Peanut Salad with Protein of Choice
Customize this peanut salad with any protein of your choice like chicken, tofu, or edamame. Drizzled in the easiest Thai peanut salad dressing!
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Ingredients
Salad Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup nuts of your choice (sliced almonds, peanuts, cashews, etc)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Protein of your choice (16 ounces cubed chicken breast, 14 ounces cubed tofu, or 12 frozen shelled edamame)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 bunch kale, thinly sliced
- 1 small red pepper, sliced and halved
- 1 small yellow pepper, sliced and halved
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup red cabbage, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup cilantro, roughly chopped
Peanut Sauce Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons sauce of your choice
- 2 tablespoons lime juice, about 1 large lime squeezed
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced or grated (about 3 cloves)
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced or grated (about 1-inch piece)
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
Instructions:
- Heat a large pan over medium heat, then add over nuts and toast until aromatic and slightly browed, about 5 minutes.* Transfer to a small bowl.
- If using chicken or tofu as protein: To the same pan over medium heat, add olive oil. Once hot, add over chicken or tofu and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook until outside is browned and internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Transfer to a plate to cover with foil to let rest.
- If using edamame as protein: Steamed edamame according to package instructions. Set aside for later.
- Meanwhile, to a large salad bowl, add kale and massage with your hands for 2-3 minutes until it’s slightly broken down and turns a darker color green.
- To the same bowl, add over red pepper, yellow pepper, carrots, and red cabbage. Toss to incorporate everything together.
- Lastly, combine all peanut sauce ingredients in a medium sized bowl or 16-ounce mason jar and whisk with a fork until combined. If you prefer a thinner sauce, add a couple more tablespoons of water.
- Toss the kale salad with a few spoonfuls of peanut sauce and save the rest for serving.
- Top salad with cooked protein of choice, toasted nuts, and more peanut sauce to your liking!
Notes
*I recommend toasting the nuts for extra flavor but if you are running short on time, you can skip the toasting.
Tried this recipe?Tag us @cheerfulchoices and let us know how it was!