Ultimate Fresh Thai Salad: Vibrant Summer Recipe with Two Irresistible Dressings

The peak of summer brings an abundance of fresh, colorful vegetables to our gardens, local farmers’ markets, and roadside stands. From crisp cucumbers and succulent zucchini to ripe tomatoes, and a rainbow of green, red, yellow, orange, and even purple peppers, the choices are endless. This season of plenty is also often accompanied by soaring temperatures, making the thought of turning on an oven or stovetop less than appealing. That’s where a refreshing, no-cook Thai salad comes to the rescue, offering a perfect solution for a healthy, vibrant, and effortlessly cool meal.

This fresh Thai salad recipe is not only incredibly healthy but also perfectly aligns with the ‘raw food’ movement, requiring absolutely no cooking. Its stunning array of colors – the deep reds of ripe tomatoes, the bright greens of peppers and cucumbers, and the earthy tones of herbs – makes it an inviting spectacle on any table. This truly is a spot-on summer salad that delivers on both flavor and visual appeal, celebrating the season’s finest produce in its most natural and delicious form.

To elevate this magnificent salad, we’re offering two distinct and equally delightful Thai dressing options. While both are fantastic, they cater to different taste preferences, ensuring everyone finds their perfect match. My husband, for instance, adores the rich and creamy Thai peanut sauce, a classic favorite. Personally, I lean towards the sweet, tart, and spicy dressing, which I believe wonderfully complements the crispness of the cucumbers and the overall freshness of the salad. We believe in making every palate happy!

Explore Two Extraordinary Thai Dressings

Each dressing brings a unique character to this Thai vegetable salad, allowing you to customize your culinary experience. Whether you prefer the indulgent creaminess of peanuts or the zesty kick of a sweet and spicy blend, these homemade dressings promise to transform your fresh ingredients into an unforgettable meal. Last year, I also shared a delightful dressing for a classic Thai cucumber salad, which you might also enjoy exploring for another refreshing option.

Thai Peanut Dressing: A Rich and Creamy Delight

Our Thai Peanut Dressing is a true crowd-pleaser, adapted from the esteemed Moosewood Cookbook. Molly Katzen aptly describes it as a “tart, sweet, spicy, peanutty, surprisingly exotic and very much fun to eat” dressing. This description perfectly encapsulates its complex flavor profile. The richness of peanut butter forms a creamy base, beautifully balanced by the tang of rice vinegar, a hint of sweetness, and a subtle warmth from spices. It’s a dressing that coats every vegetable with a satisfying, nutty embrace, making each bite incredibly flavorful. To customize, feel free to add a touch more peanut butter for an even richer texture, or a dash of chili for an extra kick. This dressing is especially fantastic when drizzled generously over the entire salad, transforming it into a hearty and incredibly satisfying dish, as seen in some of our accompanying photos.

Traditional Thai Cucumber Sweet and Spicy Dressing: Zesty and Refreshing

For those who favor a lighter, more vibrant flavor, our Traditional Thai Cucumber Sweet and Spicy Dressing is an absolute must-try. This dressing is a celebration of balance, featuring a harmonious blend of sweet, tart, and spicy notes. The crispness of cucumbers truly shines with this dressing, as the refreshing rice vinegar and bright lime juice cut through the vegetables, invigorating your palate. The subtle heat from crushed red pepper flakes (which you can adjust to your preference for a truly spicy experience) adds an exciting dimension, while the aromatic cilantro or Thai basil infuses it with an authentic Thai essence. It’s a dressing that not only enhances the natural flavors of the vegetables but also adds an uplifting zest, perfect for a hot summer day.

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Fresh Thai Salad and Two Thai Dressings

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  Author: Roz
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  Prep Time: 0 hours
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  Additional Time: 0 hours
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Ingredients

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• 2 cucumbers, peeled, sliced, seeds removed
• 2 medium garden-fresh tomatoes, sliced and halved
• 1 green pepper, cored, insides removed, sliced thin
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• 1 medium carrot, sliced thin
• 1 tsp. minced hot red chili (Thai pepper if you have one and can handle the heat)
• 1 head Romaine lettuce
• 2 cups fresh bean sprouts, rinsed and clean
• 1 cup cilantro or Thai basil, chopped
• 1 – 2 cups unsalted peanuts, crushed (and if you’re like me, use much more)

Thai Peanut Dressing

• 4 Tbsp. rice vinegar (apple cider vinegar is also fine)
• 6 Tbsp. creamy peanut butter
• 1/3 cup water
• 1–1/2 Tbsp. lime juice
• 4 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 1 Tbsp. sugar

Traditional Thai Cucumber Sweet and Spicy Dressing

• 1/2 cup rice vinegar
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 Tbsp. peanut oil
• 1–1/2 Tbsp. fish oil (nam pla)
• 3 Tbsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (this is NOT spicy)
• 3 Tbsp. minced onion
• 3 Tbsp. lime juice
• 3 Tbsp. garden-fresh cilantro/Thai basil, chopped

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Instructions

For the Thai Peanut Dressing

1. Blend all ingredients together until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasonings to your preference.
2. If you desire a thicker or more ‘peanut buttery’ consistency, simply add more peanut butter and blend again until you achieve your desired preference.

For the Traditional Thai Cucumber Sweet and Spicy Dressing

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and pulse until well combined. For best results, allow the dressing to sit for at least 15 minutes to let the flavors meld.
2. As with all homemade dressings, feel free to customize! Adjust the lime juice for more tang, add extra cilantro or Thai basil for heightened aroma, or increase the red pepper flakes for a spicier kick.

For Assembling the Fresh Thai Salad

1. On individual salad or dinner plates, arrange the crisp Romaine lettuce leaves in an appealing and attractive manner, creating a base for your vibrant salad.
2. Continue to artfully pile up the prepared vegetables: cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, red onion, and carrots. Ensure an even distribution of colors and textures.
3. Top off the salad with a generous scattering of fresh bean sprouts, followed by a sprinkle of chopped cilantro or Thai basil for an aromatic finish.
4. Finally, complete your masterpiece with a liberal sprinkling of crushed unsalted peanuts, adding a delightful crunch. Serve immediately, passing both dressings around to your guests so they can select their favorite to drizzle over their fresh Thai salad.

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Here are the two wonderfully distinct Thai dressings ready to be chosen for your salad!

Serving Suggestions and a Touch of Thai Heritage

Presentation is key when serving a dish as visually appealing as this vibrant Thai salad. To elevate the dining experience, I often choose to plate this beautiful salad in my cherished Baan Celadonpottery from Chiang Mai, Thailand. My connection to this exquisite stoneware dates back to a research project I undertook in 2001, where I had the privilege of visiting Chiang Mai. The distinctive design and captivating color of Baan Celadon ceramics instantly captivated me, and I continue to be utterly enamored with it.

For those who share my appreciation for its unique aesthetic, this pottery can be found and ordered online by simply searching for “Baan Celadon.” Be mindful, however, that while the exchange rate for the Thai baht remains favorable for the American dollar, the substantial shipping costs due to the pottery’s inherent weight and the meticulous packaging required for safe transit can significantly offset any initial savings. In my experience, it was a worthwhile investment. Every piece I ordered, including a comprehensive four-piece place setting and numerous serving dishes of various sizes, arrived intact and perfectly preserved, a testament to their exceptional packaging standards. Investing in quality dinnerware, especially pieces with such rich cultural background and artistry, truly enhances the joy of serving and enjoying a homemade meal like this delicious healthy Thai salad recipe.