Thai Carrot Cucumber Noodle Salad with Peanut Lime Dressing
Thai Carrot Cucumber Noodle Salad with Peanut Lime Dressing is a clean eating veggie noodle salad that’s crisp, refreshing, and bursting with Thai flavors!
I’m back to my normal workouts now that the kids are back to school, because I got off track big time over the summer.
Too much food, too many festivities, and not enough workouts mean one thing — extra hard workouts to work off the damage from summer. Let’s call it damage control!
I exercised over the summer, but it was more hiking and biking, and very little anything else. I’m back at my high intensity interval training, TRX classes (I’ve been so sore..so SORE!), and trying to get back into running.
I have a love/hate thing with running — I love how I feel after a run but hate the actual running part. I just tell myself to power through because that running stuff really does work.
This Thai cucumber salad is a great, clean eating salad that won’t leave you feeling deprived by any means. It’s packed with carrot and cucumber “noodles”, which means I’ve used my spiralizer twice now!
Thai flavors are some of my favorite, and I’m ashamed that I’ve had no Thai dishes on my blog all this time. Consider this the first of many Thai-inspired dishes to come. 🙂
If you don’t have a spiralizer, of course you can still make this salad. You can grate the cucumber and carrot, or julienne them. I had some grated zucchini in the fridge leftover from a bread that’s coming soon, so I tossed that into the mix too. I also added all the usual suspects in a Thai salad — red bell pepper, green onions, plenty of cilantro, and chopped peanuts.
Sounding good so far? We haven’t even talked about the dressing yet, and that’s what gives this salad it’s big flavor punch. Thai peanut sauce/dressing is good enough to drink in my opinion. It’s the perfect blend of spicy-tangy-sweet-salty-peanut-buttery-goodness. It’s the perfect coating for all of these crisp, fresh veggies.
This Thai cucumber salad is living proof that clean eating doesn’t have to be boring and flavorless — it’s anything but. Serve it as is for a light lunch, or with chicken or shrimp for a more satisfying main dish. It’s vibrant, fresh, and will definitely have you coming back for more. 🙂
More Thai recipes you’ll love:
Thai lettuce wraps by Food Network
Thai Carrot Cucumber Noodle Salad with Peanut Lime Dressing
Ingredients
For the salad:
- 1 large cucumber
- 1 large carrot
- 1 medium zucchini grated
- 1 red bell pepper seeded and coarsely chopped
- 2 green onions sliced on the bias (white and green parts)
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/2 cup chopped peanuts
For the dressing:
- 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/4 cup oil your favorite
- 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 1/2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger*
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes*
- juice of 1 lime
Instructions
Prepare the salad:
- Prepare the cucumber and carrot noodles using a spiralizer, break the noodles up into smaller pieces, and place in a large bowl. If you don’t own a spiralizer, simply grate or julienne the cucumber and carrot.
- Add the grated zucchini, bell pepper, green onions, and cilantro, and toss gently to combine. Set aside.
Prepare the dressing:
- Place the peanut butter, canola oil, vinegar, honey, soy sauce, ginger, red pepper flakes, and lime juice in medium bowl and whisk until combined. Add the desired amount to the salad and toss gently to combine. Top with the chopped peanuts, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- *I store my fresh ginger in the freezer and grate it with my Microplane grater peel and all!
- *If you want a spicier dressing, add more red pepper flakes.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
44 Comments on “Thai Carrot Cucumber Noodle Salad with Peanut Lime Dressing”
I got off track my workouts during summer, too! Just too many things going on and I wanted to enjoy summer! This salad looks perfect Marcie! Pinned to try it very soon!
Sounds like we both enjoyed our summers, Mira! Thanks for the pin! 🙂
What a delicious looking salad!! I never make anything Thai inspired, but that needs to change! This looks like the perfect way to get me out of my salad rut!
Thank you, Annie, and Thai flavors really are a great way to liven up the old salad routine! 🙂
Just a delicious salad that my daughter (not a salad eater) loved! For the leftovers, I added cooked shrimp and avocado, to mimic a fresh spring roll, and it worked well together!
Thank you for the feedback Erica, and I’m glad that you and your daughter both enjoyed it! I love the sound of the shrimp and avocado too. 🙂
I really need to get back on my workout schedule, too! I just keep pushing it off. This noodle salad looks delicious, Marcie! I love that peanut lime dressing. Sounds like it gives this so much flavor!
Why is it so hard to get out of shape and so hard to get back into it? 🙁 Thanks, Gayle, and that dressing really pops!
Oh boy, I need a lot of damage control. All that ice cream will get you! Ha! This salad is so colorful – it makes me happy!
The ice cream will get you…especially when it’s on top of a big slab of fruit crisp, cobbler or pie! haha Thanks, Liz! 🙂
Love this noodle salad, Marcie! I really enjoy Thai flavours, so I definitely need to give this a try!
Thanks, Jess — the veggie noodles make this salad so much more interesting! 🙂
Veggies noodles are RIGHT up my alley!
They’re the best! 🙂
Love the flavours in this salad! I imagine it could be quite addicting. 🙂
Thank you, Aimee — it really is addicting!
Thai flavors are the best and I love that you used a spiralizer. Makes it look so much more visually appealing and fun to eat!
It really was fun and interesting eating these Thai veggie noodles! Thanks, Christin!
I love Thai flavors too. This salad looks SO good. I love all of the delicious vegetables you’ve incorporated.
Thank you, Sandra!
This salad is gorgeous, Marcie! Thai flavors are my favorite especially with spiralized veggies! This is the perfect clean and light meal after a workout or run! So healthy and delicious!
Thanks, Kelly! I love that this is so fresh and crispy, and it keeps really well in the fridge too. . Hope you’re having a great week!
I’m trying to get my butt back in shape too. The carrot cake probably didn’t help 🙂 I love salads like these!
Carrot cake never is good for that, but it sure is fun to eat! Thanks so much, Becky!
This salad is gorgeous Marcie!! I love all the flavors and the dressing looks fantastic!
Thank you, Mariah!
This looks so good and fresh! I can see us eating this often!
This was addicting and kept really well in the fridge!
That salad looks amazing! Love the spiralized veggies, I need to get one of those things, so pretty! I’m getting back into the workout routine this week too, kids are back in school, need to get all the routines going again! Will need to try this salad to get the healthier eating happening too! 🙂
Thank you, Stacey! I’m waiting for my routine to get back to normal but so far I’m playing catch up! I hope you get a spiralizer — they really are a lot of fun. And good luck getting back into your workouts!
I definitely need to do a little damage control too now that summer is over. I’ve been trying to get to the gym more often, so this salad sounds perfect! I love that dressing too, sounds delicious!
I know I should be eating more salads, but now there is fall baking! It’s even more important to get to the gym more. Haha. Thanks, Danielle!
Wow! This noodle salad looks absolutely stunning, refreshing and full of yummy flavors. Loved it, Marcie! 🙂
Thank you, Anu! The veggie noodles are so crisp and delicious — it’s much more fun to eat.
Oh running. I try to like it, I really do! But the actually running part?? Blahhhhh. haha
This salad looks awesome Marcie! So fresh! And I love the sound of that dressing!
I ran today and it just sucked! Clearly I need to do it more so it will get more enjoyable…it’s no fun trying to get back in the groove. . Thanks, Ashley!
This salad looks so fresh and delicious, Marcie! And good for you for all your tough workouts….I stick with running and that is IT! (I’m impressed!)
For me running is tough Cathy! Some people were made for running, but not me. Haha. I’m impressed that you’re a runner.
Not only does this look so good but the photos are gorgeous!
You are too sweet — thank you, Deb! 🙂
Everything in this collection looks fantastic. I am basically obsessed with all things Thai, especially peanut sauces. Definitely trying this one.
Thanks, Rachael! 🙂
I don’t have a spiralizer so thanks for telling us how to do it without one! Looks great!
I realize a spiralizer is a specialty gadget and I you totally don’t have to have it! Thanks, Nancy!