This chopped salad is a departure from your average leafy green salad, made instead with chunky, crunchy chopped vegetables. Sweet snap peas, cucumber, and carrots are cut into bite-sized pieces and tossed with cilantro, scallions, and a spicy Thai-inspired dressing for a healthy and flavorful side dish. Add some grilled shrimp or leftover roasted chicken and serve over rice noodles for a healthy weeknight meal or easy packed lunch.

What to buy: Look for chile-garlic paste in the Asian section of your supermarket. We like the one made by Huy Fong Foods (with the rooster on the jar).

Game plan: You can cut up the snap peas and carrots 1 day in advance and refrigerate them in an airtight container.

See more spring recipes.

  • Yields: 4 to 6 servings
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Total: 40 mins 

Ingredients (13)

For the dressing:

  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
  • 2 teaspoons fish sauce
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons chile-garlic paste
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil

For the salad:

  • 1 pound sugar snap peas, strings removed, stem ends trimmed, and cut on the bias into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1/2 medium English cucumber, halved lengthwise, then thinly sliced crosswise
  • 2 medium carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and thinly sliced crosswise
  • 3/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro (from about 1/2 bunch)
  • 2 medium scallions, thinly sliced (white and light green parts only)
  • 1/3 cup roasted, salted peanuts, coarsely chopped

Instructions

For the dressing:

  1. Place all of the ingredients except the oil in a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Slowly drizzle in the oil, whisking continuously, until all of it is incorporated; set aside.

For the salad:

  1. Place the snap peas, cucumber, carrots, cilantro, and scallions in a large bowl, drizzle with the dressing, and toss to coat. Transfer to a serving platter, sprinkle with the peanuts, and serve immediately.