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Home » Recipes » Easy Vegan Side Dishes

Crunchy Thai Quinoa Cabbage Salad

Mee Sha drinking a cup of coffee seated.
Modified: Mar 14, 2021 · Published: Aug 8, 2020 by Jim Mee Sha · This post may contain affiliate links · 9 Comments
Jump to Recipe

This light and refreshing crunchy quinoa salad is paired with a flavorful creamy peanut dressing. Naturally vegan, healthy yet utterly delicious !

If you love peanut butter recipes, check out my peanut sauce rice noodles next!

An overhead shot of thai quinoa salad in a large bowl.

If you are looking for salads that are actually delicious, definitely give this Thai quinoa cabbage salad a try ! This salad features crunchy raw veggies and fluffy quinoa tossed in a super creamy and rich vegan peanut sauce.

Jump to:
  • 🥜What you will need
  • 🥕Substitutions / Add-ins
  • 🔪How to make
  • 🥗How to serve
  • ❔Commonly asked questions
  • 🍽More healthy vegan lunches
  • 📖 Recipe

🥜What you will need

Ingredients needed for thai quinoa salad.

🥕Substitutions / Add-ins

  • To make this oil-free, omit the sesame oil in the peanut sauce.
  • Make this gluten-free by using gluten-free soy sauce or tamari.
  • Substitute peanut butter with cashew butter to make this peanut-free.
  • Crunchy peanut butter can be used in place of the smooth one, but increase the amount to 4 tablespoons instead of 3.
  • Any kinds of quinoa can be used like red quinoa, black quinoa or tri-colored ones.
  • You can substitute or add in other suitable veggies in place of the ones mentioned in this recipe. Some of the veggies that works well in this peanut quinoa salad are bell-peppers, green peas, corn kernels or green cabbage.

🔪How to make

Start by cooking quinoa. Place quinoa in a fine mesh colander and rinse it thoroughly under running water for at least 30 seconds, using your hands to swish it around. Pour it into a medium pot or pan together with 1 cup of water.

Bring mixture to a boil, then lower heat to a gentle simmer. Place the lid on and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the quinoa has absorbed all the water.

Remove pan from heat and let quinoa sit for 5-10 minutes, before fluffing them up using a fork.

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Cooking quinoa in a pan.

In the meantime, make the peanut salad dressing by combining all ingredients needed.

Place the chopped veggies and quinoa into a large salad bowl. Pour in the peanut sauce and toss to coat. Give it a taste and add more soy sauce, if needed.

Serve this Thai quinoa cabbage salad immediately, or let it chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours if you prefer it to be cold.

A close up shot of peanut quinoa salad with a serving fork and spoon on the side.

🥗How to serve

  • Serve it up with some plant protein like this gochujang tofu or Indonesian sambal tempeh to make this a more substantial meal.
  • This Thai peanut cabbage salad makes a really great side dish or appetizer.
  • Top them with some crunchy roasted peanut chickpeas to give them more texture and flavor.
  • Or, if you are planning to have an Asian-themed dinner, pair them along with this stir-fry rice vermicelli, Thai green curry fried rice and / or rice paper rolls.

❔Commonly asked questions

Do you have to rinse quinoa ?

This step is necessary if you want to remove the nutty and bitter taste from quinoa. Rinsing them will remove its natural coating, saponin, that is what cause quinoa to be bitter.

But if you like the earthy taste of quinoa, then rinsing it is not a must.

Can you freeze this salad ?

Yes, this Thai quinoa cabbage salad is freezable. To freeze, portion it up in sealed containers and they can now be frozen for up to a month.

To reheat, let them thaw in the fridge overnight or on countertop for a few hours. You can now heat them up either on stovetop or in the microwave.

Can quinoa be replaced with rice ?

Yes, you can definitely replace quinoa with rice, and both brown and white rice will work fine. Cook your rice according to package instructions before adding it in into this salad.

Is this served warm or cold ?

This salad can be served either warm or cold, depending on personal preference. If you prefer it to be warm, heat them up in the microwave before serving. On the other hand, let them sit in the fridge for 1-2 hours before enjoying if you like them cold.

How much protein is in this salad ?

This crunchy quinoa peanut salad contains about 10g of protein per serving.

A head on shot of thai quinoa cabbage salad in a deep plate.

🍽More healthy vegan lunches

  • Asian Brown Rice Salad
  • Falafel Hummus Pita Pocket Sandwiches
  • Vegan Chinese Seitan Stir-fry
  • Pasta Salad with Kidney Beans and Lettuce

If you made this recipe, leave a rating and comment below. We would love to hear from you! Subscribe to My Plantiful Cooking to get new recipes delivered straight to your inbox! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to get the latest updates. 😉

📖 Recipe

Thai quinoa cabbage salad served in a deep plate with large serving fork and spoon beside it.

Crunchy Thai Quinoa Cabbage Salad

Meesha
This light and refreshing crunchy quinoa salad is paired with a flavorful creamy peanut dressing. Naturally vegan, healthy yet utterly delicious !
4.86 from 7 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine Thai
Servings 4 servings
Calories 215 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the peanut dressing

  • 3 tablespoons smooth peanut butter*
  • 1 ½ tablespoon soy sauce / tamari
  • ½ tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼-1/2 teaspoon chili powder ( optional )

For the salad

  • ½ cup uncooked quinoa
  • 2 cups shredded red cabbage
  • 1 medium carrot shredded
  • ½ cup frozen edamame
  • handful of chopped peanuts ( to garnish )
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions
 

  • Start by cooking quinoa. Place quinoa in a fine mesh colander and rinse it thoroughly under running water for at least 30 seconds, using your hands to swish it around. Pour it into a medium pot or pan together with 1 cup of water.
  • Bring mixture to a boil, then lower heat to a gentle simmer. Place the lid on and cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the quinoa has absorbed all the water.
  • Remove pan from heat and let quinoa sit for 5-10 minutes, before fluffing them up using a fork.
  • In the meantime, the peanut salad dressing by combining all ingredients needed and boil frozen edamame in hot water for 1-2 minutes.
  • Place the chopped veggies and quinoa into a large salad bowl. Pour in the peanut sauce and toss to coat. Give it a taste and add more soy sauce, if needed.
  • Serve immediately, or let it chill in the fridge for 1-2 hours if you prefer it to be cold.

Notes

To make this oil-free, omit the sesame oil in the peanut sauce.
Make this gluten-free by using gluten-free soy sauce or tamari.
Substitute peanut butter with cashew butter to make this peanut-free.
Crunchy peanut butter can be used in place of the smooth one, but increase the amount to 4 tablespoons instead of 3.
Any kinds of quinoa can be used like red quinoa, black quinoa or tri-colored ones.
You can substitute or add in other suitable veggies in place of the ones mentioned in this recipe. Some of the veggies that works well in this peanut quinoa salad are bell-peppers, green peas, corn kernels or green cabbage.
Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-4 days. 
This salad is freezable. To freeze, portion it up in seal containers and they can now be frozen for up to a month.To reheat, let them thaw in the fridge overnight or on countertop for a few hours. You can now heat them up either on stovetop or in the microwave.
 
 

Save this recipe!

Email yourself a link to this page and come back later.

Also get a FREE high-protein vegan recipe eBook + weekly new recipes! Unsubscribe anytime.

Nutrition

Calories: 215kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 10gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 462mgPotassium: 471mgFiber: 5gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 3121IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 59mgIron: 2mg

Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.

Did you make this recipe ?Tag @myplantifulcooking on Instagram !

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Comments

    4.86 from 7 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Rachael says

    August 13, 2020 at 11:41 pm

    I LOVE quinoa salads, but have never tried one with Thai seasonings! This would be so great to have stocked in the fridge for lunches, especially when it's too hot to cook. Thanks for this recipe!

    Reply
    • admin2 says

      August 14, 2020 at 8:53 pm

      Its my pleasure ! Hope you like it 🙂

      Reply
  2. Andréa Janssen says

    August 13, 2020 at 6:56 pm

    5 stars
    What a delicious quinoa salad. And I especially like the crunch of it. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  3. Amy says

    August 13, 2020 at 8:45 am

    5 stars
    Love this recipe Meesha! Loving Asian flavoured salads and using ingredients that are not quintessentially Asian. Fell like that is such a great fusion of ingredients and produce! I'm Malaysian and I certainly don't miss the "too hot to walk outside" heat!

    Reply
    • meesha says

      August 13, 2020 at 8:21 pm

      Thanks ! Haha its sure hot out here 🙂

      Reply
  4. Taleen | Just As Tasty says

    August 13, 2020 at 8:19 am

    5 stars
    Wow, what a colorful and healthy looking salad! I can't wait to try this!

    Reply
    • meesha says

      August 13, 2020 at 8:22 pm

      Thanks ! Hope you like it

      Reply
  5. Christie Gagnon says

    August 13, 2020 at 8:19 am

    5 stars
    Such a healthy and delicious salad!Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • meesha says

      August 13, 2020 at 8:22 pm

      Its my pleasure !

      Reply
A headshot of Mee Sha leaning on a handrail.

Hi there! I am Mee Sha, a registered dietitian with a passion for food, cooking, and all things nutrition. This is where I share quick, healthy recipes that make plant-based eating simple, nourishing, and genuinely delicious.

More about me →

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