The Best of Asian Salads

With tangy flavors and a generous mix of crunchy, fresh vegetables, Asian-style salads are a classic favorite. Whether you're serving a salad on its own as a light lunch or serving a side salad on a table full of dinner foods, we have the ingredients and the ideas for how to put together your new favorite Asian-inspired salad.

Learn more about the veggies in Asian salads

Common Questions about Asian Salads

A great Asian-inspired salad can take many forms, depending on the type of culinary tradition you’re following. Generally, it means a refreshing balance of fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and diverse textures, usually including fresh, crisp vegetables such as lettuce, shredded cabbage (green cabbage, napa, or purple), julienned or shredded carrots, or sliced cucumbers. 


Add another dimension to your Asian-style salad with herbs like cilantro, mint, and Thai basil, or add texture with crispy fried wonton strips, crispy rice noodles, chopped peanuts, almonds, cashews, or sesame seeds. For sweetness to contrast the salty and savory flavors, try adding mango, mandarin oranges, or sliced apples. Top it all off with a protein, like grilled chicken, shrimp, tofu, or seared ahi tuna—often seasoned with soy, ginger, or sesame. 

To make an Asian salad, you’ll want to focus on crisp, fresh vegetables, fresh ingredients, and diverse textures. 

For the salad, start with thinly sliced napa and red cabbage, shredded carrots, red bell pepper, cucumber, fresh cilantro leaves or mint leaves, and green onions. Add some texture with roasted peanuts, cashews, or crispy wonton strips. 

A healthy portion of protein can really make it into a hearty meal with shrimp, ahi tuna, or even tofu. Your dressing can go in a variety of directions, but a recipe that combines soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, lime juice, maple syrup, fresh ginger, garlic, and sriracha (or chili flakes) can elevate your salad to a new level. 

Here’s an easy Asian Cabbage Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing recipe you can start with:


Ingredients:

  • 2 cups shredded green cabbage
  • 1 cup shredded red cabbage
  • 1 cup shredded carrots
  • 1/2 cup sliced red bell pepper
  • 2 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds or sliced almonds
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 2 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
  • 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
  • 1 tsp garlic, minced
  • Optional: grilled chicken or tofu for added protein

Directions:

  1. In a large bowl, combine the shredded cabbages, carrots, bell pepper, green onions, and cilantro.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, ginger, and garlic to make the sesame ginger dressing.
  3. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until evenly coated.
  4. Sprinkle toasted sesame seeds or sliced almonds on top for crunch.
  5. Add grilled chicken or tofu if you want extra protein. Serve and enjoy!

 

Different versions of Asian salad can vary in calories, depending on the ingredients, toppings, dressing, and portion sizes. 

Our Taylor Farms Asian Cashew Chopped Salad has 150 calories per serving and the Taylor Farms Asian Chopped Salad has about 160 calories per serving. For a single-serving salad bowl on the go, the Asian Style Fusion Salad Bowl includes chicken and Thai dressing,

Asian salads can be one of the healthiest options for salad lovers, depending on the ingredients, protein, toppings, and dressing you choose. 

For example, the Taylor Farms Asian Cashew Chopped Salad boasts two types of cabbage and an assortment of vegetables, and clocks in at 150 calories. Plus, it’s an excellent source of vitamins C, K, and A, with 3 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber.

The Taylor Farms Asian Chopped Salad also has a variety of Asian veggies as well as toasted almonds, for about 160 calories per serving. 

Our Asian Style Fusion Salad Bowl includes white meat chicken, and will hit your vitamin and protein needs at once. It has 11 grams of protein, 3 grams of dietary fiber, and plenty of iron and potassium, bringing it to 270 calories total.

Asian Salad Recipes

Stories With Asian Salad