Spicy Cashew Salad

Dinner just got easier with this Spicy Cashew Salad!

The key to making any salad extra tasty and even more healthy is to make your own dressing. I make my own dressing for pretty much every salad, and it satisfies every time!

Most salad dressings are chock full of additives, added sugar, unnecessary fats, and/or too much sodium. You can make your own salad dressing using natural ingredients that promote health and taste just as good, if not better, than the store bought stuff!

For this Spicy Cashew Salad dressing, you’ll need:

¼ cup smooth natural peanut butter

1 clove garlic, minced

1-2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce

2 tbsp rice vinegar

1 tbsp sesame oil

1-2 tsp sriracha or hot sauce

Water to thin

Whisk the peanut butter, garlic, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil and hot sauce well. The dressing will thicken as you mix, so add a little water and whisk again to thin the dressing. Keep adding water to desired thinness before use.

This dressing is so tasty and stores for up to a week in the fridge. Use it on Asian-inspired salads, grain bowls, marinate salmon, you name it. I like to use it on the Spicy Cashew Salad:

1 bag shredded cabbage mix or broccoli slaw mix

¼ cup shredded carrots

¼ cup diced cucumber

¼ cup whole or halved cashews

1 scallion, chopped

Use canned tuna or salmon for protein, or you can top with crispy tofu or diced chicken!

*Optional add-ons: crushed raw ramen noodles, sesame seeds, avocado, red pepper flakes

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl, toss with the homemade dressing, and serve!

You’ll love this easy lunch or dinner idea! Let us know your thoughts :)

You’ll also love these easy homemade dressing ideas you can use on anything:

1. Red wine vinegar + olive oil + black pepper.

2. Balsamic vinegar + olive oil + oregano.

3. Olive oil + lemon juice + apple cider vinegar + parsley + dill + pinch of salt.

4. Plain Greek yogurt + ranch or Italian seasoning.

5. Tahini + lemon juice + water + cumin + paprika + black pepper.

By Jessica Kaplan