• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Not Enough Cinnamon
  • HOME
  • RECIPES
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • ABOUT
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • HOME
  • RECIPES
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • ABOUT
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    You are here: Home / Recipes / Thai Quinoa Salad with Creamy Peanut Dressing

    Thai Quinoa Salad with Creamy Peanut Dressing

    Published on Feb 7, 2020 · Last updated on Aug 24, 2021 ·

    728 shares
    Jump to Recipe
    Pinterest Graphic for Asian Quinoa Salad with Creamy Peanut Dressing
    This easy Thai Quinoa Salad with Creamy Peanut Dressing is a great light Asian-inspired dinner, meal prep lunch, or crowd-pleasing side dish recipe for picnics and parties! Loaded with veggies, fresh cilantro and drizzled with the best Asian peanut dressing! It can be eaten cold! Gluten-free, dairy-free and can easily be made vegan!  #saladrecipes #mealpreprecipes #thaisalad #cleaneating #quinoasalad

    This easy Thai Quinoa Salad with Creamy Peanut Dressing is a great light Asian-inspired dinner, meal prep lunch, or crowd-pleasing side dish recipe for picnics and parties! Gluten-free, dairy-free and can easily be made vegan! 

    overhead shot of a healthy Thai Quinoa Salad drizzled with creamy peanut dressing

    Add this Thai Quinoa Salad recipe to your meal prep rut!

    Don't eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn't recognize as food 👵🏻. Words of wisdom, I mostly agree with...But there are exceptions - like quinoa! A superfood I seriously can't do without anymore, especially when it comes to putting together meal prep lunches!

    Lunch for me is mostly salads as those don't weigh me down and I don't feel like having to nap for 2 hours afterward. Now, eating salad as a main can be a pretty boring affair. With this quinoa salad recipe, I was going to try and get as many flavors packed in as possible! The result is a filling salad that is incredibly colorful and fun to eat with all those different, exciting textures!

    There’s just so much goodness in here: carrots, scallions, red cabbage, quinoa, cilantro, peanuts, red pepper, and more. Prepping all the veggies may take a little bit of time but it is SO WORTH IT! I DEFINITELY feel like this is a "no-nap-needed" Power Salad that will keep you satisfied until dinner!

    The crunchy fresh veggies, the nutty quinoa, and the creamy dreamy peanut dressing all meld together perfectly and somehow the salad just works fantastically! Plus it is super filling so you can absolutely have it as a main! If you want to amp up the protein, or are just really really hungry, add some chopped chicken, edamame or chickpeas.

    I also love that this quinoa salad can easily be made vegan by using maple syrup instead of honey in the dressing.

    side view of a bowl with Asian Quinoa Salad with chopped veggies drizzled with a creamy Thai Peanut Dressing

    This Asian-inspired quinoa salad is a fantastic make-ahead dish to prepare as a healthy office lunch or light weeknight dinner, but let nothing hold you back from serving it as a side dish with some grilled chicken or broiled or glazed salmon.

    overhead shot of ingredients needed for making Thai quinoa salad recipe

     

     Creamy Thai Peanut Dressing - my new OBSESSION!

    So I know that quinoa salad is not exactly a classic Asian salad. I still named it Thai Salad - not only because it feels fresh and light like all Asian salads but also because of the allover Asian flavor profile.

    The Asian feel mostly comes from the creamy peanut butter dressing that features classic Thai cuisine ingredients like soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, grated ginger, and Sriracha. Can I just say that it is absolutely TO DIE FOR? I could put in on everything and I do recommend you make a big batch of find some cool ways to incorporate it into your meals throughout the week.

    creamy dairy-free Thai peanut dressing being stirred in a glass bowl

    How to make Thai Quinoa Salad:

     

    picture collage demonstrating how to cook quinoa perfectly

    How to cook quinoa perfectly:

    Prep: Rinse the quinoa: Pour the quinoa into a fine mesh colander and rinse under running cold water for about 30 seconds to a minute. Drain it well. This step is important as it removes any bitterness on the outside of the quinoa

    Step 1 & 2 - In a medium saucepan, add quinoa and cover with 1 ½ cups of water. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer on low heat and cover for 15 minutes or until the water has been absorbed.

    Step 3 - Add to a large mixing bowl, fluff with a fork and let cool while you prepare the rest of the recipe.

    How to make Creamy Peanut Dressing:

    picture collage demonstrating how to make creamy peanut dressing in a small bowl

    Step 4 - In a medium bowl, add peanut butter and honey. Microwave 30 seconds to soften – it will be easier to work with.

    Step 5 & 6  - Add soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, grated ginger, and Sriracha, if using.

    picture collage showing how creamy dairy-free Thai peanut dressing should be stirred with hot water until smooth

    Step 7 & 8 - Whisk to combine. The texture will be very thick.

    Step 9 - Gradually stir in hot water, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach a smooth consistency you can easily drizzle (I used about 3 ½ tablespoons)

    How to assemble the quinoa salad:

    picture collage demonstrating how to mix chopped vegetables, peanut dressing and cooked quinoa for making Asian quinoa salad

    Step 9  - Once quinoa has cooled, add bell pepper, cabbage, carrots, scallions, cilantro and half of the peanuts to the bowl. Toss to combine.

    Step 10 & 11 - Add ⅔rd of the sauce to the salad, reserving about ⅓ cup for serving. Toss again. To serve, drizzle each plate with reserved dressing, top with remaining peanuts, a few cilantro leaves, and a lime wedge. Enjoy!

    Thai Quinoa Salad with Creamy Asian Peanut Dressing packed into glass meal prep containers

    How to make this quinoa salad recipe for meal prep?

    This is a great easy salad recipe to make in advance if you’re entertaining a big crowd or you simply want something healthy yet filling to bring in your lunchbox to work or school. You can prep the quinoa salad and store the peanut dressing on the side if you want to eat it throughout the week!

    For meal prep, prepare the recipe as written until step 3 and pack the reserved dressing + other toppings separately.

     Can I make my quinoa in advance and keep it in the fridge? 

    Yes! Properly stored, cooked quinoa will last for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator. To maximize the shelf life of cooked quinoa, refrigerate the cooled quinoa in shallow airtight containers or resealable plastic bags.

    close-up of a bowl of Thai Quinoa Salad decorated with lime slices and cilantro and drizzled with Peanut Dressing

    Tips for making this Thai Quinoa Salad recipe:

    • This salad is actually better the next day when it has had time to rest in the fridge and all the flavors have developed
    • Other veggies that would taste great in this salad: edamame, avocado, and mango. I recommend you add the avocado and mango when you’re ready to eat or they will get mushy.
    • Up the protein by adding some chopped chicken, edamame or chickpeas.
    • Make this quinoa salad recipe vegan by using maple syrup instead of honey.
    overhead shot of a healthy Thai Quinoa Salad drizzled with creamy peanut dressing
    5 from 1 vote
    Print

    Thai Quinoa Salad with Creamy Peanut Dressing

    This easy Thai Quinoa Salad with Creamy Peanut Dressing is a great light Asian-inspired dinner, meal prep lunch, or crowd-pleasing side dish recipe for picnics and parties! Gluten-free, dairy-free and can easily be made vegan! 

    Course Appetizer, lunch, Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine Asian, Thai
    Keyword Asian salad recipe, quinoa salad recipe, thai salad with peanut dressing
    Prep Time 20 minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes
    Total Time 35 minutes
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 411 kcal
    Author Marie

    Ingredients

    Salad

    • ¾ cup quinoa - uncooked
    • 1  red bell pepper diced
    • 3 cups purple cabbage thinly shredded
    • 1  cup carrots about 2 carrots, shredded (packed cup)
    • ⅓ cup scallions chopped
    • ⅓ cup cilantro packed cup + more for serving
    • ½ cup roasted peanuts
    • 1 lime cut into 4 wedges, to serve

    Creamy Peanut Dressing

    • ⅓  cup  creamy natural peanut butter
    • ½ tbsp honey
    • 1  tbsp less sodium soy sauce - tamari for gluten-free
    • 1 tsp sesame oil
    • 1 tsp rice vinegar
    • 1  tsp grated ginger
    • 1  tsp  Sriracha sauce - optional more or less to taste
    • Hot water to thin

    Instructions

    For the quinoa:

    1. Rinse the quinoa: Pour the quinoa into a fine mesh colander and rinse under running cold water for about 30 seconds to a minute. Drain it well. This step is important as it removes any bitterness on the outside of the quinoa.

    2.  In a medium saucepan, add quinoa and cover with 1 ½ cups of water. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer on low heat and cover for 15 minutes or until the water has been absorbed. Add to a large mixing bowl, fluff with a fork and let cool while you prepare the rest of the recipe.

    For the dressing:

    1. In a medium bowl, add peanut butter and honey. Microwave 30 seconds to soften – it will be easier to work with. Then add soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, grated ginger and Sriracha if using and whisk to combine. The texture will be very thick. Gradually stir in hot water, one tablespoon at a time, until you reach a smooth consistency you can easily drizzle (I used about 3 ½ tablespoons)

    For the salad:

    1. Once quinoa has cooled, add bell pepper, cabbage, carrots, scallions, cilantro and half of the peanuts to the bowl. Toss to combine. Add ⅔rd of the sauce to the salad, reserving about ⅓ cup for serving. Toss again.

    2. To serve, drizzle each plate with reserved dressing, top with remaining peanuts, a few cilantro leaves and a lime wedge. Enjoy!

    Recipe Notes

    • This salad is actually better the next day when it has had time to rest in the fridge and all the flavors have developed
    • Other veggies that would taste great in this salad: edamame, avocado, and mango. I recommend you add the avocado and mango when you’re ready to eat or they will get mushy.
    • Make this quinoa salad recipe vegan by using maple syrup instead of honey.
    Nutrition Facts
    Thai Quinoa Salad with Creamy Peanut Dressing
    Amount Per Serving (1 /4)
    Calories 411 Calories from Fat 198
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 22g34%
    Saturated Fat 3g19%
    Sodium 498mg22%
    Potassium 826mg24%
    Carbohydrates 42g14%
    Fiber 8g33%
    Sugar 9g10%
    Protein 16g32%
    Vitamin A 7195IU144%
    Vitamin C 85.6mg104%
    Calcium 94mg9%
    Iron 3.3mg18%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    If you tried this Asian Quinoa Salad Recipe with Thai Peanut Dressing, don’t forget to rate the recipe below and let me know how it went in the comments – I love hearing from you! You can also follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook for more deliciousness and behind-the-scenes!

    More healthy quinoa recipes you will love:

    • Sweet Potato Quinoa Patties 
    • Warm Quinoa Salad with Butternut Squash & Kale
    • Bondi Harvest Quinoa Salad
    • Gordon Ramsay's Quinoa Salad
    « Pesto Chicken Stuffed Sweet Potatoes (Paleo & Whole30)
    Almond Flour Chocolate Chips Scones »
    728 shares
     

    Don't miss out on the good stuff!

    Sign up below to receive our weekly recipe digest. No spam, only the good stuff!

    Thank you for subscribing!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jessica Robinson

      February 07, 2020 at 9:25 pm

      What an amazing Quinoa salad! Such great flavors and LOVE the peanut sauce. So darn good!

    2. Jenn

      February 07, 2020 at 10:11 pm

      That creamy peanut dressing looks so amazing! So thick and full of flavor - I can taste it now! I"m making this dish tonight and already know it'll be a hit!

    3. Sara Welch

      February 07, 2020 at 10:52 pm

      This is everything a gourmet salad should be, and then some! Loved all the flavors!

    4. Kelly Anthony

      February 07, 2020 at 10:56 pm

      This Thai quinoa salad is a great salad to keep my lunch fun and exciting. I love all the vibrant colors this salad has to offer.

    5. Chris Collins

      February 07, 2020 at 11:41 pm

      That creamy peanut dressing sounds incredible!! Can't wait to try 🙂

    Primary Sidebar

    Footer

    About

    • About
    • Contact
    • Work with me
    • Subscribe
    • Privacy Policy

    Recipes

    • Main Dishes
    • Breakfast / Brunch
    • Salads
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Healthy Desserts
    • View All Recipes

    ↑ back to top

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2012-2020 Not Enough Cinnamon. All rights reserved.