    Jun 2, 2015 by Kaitlin

    A crisp and fresh Asian-style Chopped Salad recipe with an easy sesame vinaigrette dressing! Great make-ahead dish for picnics, potlucks, gatherings and take-along lunches. (Vegan, gluten-free.)

    Bowl of Asian Style Chopped Salad

    This Asian-inspired Chopped Salad is so fresh and delicious!

    Chopped salads are my favorite because you can just grab a spoon and dig in. So many textures and flavors in every bite.

    This salad combines rainbow colors, a simple sesame vinaigrette, and crisp Asian-style vegetables.

    ingredients for Asian Chopped Salad in a bowl

    Ingredients for Asian Chopped Salad

    For this recipe you will toss together in a large bowl:

    • Romaine lettuce: Romaine is so crisp and rich in nutrients. It's a great source of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, and folate. Plus it contains carotenoid phytonutrients like beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin which studies show have powerful antioxidant properties.
    • Purple cabbage: Or substitute napa cabbage or green cabbage. I like purple for the bright color. Cabbage is a member of the cruciferous family which are known for their powerful antioxidants and health-promoting nutrients.
    • Snow peas: Or substitute with sugar snap peas instead.
    • Green onion (scallion)
    • Shredded carrot
    • Red bell pepper: Simply omit if you are not a fan of raw bell pepper in salads.
    • Fresh cilantro
    • Rice vinegar: I use unseasoned rice vinegar which does not contain added sugar and salt.
    • Toasted sesame oil
    • Tamari: Or use soy sauce, but I use tamari for gluten-free.
    • Pure maple syrup: This is my favorite natural sweetener, but feel free to use your own favorite or what you have on hand.
    • Sesame seeds

    You can also add minced garlic cloves or freshly grated ginger to the dressing if you'd like.

    Bowl of colorful chopped salad with sesame seeds

    Customizing

    Add nuts: Slivered almonds, crushed peanuts, or roasted cashews are also a great addition for crunch and protein.

    Peanut dressing (oil-free): Instead of the light sesame dressing, you could toss this salad with a rich and flavorful oil-free peanut dressing instead. Simply use a thinned out version of this creamy Thai Peanut Sauce recipe with garlic and ginger.

    Other additions: Add your favorite vegan chicken tenders, crispy wonton strips, cooked edamame (soybeans), celery, or even Baked Tofu.

    Serving + Storing

    This Asian salad is a nice side dish for picnics, potlucks, gatherings, and take-along lunches.

    Making in advance: Store the prepared dressing and salad in separate airtight containers in the fridge. Then toss together when you're ready to serve. This will help keep it fresh and crisp.

    Asian Chopped Salad with sesame dressing being poured on top

    For more inspiration, also browse all Asian-inspired recipes or salad recipes.

    Asian Chopped Salad with sesame dressing being poured on top

    Asian-Style Chopped Salad with Sesame Dressing

    A fresh and flavorful Asian-inspired salad with easy sesame vinaigrette! Such beautiful colors and a great make-ahead dish.
    4.53 from 19 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Comment
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Author: Kaitlin - The Garden Grazer
    Course: Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine: Asian-Inspired, Gluten-Free, Oil-Free Option, Vegan
    Servings: 6 side servings

    Ingredients

    • 1 large head romaine lettuce
    • 1 1/2 cups purple cabbage
    • 1 1/2 cups snow peas
    • 3-4 green onions
    • 1 cup shredded carrot
    • 1 red bell pepper
    • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
    • Optional: I highly recommend adding peanuts or sliced/slivered almonds as well.

    For the sesame dressing:

    • 1/4 cup rice vinegar (I use unseasoned)
    • 2 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil
    • 1 Tbsp. tamari (or soy sauce)
    • 1 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
    • 1 1/2 Tbsp. sesame seeds
    • Optional: minced garlic or freshly grated ginger

    Instructions

    • Chop romaine and cabbage. Place in a large bowl.
    • Slice snow peas and green onions. Dice bell pepper, slice carrots, and roughly chop cilantro. Add to bowl.
    • Make the dressing: In a small bowl whisk together all dressing ingredients.
    • Pour over salad and toss to combine.
    • Top with additional sesame seeds if desired. (Or slivered almonds for crunch.)

    Notes

    If making ahead: Store the salad and dressing in separate containers (then combine + toss right before serving) so the salad doesn’t get soggy.
    Peanut dressing (oil-free) variation: You could also toss this salad with a thinned out version of this creamy Thai Peanut Sauce with garlic and ginger.
    For gluten-free: Use tamari.

    Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)

    Nutrition Facts
    Asian-Style Chopped Salad with Sesame Dressing
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    101
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    6
    g
    9
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    1
    g
    6
    %
    Polyunsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Monounsaturated Fat
     
    2
    g
    Potassium
     
    272
    mg
    8
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    10
    g
    3
    %
    Fiber
     
    3
    g
    13
    %
    Sugar
     
    6
    g
    7
    %
    Protein
     
    2
    g
    4
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    5256
    IU
    105
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    56
    mg
    68
    %
    Calcium
     
    60
    mg
    6
    %
    Iron
     
    1
    mg
    6
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you make this recipe?Leave a star rating or comment below!

    If you are enjoying this Asian-Style Chopped Salad recipe, also check out:

    • Broccoli with Asian-Style Garlic Sauce
    • Southwestern Chopped Salad with Cilantro-Lime Dressing

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jane

      February 17, 2022 at 11:09 am

      5 stars
      Made this with your peanut sauce and it was fantastic! Just thinned out the sauce with water like was recommended. Really great flavors and colors.

      Reply
      • Kaitlin

        February 17, 2022 at 1:02 pm

        Wonderful to hear, Jane! Thanks for the feedback.

        Reply
    2. David

      July 06, 2021 at 11:56 am

      3 stars
      Mediocre salad. I wish the dressing had more to it. Pretty bland overall and felt like rabbit food.

      Reply
      • Kaitlin

        July 06, 2021 at 12:10 pm

        Hey David - thanks for sharing your feedback. Feel free to add garlic & ginger to the dressing, or peanuts, almonds, cashews, or baked tofu for a little more oomph!

        Reply
        • David

          July 09, 2021 at 11:44 am

          4 stars
          Thanks Kaitlin! I actually added some more vinegar and sweetness to the dressing and seemed to do the trick. Thanks for the recipe.

          Reply
          • Kaitlin

            July 09, 2021 at 12:05 pm

            That's awesome. I appreciate your follow-up! If you ever feel like giving the salad another go, you could also check out this Peanut Sauce (one of my favorite recipes) which can be thinned out for a flavorful dressing as well. Have a great weekend!

    3. Rachel

      July 06, 2021 at 11:19 am

      5 stars
      This is delicious! Definitely needs something crunchy. We topped ours with wonton strips since I don’t really like almonds.

      Reply
      • Kaitlin

        July 06, 2021 at 12:09 pm

        Great idea - thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    4. Vicia Seargeant

      May 26, 2021 at 2:51 pm

      5 stars
      Delicious and easy to make!

      Reply
      • Kaitlin

        May 26, 2021 at 2:58 pm

        Wonderful to hear! Thanks so much for giving it a try and sharing your kind feedback.

        Reply
    5. Phyllis Rich

      June 23, 2018 at 3:22 pm

      Just tried this recipe last night. Added 1 t. minced garlic and 1 t. minced ginger in the dressing as suggested. Didn't use cilantro since one family member doesn't like it. Excellent flavor! Fresh, colorful. Will definitely make again.

      Reply
      • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

        September 05, 2018 at 3:03 pm

        That's so great! Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    6. Ms. Suzanne

      April 27, 2018 at 1:23 pm

      Is there another kind of vinegar I could use besides rice wine? I don't have any of that.

      Reply
      • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

        April 27, 2018 at 2:13 pm

        You could maybe try apple cider vinegar instead!

        Reply
    7. Unknown

      December 15, 2017 at 3:12 am

      What brand soy sauce did you use? There are so many out there.

      Reply
      • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

        December 27, 2017 at 4:25 pm

        I use San-J Organic Tamari.

        Reply
    8. rocco rossi

      November 30, 2016 at 2:14 am

      Wonderful salad! My family really enjoyed this. I also added the slivered almonds and some sweet corn. I doubled the dressing (except for the sesame seeds). We don't like coriander so didn't add to salad. Will definitely have this again. Loved the colours. Thanks for a great recipe.

      Reply
      • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

        December 10, 2016 at 8:25 pm

        That's so great! Thanks for you helpful feedback!

        Reply
    9. Nancy Live-Nimble

      August 04, 2016 at 6:05 pm

      This is so Yum!!! Light and fresh, and very nutritious, something I can make with is usually in the refrigerator. Thank you for such yummy recipes!

      Reply
    10. Ann Huffcutt

      January 18, 2016 at 2:47 am

      You are a salad rock star! Thanks for yet another delicious and beautiful addition!

      Reply
      • Kaitlin | The Garden Grazer

        January 18, 2016 at 8:35 pm

        Thank you so much!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Kaitlin!
    I share vegan recipes that are easy & healthy. (Mostly whole food plant-based, oil-free, & gluten-free.) About Me →

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