This easy Asian Chopped Salad recipe features vibrant veggies and a delicious sesame-ginger dressing! It's so healthy, fresh, and great made ahead for picnics, potlucks, gatherings and take-along lunches. (Vegan, gluten-free, refined oil-free.)

Asian Chopped Salad with sesame dressing in a white bowl with lime slices

This Asian-inspired Chopped Salad is so fresh, healthy, and vibrant! Chopped salads are my favorite because you can just grab a spoon and dig in. So many textures and flavors in every bite.

This delicious salad features rainbow colors, crunchy savory nuts, and a flavorful sesame-ginger dressing to bring it all together. (So good!)

Plus it's fantastic for meal prep, picnics, potlucks, lunch at home, or even a light dinner. Feel free to customize it with your own favorite additions. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Purple cabbage, romaine lettuce, bell pepper, green onion, sugar snap peas, and herb ingredients laid out on a metal tray

Ingredients for Asian Chopped Salad

For this recipe, you'll toss together in a large bowl:

Romaine lettuce: Romaine is so crisp and provides a great base for this salad. I use a medium head which is about 4-5 cups chopped.
Purple cabbage: Or you can substitute Napa cabbage or green cabbage, but I prefer purple for the bright color. Cabbage is also part of the cruciferous family which is known for its powerful antioxidants and health-promoting nutrients, so it's great to include.
Sugar snap peas: Or you can substitute snow peas instead.
Green onion (scallion)
Julienned carrot: For convenience, I buy the bags of pre-cut julienned carrot. But you can cut or shred your own from whole carrots if desired.
Red bell pepper: Or you can use orange or yellow instead.
Fresh cilantro: Feel free to omit this if you're not a fan of the taste!
Roasted peanuts: I highly recommend adding roasted peanuts to this salad! They're great for crunch, texture, and plant-based protein. Sometimes I'll use a combination of peanuts and sliced almonds, but you can use all peanuts if you'd like. Or try roasted cashews as well!
Sesame dressing: We'll use one batch of this easy homemade Asian Sesame Ginger Dressing. It's so delicious with Asian-inspired flavors like rice vinegar, tamari, lime, miso, garlic, and ginger. Feel free to prepare it a day or two in advance and store it in the fridge so it's ready to go!

Overhead view of preparing salad ingredients in a large glass bowl before mixing together

Customizing

Make it spicy: Add red pepper flakes to taste, or try a drizzle or sriracha.

Other additions: Add your favorite vegan chicken tenders, crispy wonton strips, mung bean sprouts, cooked edamame (soybeans), mint, or even Baked Tofu. You can also include other vegetables like celery or cucumber. (Or try this amazing Tofu Salad with Savory Dressing!)

Garnish: I like to garnish the finished salad with extra peanuts and almonds, black sesame seeds, white sesame seeds, and more cilantro. You could also add a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

Asian sesame ginger dressing being poured over a chopped salad in a large bowl

Storing

Already mixed: If the salad and dressing are already mixed together, I find it keeps for a day or two in an airtight container in the refrigerator before the salad starts getting soggy.

Stored separately: You can also meal prep this salad or prepare it in advance. Store the salad and dressing in separate airtight containers in the fridge for 2-3 days (or perhaps longer). Then toss together when ready to serve.

Serving: It's a tasty side dish for picnics, potlucks, gatherings, and take-along lunches!

Close up view of Asian Chopped Salad with sesame ginger dressing in a white serving bowl with fork

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

Asian Chopped Salad with Sesame Dressing

This easy Asian-inspired salad features vibrant veggies and a delicious sesame-ginger dressing! It's so healthy, fresh, and great made ahead for picnics, potlucks, gatherings and take-along lunches.

4.71 from 24 votes

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Prep Time: 25

Total Time: 25

Author: Kaitlin - The Garden Grazer

Course: Salad

Cuisine: Asian-Inspired, Gluten-Free, Oil-Free, Vegan

Servings: 6 (1.5-cup servings)

Ingredients

1 medium head romaine*
1 1/2 cups purple cabbage
1 cup julienned carrot
1 cup sugar snap peas
3 green onions
1 red bell pepper
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
2/3 cup roasted peanuts**
1 batch Asian Sesame Ginger Dressing

Instructions

Make the Asian Sesame Ginger Dressing. (Or prepare this ahead of time and store in the refrigerator until ready.)
Chop the romaine lettuce and cabbage. (I like small pieces for the "chop salad style" so it's easy to scoop up with a spoon.) Place in a large bowl with the carrots.
Slice sugar snap peas and green onions. Dice bell pepper and roughly chop cilantro. Add them to the bowl.
Add the peanuts, then pour the dressing on top. Toss well to combine.
Top with additional sesame seeds, nuts, or cilantro if desired.

Notes

*Romaine: One medium head is about 4-5 cups chopped lettuce.

**Nuts: Or you can use 1/3 roasted peanuts + 1/3 cup sliced almonds. Add more as desired. Cashews would be tasty too!

Making ahead: Once the salad and dressing are tossed together, I find it keeps for a day or two in the fridge. If making further ahead of time, you can store the salad and dressing in separate containers. Then toss together right before serving so the salad doesn’t get soggy.

Yield: Recipe makes about 9 cups salad.

Original dressing: I've updated this recipe with a new dressing. But if you're looking for the original one, it's: 1/4 cup rice vinegar + 2 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil + 1 Tbsp. tamari + 1 Tbsp. maple syrup + 1.5 Tbsp. sesame seeds. Optional minced garlic and ginger.

Recipe originally published June 2015. Updated March 2025.

Nutrition Per Serving (Estimate)

Nutrition Facts

Asian Chopped Salad with Sesame Dressing

Amount per Serving

Calories

183

% Daily Value*

Fat

Saturated Fat

Polyunsaturated Fat

Monounsaturated Fat

Potassium

388

Carbohydrates

Fiber

Sugar

Protein

Vitamin A

5143

103

Vitamin C

Calcium

Iron

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Sodium content: 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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Asian Chopped Salad with Sesame Dressing

Ingredients for Asian Chopped Salad

Customizing

Storing