dinner, lunch, Salad/Salad Dressing

Thai Coconut Salad with Peanut Sauce

Thai Coconut Salad with Peanut Sauce - fresh greens, roasted red peppers, sweet potatoes and shredded coconut, all drizzled with a warm peanut sauce.
My husband Patrick and I recently went on a business trip (said in a hoity-toity voice) to Colorado. I’m 23…you’d think by now taking a business trip would be NBD. (Translation= no big deal.) But business trips are such an adultish thing to do. They’re so sophisticated. At least it seems that way until you’re stuck at the back of the plane jammed between a snoozer and a chatter box. Why do we play “grown ups” when we’re young? Once you actually grow up, you realize it’s all slightly overrated. But, with that said, if we hadn’t gone on our so-called business trip, I wouldn’t have been inspired to make this Thai Coconut Salad with Peanut Sauce…and that would’ve been a sad, sad thing.

Thai Coconut Salad with Peanut Sauce - fresh greens, roasted red peppers, sweet potatoes and shredded coconut, all drizzled with a warm peanut sauce.
Patrick and I were distracted on our phones, or whatever grown up people do while waiting at the airport, and all of a sudden we were boarding in 2 minutes and we hadn’t gotten anything for dinner. So, we turned to the nearest restaurant, tried not to look at the ridiculously-expensive airport prices, and ordered something to go. I read the words “Thai Coconut…” on the menu and was immediately sold.

So, my glamorous flight home from my very adultish business trip consisted of me trying not to chomp on my salad too loud while the guy next to me (who looked suspiciously like Santa Claus)…had a conversation about the Easter Bunny with a 4-year-old sitting in the row ahead of us.

Guys, we’re all kids at heart.

Thai Coconut Salad with Peanut Sauce - fresh greens, roasted red peppers, sweet potatoes and shredded coconut, all drizzled with a warm peanut sauce. Thai Coconut Salad with Peanut Sauce - fresh greens, roasted red peppers, sweet potatoes and shredded coconut, all drizzled with a warm peanut sauce.

Thai Coconut Salad with Peanut Sauce

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Serving Size: 4-6

Ingredients

    Salad
  • 1/2 tbsp. coconut oil
  • 2 small sweet potatoes, spiralized (*see notes)
  • Salt and pepper
  • 4 cups mixed greens
  • 1 large cucumber
  • 1 jar roasted red peppers (you can also roast them yourself)
  • 1 1/2 cups grilled and shredded chicken (I seasoned mine with paprika, salt and pepper)
  • Shredded unsweetened coconut for topping
  • Peanut Sauce
  • ¼ cup natural, creamy peanut butter
  • ¼ cup coconut milk
  • ½ cup water + more if needed
  • 1 tsp. garlic (about 2-3 garlic cloves)
  • 2 tsp. lime juice
  • 1 tsp. turmeric
  • 1 tsp. cardamom
  • 1 tsp. honey

Instructions

    Salad
  1. In a medium-sized skillet, heat the coconut oil over medium heat and add the spiralized sweet potato. Allow to cook until soft, season with salt and pepper to taste, and set aside to cool.
  2. Peel the cucumber and chop into bite-sized pieces. Slice the red peppers into small strips.
  3. Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, combine mixed greens, vegetables and grilled chicken. Top with peanut sauce and sprinkle with coconut shreds.
  4. Peanut Sauce
  5. In a medium-sized skillet, combine all ingredients and cook until mixed and thickened. Add additional water if needed. (*See notes).
  6. Serve warm over assembled salad.

Notes

*If you don't own a spiralizer, you can buy a cheap one here. Or, you can just grate the sweet potatoes (skin and all!) using a cheese grater.

*If the peanut sauce sits for too long and cools, it will begin to separate and harden. Simply warm it back up and stir in a little bit of water to thin it out again.

https://www.kiwiandcarrot.com/thai-coconut-salad-peanut-sauce/

*This post contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase a product from a link, we receive a portion of the earnings. This doesn’t affect your price in any way, and we appreciate your help to keep Kiwi and Carrot up and running!

Previous Post Next Post

You Might Also Like

59 Comments

  • Reply candy April 4, 2016 at 8:36 am

    Beautiful and delicious looking dish, love peanut sauce.

    • Reply Sarah April 4, 2016 at 8:45 am

      Candy, I’m right there with ya. As soon as I see “peanut sauce” on a menu I immediately know what I’m ordering 🙂 Hope you like the salad!

  • Reply Cori April 4, 2016 at 9:22 am

    I really need to wait to read blog posts that are recipes. This one is my 4th recipe post today and I’m hungry!!! I love Thai food and peanut sauce!!! Love chicken satay!

    • Reply Sarah April 4, 2016 at 9:30 am

      Hahaha Cori, I love it. So true though…reading blog posts of tasty recipes in the morning and you’re ready for lunch by 9:30 a.m. And I’m with ya on the peanut sauce and chicken satay. Soooo yummy!

  • Reply Dia All The Things I Do April 4, 2016 at 9:22 am

    This looks really yummy. I agree about airport food prices. I have spent a lot of times in airports and whats even more frustrating is when it’s like a place you go to all the time so you know the prices they normally are. It’s like a 50% walk up. Crazy! Hope you enjoyed the trip 🙂

    • Reply Sarah April 4, 2016 at 9:32 am

      Dia, right? It’s ridiculous! Like who wants to buy a $6 burger from Wendys when you usually pay $3.50? The struggle is real.

  • Reply Karin Rambo April 4, 2016 at 9:43 am

    This looks SO good! I love Thai Food, but I’ve never actually tried to make it myself. I’m excited to try this!

    • Reply Sarah April 4, 2016 at 10:00 am

      Karin, I’m so excited for you to try making Thai food! It’s become on of my favorite types of food, and hopefully you’ll love making it as much as you enjoy eating it!

  • Reply Natalie @ Obsessive Cooking Disorder April 4, 2016 at 9:49 am

    I wish I could go on business trips that are paid for. Ha! Too bad that never happens to medical students. Anyways great recipe ^_^

    • Reply Sarah April 4, 2016 at 10:01 am

      Natalie, props to you for studying medicine. That is something I could never do, and I truly respect people who’re willing to make sacrifices to do it. Good luck with school and happy cooking!

  • Reply Sarah Le Donne April 4, 2016 at 10:30 am

    Oh I love this so much, it sounds delicious! I really need to start cooking with coconut oil! I love coconut everything, but haven’t tried this out yet. Unbelievable, I know 😉

    • Reply Elizabeth April 4, 2016 at 12:45 pm

      Sarah, hope you love it! And go get yourself some coconut oil…it’s yummy! (If you have a costco nearby, it’s wayyyyy cheaper there.)

  • Reply Emily April 4, 2016 at 10:42 am

    This looks yummy! So bright and colorful.

    • Reply Elizabeth April 4, 2016 at 12:46 pm

      Emily, we think it tastes as yummy as it looks. Hope you love it!

  • Reply Angela Tolsma April 4, 2016 at 10:58 am

    this salad looks amazing!! I love the styling for the photos!!

    • Reply Sarah April 4, 2016 at 1:51 pm

      Thanks Angela! I’m glad you like the photos. You should try making it! We think it’s just as yummy as it looks 🙂

  • Reply Michelle Rogers April 4, 2016 at 11:14 am

    Oh my gosh, that looks absolutely delicious! I can’t wait to try it!

    • Reply Sarah April 4, 2016 at 1:52 pm

      Thanks Michelle! Give it a try and let us know what you think!

  • Reply Kari April 4, 2016 at 11:20 am

    I love incorporating thai peanut sauce. So delicious!
    Kari
    http://www.sweetteasweetie.com

    • Reply Sarah April 4, 2016 at 1:53 pm

      Kari, Right? Anytime I see “Thai Peanut Sauce” on a menu, I immediately know what I’m ordering…it makes any dish AMAZING!

  • Reply Keisha - Cupcake Wishes & Birthday Dreams April 4, 2016 at 6:49 pm

    GIRRRRRL – you had me at THAI COCONUT!!!! This is a super must-try meal for me! Thanks for sharing!

    • Reply Sarah April 4, 2016 at 6:54 pm

      Keisha, I’m so glad you’re with me on the Thai Coconut thing!! Really doesn’t get much better than that, right? 🙂

  • Reply Kusum April 4, 2016 at 10:44 pm

    This looks absolutely divine, great pics too! I am a vegetarian so can totally see myself replacing the chicken with tofu and making this at home. I love Thai food, so this is perfect!
    xx, Kusum | http://www.sveeteskapes.com

    • Reply Sarah April 4, 2016 at 11:14 pm

      Thanks Kusum! And I think this salad would be great with tofu too! Give it a try and let us know what you think. Thai food ALL THE WAY 🙂

  • Reply Angie Scheie April 5, 2016 at 2:22 am

    Wow. That looks amazing (and healthy). To think this creation came from a business trip! Already pinned for future meals!

    • Reply Sarah April 5, 2016 at 8:14 am

      Thanks for pinning it Angie! Who knew such delicious things could be found in the airport? 😉

  • Reply Valentina | The Baking Fairy April 5, 2016 at 1:52 pm

    Yum! This is stunning and looks tasty and healthy, too. Pinning!

  • Reply Ann| Cooking Maniac April 5, 2016 at 3:04 pm

    I have everything for this salad… I am making this tomorrow! Awesome salad!

    • Reply Elizabeth April 5, 2016 at 5:29 pm

      Ann, wahoo!!! Hope you love it.

  • Reply Agnes April 5, 2016 at 9:37 pm

    This looks amazing! thanks for sharing

    • Reply Elizabeth April 5, 2016 at 10:23 pm

      Agnes, hope you love it:) LOVE the name of your blog, and I can see you’ve got yummy things there as well! We’ll have to take a closer look!

  • Reply chloe | boxwood avenue April 6, 2016 at 1:12 am

    hah this is hilarious! My husband says I’m the girl on the plane whom people hide from because I always say HI! and strike up convo. Looks delicious too!!!!

    • Reply Sarah April 6, 2016 at 10:28 pm

      Chloe, hahaha It’s a good thing to be social 🙂 I should probably be more social on airplanes…

  • Reply Carrie April 6, 2016 at 2:28 am

    Not only does this dish look beautiful it looks incredibly yummy as well!

    • Reply Elizabeth April 6, 2016 at 7:39 am

      Carrie, thank you! We hope you love it as much as we do.

  • Reply Justin April 6, 2016 at 9:39 am

    Sounds fabulous!

    • Reply Sarah April 6, 2016 at 11:02 am

      Thanks Justin!

  • Reply Tess Ciarloni April 6, 2016 at 10:43 am

    This looks so delicious!! I love the thai flavours that you have going on in this salad. I never thought to use peanut sauce as the dressing. Definitely making this for dinner one night next week.

    • Reply Sarah April 6, 2016 at 11:03 am

      Tess, the peanut sauce is what makes this salad 🙂 If you end up making it, let us know how it turns out!

  • Reply Marleen S April 7, 2016 at 3:19 am

    Just added this to my favourites, it looks delicious! I love thai food but have never tried making it at home but will give this recipe a go. Thanks for sharing

    • Reply Elizabeth April 8, 2016 at 7:51 am

      Marleen,we love Thai food as well, and this is a great one to get you started. Hope you love it!

  • Reply Liz Mays April 7, 2016 at 5:44 am

    Oh wow, this is not only a visual sensation, but it has a sauce that’s incredibly yummy! I must add this to my life.

  • Reply Liz @ The Clean Eating Couple April 7, 2016 at 9:46 am

    This is a beautiful salad!! And that sauce sounds ah-mazing!! YUM!

  • Reply DarkSideRunner April 14, 2016 at 10:28 am

    Delish! Have you ever tried substituting almond butter for peanut butter on this? Or sunflower seed?

    • Reply Sarah April 14, 2016 at 7:28 pm

      I’ve never tried it, but I was actually considering making it with almond butter. If you try it, let us know how it turns out!

  • Reply Lucy April 14, 2016 at 8:10 pm

    That salad looks so amazing! It’s hard to believe it was inspired by airpot food 🙂 Yum! Can’t wait to try!

    • Reply Sarah April 15, 2016 at 8:17 am

      Thanks Lucy! Hope you like it. P.S. I love your blog name! 🙂

  • Reply Adele Pozelaite April 17, 2016 at 11:23 pm

    Something new for my taste! Definitely will try. Thank you for the recipe!

    • Reply Elizabeth April 18, 2016 at 8:36 am

      Adele, always fun to try new things, right? Hope you love it!

  • Reply Kim @ Three Olives Branch April 18, 2016 at 7:47 am

    I have been on a Thai kick lately, this looks so good!

  • Reply Taylor @ The Girl on Bloor April 20, 2016 at 7:42 am

    Love the addition of the roasted red peppers! This salad looks delicious!

    • Reply Elizabeth April 20, 2016 at 7:59 am

      Taylor, I can’t get enough of roasted peppers! Hope you love it:)

  • Reply Aarika June 15, 2016 at 3:11 pm

    This sounds incredibly tasty! I love the vibrant colors and tasty flavors. Your addition of cardamon in the sauce is brilliant. I can’t wait to try this recipe. Yum!

  • Reply Linda @ 2 Cookin' Mamas June 15, 2016 at 3:11 pm

    You said the magic words – peanut sauce! I love peanut sauce whether it’s on satay or salads and this one looks like it’s going to be on my menu real soon. Perfect dish for summer!

  • Reply Elly Leavitt June 15, 2016 at 5:54 pm

    Been looking for a good peanut sauce recipe for ages- pinning this one to use later! It goes with literally EVERYTHING. So so yummy x

  • Reply Kandja Sylla October 5, 2016 at 7:54 pm

    You got me at peanut sauce! I’m definitely doing this recipe–looks so delish. I totally agree with you about airport foods that’s why I try to eat a lot before my flight lol! Thanks for the share Sarah. xx

    http://www.prettyweirdbombshell.com/little-bouquet-vancouver/

    • Reply Sarah October 5, 2016 at 9:11 pm

      Kandja, I’m so glad you feel the same way as us about peanut sauce. It really is the best. Hope you enjoy our version of it! 🙂

  • Reply Katie February 16, 2017 at 8:47 am

    I made this a couple nights ago for my husband who, when I told him I was making a salad for dinner, cringed a little bit. We were babysitting our neighbors kids so I made everything in advance and put it all in tupperware and pulled it out as we had four kids under the age of 6 running all over the place. It was super easy to make and DELICIOUS. Even my veggie-suspicious husband thought it was amazing and was surprised at how full he got from a salad. Best part, we didn’t have to eat the store brand mac and cheese we fed to the kids 🙂 I’ll definitely be making this again!!

    • Reply Sarah February 16, 2017 at 9:19 pm

      Love it when you can find a salad that the hubs approves of. And hooray for avoiding store-brand mac and cheese! Some things just shouldn’t be allowed. Like store-brand powdered cheese.

    Leave a Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.