Okay so here's the thing. I am originally from Pakistan and well... traditionally back in the motherland we aren't so big on raw food i.e. salad. The only 'traditional' salad is 'kachumbar', a desi spin on pico de gallo. It basically involves some chopped cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, cilantro, green chilies with a hefty amount of lemon or vinegar and a little salt/pepper.
But this salad - or rather this dressing - this dressing changes everything. I could eat it with anything and everything and had this immensely irrationally urge to hoard it and sit in my closet and eat it all (with the actual salad itself ofcourse). It admittedly has a lot of parts, but they come together so beautifully (and quickly) that I would - and will - make this ten times over. The velvetiness of the peanut butter, the sweetness of the brown sugar, the tartness of the lime - it's a big ol' party in my mouth.
At this point I realize it's a little odd to gush about salad dressing so much, but trust me, this is 100% gushworthy. The recipe is from the amazing blog Once Upon a Chef. I made some changes to the greens, but out of convenience more than anything else which is why I am posting the recipe as it was originally written.
Serves 4
¼ cup creamy peanut butter
2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, from one lime
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey
2-½ tablespoons sugar (I used brown)
2 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
1-inch square piece fresh ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves
4 cups chopped Napa cabbage or shredded coleslaw mix (I like to toss in a little shredded red cabbage for color)
1 cup prepared shredded carrots
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced into bite-sized pieces
1 small English cucumber, halved lengthwise, seeded and thinly sliced
1 cup cooked and shelled edamame
2 medium scallions, thinly sliced
½ cup loosely packed chopped fresh cilantro
afracooking says
You have such delicious recipes on your blog! Love it!
sarahjmir says
Thanks Afra!
Asiya @ Chocolate & Chillies says
This salad sounds amazing!!! Love the peanut dressing 🙂
Kachumber is a step up from the traditional lettuce, onion and tomato without any dressing that we get with takeout.
sarahjmir says
You make a good point! 🙂
Shumaila The Novice Housewife says
I love thai food and my parents cook makes a similar peanut dressing.. He doesnt use peanut butter though. But I think it will be a great addition. Pinning it!
sarahjmir says
Thanks Shumaila! Glad you popped by 🙂
Sadia Mohamed says
I love thai salad. I have a kinda similar recipe in my blog too. Yours look soo good. 🙂
sarahjmir says
Great minds 😉
Namrata says
Wat a dressing!
sarahjmir says
Thanks Namrata!
Chitra Jagadish says
Looks elegant and peanut butter dressing sounds interesting ........pretty....
Traditionally Modern Food says
Colorful refreshing salad
Anna | One Prickly Pear says
Yum! That peanut dressing does sound delicious 🙂
sarahjmir says
Thank you and thanks for stopping by 🙂
wattwurmnashi says
I can hear you... I love pretty much all things peanut.
sarahjmir says
Then this is a must try!
wattwurmnashi says
But you know I only eat sweets...! Although - it's got peanut. Hmmm...
Sarwat AJ says
Seems quite yumm
Take care
sarahjmir says
Thanks Sarwat! and you too 🙂
Dimple@shivaaydelights says
So vibrant and fresh! 🙂
sarahjmir says
Those are the perfect words to describe this!