Edamame Peanut Crunch Salad Recipe

I love preparing this Edamame Salad Healthy meal that mixes crunchy edamame, crisp red cabbage, and juicy red bell pepper with a delightful peanut dressing crowned with tamari and sesame oil. It offers a refreshing, high-protein twist that is perfect for a light, satisfying lunch.

I gotta tell you about my Edamame Peanut Crunch Salad. It’s that perfect mix of crunchy, savory and just the right amount of spicy that totally makes your next meal prep pop.

I mixed together cooked, cooled edamame, shredded red cabbage, diced red bell pepper and julienned carrot with fresh green onions and cilantro. The roasted peanuts give it a big crunch that really hooks you.

I whipped up a peanut dressing with peanut butter, tamari, sesame oil, rice vinegar and a touch of maple syrup along with garlic, ginger and a hit of sriracha. Every bite is an explosion of flavors that makes you think, “Wow, where has this been all my life?” Its naturally vegan, gluten free and loaded with protein, making it a perfect healthy, no cook side salad for any time of the day.

Trust me, once you try it you’re gonna be hooked!

Why I Like this Recipe

I really dig this recipe because it gives me a mix of awesome textures and flavors. First, I love how crunchy the veggies are. They keep each bite fresh and exciting, and the combination of edamame, cabbage, and carrots is just perfect. Second, the peanut dressing is to die for – it’s creamy, savory, and has a little kick from the sriracha or red pepper flakes that I really enjoy. Third, it’s super healthy and vegan which makes it ideal for my meal prep lunches; it’s refreshing to have a dish that not only tastes amazing but also fits my lifestyle. Lastly, I like that it’s really easy to put together, even on those days when I don’t feel like spending too much time in the kitchen, yet it still feels like a treat every time I make it.

Ingredients

• Edamame: are high in protein and fiber, they add a nutty crunch.
• Red cabbage: is loaded with antioxidants, adding a crisp, colorful snap.
• Carrot: offers vitamin A and crunch with a light sweetness that warms it up.
• Red bell pepper: provides vitamin C and a tangy sweetness to brighten up mix.
• Green onions: add a mild spice and fresh crunch that enhances every bite.
• Roasted peanuts: deliver protein and healthy fats, plus a serious crunchy boost.
• Peanut butter: fuses creaminess with nutty flavor, balancing tang in the dressing.
• Sesame oil: pours a toasted richness that lifts the dressing overall flavor profile.

Ingredient Quantities

• Salad ingredients:
  • 2 cups shelled edamame (cooked n cooled)
  • 1 cup shredded red cabbage
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced up
  • 1 large carrot, julienned or grated
  • 3 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup roasted peanuts, roughly chopped

• Peanut dressing:
  • 3 tbsp peanut butter
  • 2 tbsp tamari or gluten free soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp maple syrup or agave nectar
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
  • 1-2 tsp sriracha or red pepper flakes (adjust for extra kick)
  • 2-4 tbsp water to thin it out

How to Make this

1. First, make sure your edamame is cooked and cooled, then set aside while you prep the veggies.

2. Roughly chop the red cabbage, dice the red bell pepper, and julienne or grate the carrot.

3. Slice the green onions thinly and chop the fresh cilantro roughly; also, roughly chop the roasted peanuts.

4. In a big bowl, toss together the edamame, shredded cabbage, red bell pepper, carrot, green onions, cilantro, and roasted peanuts.

5. In a smaller bowl, add 3 tbsp peanut butter, 2 tbsp tamari, 1 tbsp sesame oil, 1 tbsp rice vinegar, and 1 tbsp maple syrup.

6. Now, mix in the minced garlic and grated ginger along with 1-2 tsp sriracha (or red pepper flakes if you want it spicy).

7. Gradually stir in 2-4 tbsp water until the dressing reaches a smooth but pourable consistency.

8. Drizzle the dressing over your salad mixture and toss it well so every bit is covered.

9. Taste your salad and if needed, adjust with a bit more sriracha or maple syrup.

10. Let the salad sit for a few minutes to let the flavours meld and enjoy your crunchy, savory, and perfectly spicy meal prep lunch!

Equipment Needed

1. A large mixing bowl – needed for tossing together your edamame and veggies
2. A small mixing bowl – for whisking your peanut dressing
3. A chef’s knife – to roughly chop the cabbage, red bell pepper, carrot, green onions, cilantro, and peanuts
4. A cutting board – for safe and clean veggie prep
5. A grater – to grate carrot and fresh ginger
6. Measuring spoons and cups – to measure out peanut butter, tamari, sesame oil, rice vinegar, maple syrup, and water
7. A whisk – perfect for blending the dressing until smooth
8. A garlic press (or use your chef’s knife) – to mince the garlic finely

FAQ

Edamame Peanut Crunch Salad Recipe Substitutions and Variations

• For the roasted peanuts, you can use chopped cashews or almonds as a crunchy alternative.
• If you don’t have tamari, try coconut aminos or even a splash of regular soy sauce if you can handle gluten.
• If peanut butter isn’t available or you need a change, almond butter or cashew butter works just fine in the dressing.
• Can’t find red cabbage? Shredded green cabbage will do, though it might be a bit milder in flavor.
• If you’re out of maple syrup, a little honey will give you the same sweet kick.

Pro Tips

1. Let your salad sit with the dressing for like 5-10 minutes before you dig in so the flavors really get to know each other, it makes all the difference.
2. When you’re thinning the peanut butter with water, add it bit by bit – you don’t wanna end up with something too runny or too thick, so go slow and adjust as you go.
3. Always taste your dressing before tossing it all in; sometimes you might need a little extra sriracha or maple syrup to get that perfect balance.
4. If you can, try lightly toasting your peanuts or adding extra fresh ones on top right before serving for that extra crunch and flavor pop.