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    Home » Recipes » Salad

    Asian-Style Chopped Salad with Sesame Vinaigrette

    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, oil-free option.)

    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 you can 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 this if you're 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. Coconut aminos could also work. Be sure to use low sodium if desired.
    • 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

    Note: 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.

    Storing

    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.

    Tip: This Asian-style salad is a tasty side dish for picnics, potlucks, gatherings, and take-along lunches!

    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 Vinaigrette

    A fresh and flavorful Asian-inspired salad with easy sesame vinaigrette! Such beautiful colors and a great make-ahead dish.
    4.56 from 25 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Comment
    Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes 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
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    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

    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: For richer flavor, toss this salad with a creamy Peanut Sauce instead of the sesame vinaigrette.
    For gluten-free: Use tamari.

    Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)

    Nutrition Facts
    Asian-Style Chopped Salad with Sesame Vinaigrette
    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.

    Sodium: This is omitted as I cannot provide an accurate number. I encourage you to calculate your own to provide a much more precise reading based on the exact ingredients, brands, and amounts you're using.

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    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

    Follow The Garden Grazer on Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook for more updates and inspiration.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating:




    1. Mj

      May 25, 2023 at 12:48 am

      5 stars
      Amazing recipe. Just love it. Thanks so much.

      Reply
      • Kaitlin

        May 25, 2023 at 8:42 am

        Fantastic to hear! So glad you enjoyed it and thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    2. Tricie

      April 12, 2023 at 8:03 am

      5 stars
      Made this for dinner last night to go with an Asian inspired vegan soup and it was a hit! Dressing had lots of flavor and was amazing over all the fresh salad veggies. This will definitely be added to our dinner rotation.

      Reply
      • Kaitlin

        April 12, 2023 at 9:15 am

        Aww, so happy to hear you enjoyed it Tricie! Great idea pairing it with an Asian-inspired soup. Thanks so much for sharing your kind feedback!

        Reply
    3. barb kane

      March 23, 2023 at 6:06 pm

      4 stars
      Just made this. Added 2 teas tahini. Very nice light salad vinaigrette.

      Reply
      • Kaitlin

        March 23, 2023 at 7:18 pm

        What a great idea adding tahini to the dressing. Thanks for sharing your helpful feedback, Barb!

        Reply
    4. 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
      • Susan

        April 14, 2023 at 2:43 pm

        5 stars
        Made this the other night for dinner. It was unseasonably warm so it was perfect! We grilled a tuna steak that I sliced and put on top. Delicious!! I did add some grated ginger and a pinch of garlic powder to the dressing - great flavor! I’ll definitely be making this again. Thank you!!

        Reply
        • Kaitlin

          April 14, 2023 at 3:36 pm

          Hello Susan! So glad you enjoyed this with your warm weather. Thanks very much for sharing your kind and helpful feedback!

          Reply
    5. 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!

    6. 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
    7. 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
    8. 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
    9. 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
    10. 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
    11. 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
    12. 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
    13. 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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