Peanut Dressing Salad with Quick Pickled Vegetables

Peanut Dressing Salad with Quick Pickled Vegetables

Serves: 2–4
Prep time: 25–30 minutes (plus optional chill time for pickles)
Cook time: None

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Ingredients

For the Salad

• 1 head little gem or romaine lettuce, chopped

• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

• A handful of fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

• 2–3 green onions, thinly sliced

For the Peanut Dressing

• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter

• 2 tbsp lime juice (from 1–2 limes)

• 1 tbsp soy sauce

• 1–2 tsp chili sauce (such as sambal oelek or sriracha), to taste

• 1 tsp brown sugar (or granulated sugar)

• 1 small garlic clove, finely grated

• 2–4 tbsp warm water (to thin as needed)

For the Quick Pickled Vegetables

• 1/2 cup thinly sliced cucumber

• 1/2 cup thinly sliced radishes

• 1/2 cup thinly sliced baby carrots

• 1 tbsp sugar

• 1½ tsp fine sea salt

• 1 tbsp rice vinegar

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Directions

1. Quick Pickle the Vegetables:
   In a colander, toss the sliced cucumber, radishes, and carrots with the sugar and salt. Let sit and drain over the sink for 20–30 minutes. Rinse well under cold water and pat dry.
   Transfer to a bowl and toss with the rice vinegar. Taste and add a little more vinegar if you like a tangier pickle. Refrigerate until ready to use (can be made ahead and stored for up to a week).

2. Make the Peanut Dressing:
   In a medium bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, lime juice, soy sauce, chili sauce, sugar, and grated garlic until smooth. Gradually whisk in warm water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dressing is pourable and creamy. Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking.

3. Assemble the Salad:
   In a large bowl, combine the chopped lettuce, red bell pepper, cilantro, and green onions. Add a bit of the peanut dressing and toss lightly to coat.

4. Top with Pickles and Serve:
   Add a generous handful of the pickled vegetables on top of the salad. Drizzle with more peanut dressing just before serving. Optional: garnish with chopped peanuts or sesame seeds for added texture and crunch.