Skip to primary navigation Skip to header navigation Skip to main content Skip to primary sidebar This Asian Side Salad is as versatile as the name suggests – it’s a terrific fresh salad that will pair with any Asian food ! From Chinese to Japanese, Thai to Vietnamese, Malaysian, Singaporean, Korean and Taiwanese, it’s right at home alongside fiery Asian curries as it is with a Chinese BBQ Pork , Thai Chicken Satay or Chicken Fried Rice. Asian Side Salad Unlike many Western cuisines, there are actually not that many “side salads” in Asian cuisines. There are pickled vegetables and small vegetable dishes that make up part of a larger banquet. And in many South East Asian cuisines, you’ll often find dishes like Thai Fried Rice are served with some plain, undressed wedges of tomato and cucumber which provide welcome freshness and juiciness. But there’s actually not that many side salads that are quick to throw together to add greens into a meal. So while this Asian Side Salad isn’t an authentic recipe associated with any cuisine in particular, it’s a terrific salad with authentic Asian roots. The Dressing is so good you can literally use it to dress any veggies and it will be delicious!! What goes in the Asian Dressing Here’s what you need for the Asian Dressing. The rice vinegar can be substituted with cider vinegar, and you can omit either the garlic or ginger and it will still be fabulous. For a simple alternative Asian dressing, try this simple Asian Sesame Dressing . What goes in the Asian Salad And here’s what I put in the salad. Though in all honesty, as mentioned above, you can literally put any raw salads with the Asian Dressing and it will be fantastic!! The Crispy Fried Shallots are store bought and they are shallots that have been deep fried until crispy. They make a terrific garnish for salads and makes a regular appearance around here! Found in the Asian section of supermarkets but cheaper at Asian stores. What to serve with Asian Side Salad This is a terrific salad that will pair really well with all things Asian ! In fact, I cannot think of any Asian dish that I wouldn’t serve this salad with. Here are a few suggestions: Thai Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce Thai Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce Chicken Fried Rice , Thai Fried Rice or Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice) Chicken Fried Rice , Thai Fried Rice or Nasi Goreng (Indonesian Fried Rice) Egg Foo Young (Chinese Omelette) Egg Foo Young (Chinese Omelette) Chinese Corn Soup with Chicken Chinese Corn Soup with Chicken Sticky Baked Chinese Chicken Wings Sticky Baked Chinese Chicken Wings Kung Pao Chicken Kung Pao Chicken Asian noodles like Chow Mein , Pad See Ew or Thai Drunken Noodles Asian noodles like Chow Mein , Pad See Ew or Thai Drunken Noodles Browse all Asian recipes Browse all Asian recipes Watch how to make it Hungry for more? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook , Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates. Asian Side Salad ▢ 1 tbsp soy sauce (light or all purpose, not dark soy) ▢ 3 tbsp peanut oil (or canola, vegetable or other neutral oil) ▢ 2 tbsp rice vinegar (sub cider vinegar) ▢ 1 tsp sesame oil ▢ 1 tsp brown sugar ▢ 1 tsp ginger , minced ▢ 1 clove garlic , minced ▢ 120 g / 4oz mixed leafy salad greens ▢ 250 g / 8oz cherry tomatoes , halved ▢ 1/2 red onion , finely sliced ▢ 1/4 cup crispy fried shallots (Note 1) Shake Dressing ingredients in a jar. Place Salad ingredients except fried shallots in a bowl. Drizzle with Dressing and toss. Sprinkle with fried shallots and served immediately! Nutrition Information: Yes my hand is that small. Yes his paw is that big!! 😂 I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Free Recipe eBooks

Join my free email list to receive THREE free cookbooks! Reader Interactions Leave a Comment Cancel reply I’m an avid RTE cook and I love your recipes, especially the Asian ones! Hailing out of Israel, we can get most ingredients here but it’s hard to find authentic Asian restaurants. When I need something real, I check here and make that. We loved this salad and your tasty vinaigrette and we are going to make it again for the Jewish New Year’s dinner tonight! Thank you for wonderful foods and moments with loved ones who enjoy along! Reply I’m an avid RTE cook and I love your recipes, especially the Asian ones! Hailing out of Israel, we can get most ingredients here but it’s hard to find authentic Asian restaurants. When I need something real, I check here and make that. We loved this salad and your tasty vinaigrette and we are going to make it again for the Jewish New Year’s dinner tonight! Thank you for wonderful foods and moments with loved ones who enjoy along! Hubby only likes salads made with iceberg lettuce, of which I am not a huge fan. So I made this anyway – he devoured it! Added cucumber (because I had some). A definite winner Reply Hubby only likes salads made with iceberg lettuce, of which I am not a huge fan. So I made this anyway – he devoured it! Added cucumber (because I had some). A definite winner This was delicious! One minor adjustment: we like things sweet so I put more brown sugar, another teaspoon. I actually used shredded cabbage and let it sit in the frig a couple of hours and it was great! It was like Asian slaw. This dressing could go on just about any salad and is definitely a keeper. Many thanks! Reply This was delicious! One minor adjustment: we like things sweet so I put more brown sugar, another teaspoon. I actually used shredded cabbage and let it sit in the frig a couple of hours and it was great! It was like Asian slaw. This dressing could go on just about any salad and is definitely a keeper. Many thanks! I am 86 years old and love your so easy to follow recipes, I still cook for myself and cost of the ingredients for making your recipes is very cheap. Thank you Nasi , say hello to my friend Dozer. Reply I am 86 years old and love your so easy to follow recipes, I still cook for myself and cost of the ingredients for making your recipes is very cheap. Thank you Nasi , say hello to my friend Dozer. My go to salad when I serve Asian food for dinner, whether it be Chinese or Indian curry. So easy to make and delicious. Reply My go to salad when I serve Asian food for dinner, whether it be Chinese or Indian curry. So easy to make and delicious. Quick, easy and delicious! Added some chilli flakes to the dressing with some extra ginger for extra kick. Love this with poached chicken for lunch (just pop on the dressing immediately prior to eating). I use both toasted cashews and crispy shallots (great way to use up the crumbly bits at the bottom of the bag of cashews 🙂 Reply Quick, easy and delicious! Added some chilli flakes to the dressing with some extra ginger for extra kick. Love this with poached chicken for lunch (just pop on the dressing immediately prior to eating). I use both toasted cashews and crispy shallots (great way to use up the crumbly bits at the bottom of the bag of cashews 🙂 SO simple to cook SO Delicious Really amazed how much flavour !!!! Have passed it along to many friends & Family Reply SO simple to cook SO Delicious Really amazed how much flavour !!!! Have passed it along to many friends & Family Hi Nagi! I plan on making this with your mother’s wonderful gyoza but cannot find fried shallots locally. You suggest shopped cashews as a replacement. Would you suggest salted or unsalted? Thanks so much. Reply Hi Nagi! I plan on making this with your mother’s wonderful gyoza but cannot find fried shallots locally. You suggest shopped cashews as a replacement. Would you suggest salted or unsalted? Thanks so much. Hello: Just wondering if this salad would work with arugula? Love the recipe ideas on your site – everything tastes delicious 😋 Reply Hello: Just wondering if this salad would work with arugula? Love the recipe ideas on your site – everything tastes delicious 😋 Hello: Do you think this recipe would work with just arugula? Thanks 😊 I love finding new recipes on your website – always tasty Reply Hello: Do you think this recipe would work with just arugula? Thanks 😊 I love finding new recipes on your website – always tasty The salad is so simple yet so delicious! My partner has declared it the best salad ever made on Earth haha Reply The salad is so simple yet so delicious! My partner has declared it the best salad ever made on Earth haha Made this salad to go with Massman Lamb shanks and Thai fried rice. As we aren’t keen on raw onion, replaced with chunks of cucumber. The dressing is excellent (guests wanted to know what was in it) and don’t omit the crispy fried shallots! Reply Made this salad to go with Massman Lamb shanks and Thai fried rice. As we aren’t keen on raw onion, replaced with chunks of cucumber. The dressing is excellent (guests wanted to know what was in it) and don’t omit the crispy fried shallots! I love that I can always find what I need on your website Nagi….asked to bring a “leafy salad to go with Asian flavoured tuna”….winner! Congratulations on the book too…it is brilliant. Reply I love that I can always find what I need on your website Nagi….asked to bring a “leafy salad to go with Asian flavoured tuna”….winner! Congratulations on the book too…it is brilliant. Very tasty! Thanks so much for the recipe Nagi, have made it twice now and it’s definitely one of the best salad recipes out there! Reply Very tasty! Thanks so much for the recipe Nagi, have made it twice now and it’s definitely one of the best salad recipes out there! So yummy! I made it as a side dish but was tempted just eat the salad! The dressing is absolutely delicious and so easy to throw together. Reply So yummy! I made it as a side dish but was tempted just eat the salad! The dressing is absolutely delicious and so easy to throw together. Hi Nagi, I want to make the salad dressing for your recipe “Asian Side Salad”, however If all I have is dark soy should I still go ahead? Thank you! Reply No sorry! Dark soy is quite different – it won’t work here! N x Reply Hello: Do you think this recipe would work with just arugula? Thanks 😊 I love finding new recipes on your website – always tasty Reply Hi Nagi, I want to make the salad dressing for your recipe “Asian Side Salad”, however If all I have is dark soy should I still go ahead? Thank you! No sorry! Dark soy is quite different – it won’t work here! N x Reply No sorry! Dark soy is quite different – it won’t work here! N x Hello: Do you think this recipe would work with just arugula? Thanks 😊 I love finding new recipes on your website – always tasty Reply Hello: Do you think this recipe would work with just arugula? Thanks 😊 I love finding new recipes on your website – always tasty I made this with an ahi tuna dish and it was sooo good. Reply I made this with an ahi tuna dish and it was sooo good. The dressing was delicious and everyone loved it. I am glad I discovered “recipetineats”. The recipes are simple to follow and very tasty. Thanks Nagi! Reply The dressing was delicious and everyone loved it. I am glad I discovered “recipetineats”. The recipes are simple to follow and very tasty. Thanks Nagi! Thanks Nagi for the Asian Salad, another fabulous recipe from you. Delicious. I substituted lime juice for the rice vinegar last time and that seemed to work well too. Reply I’m so glad you enjoyed it Robyn! N x Reply Thanks Nagi for the Asian Salad, another fabulous recipe from you. Delicious. I substituted lime juice for the rice vinegar last time and that seemed to work well too. I’m so glad you enjoyed it Robyn! N x Reply I’m so glad you enjoyed it Robyn! N x Hi Nagi, yet another perfect recipe from you! This dressing is so tasty and perfect. I am wondering how long this dressing would keep if I made a batch if it at a time and stored it in a mason jar in the fridge. Thanks! Reply Hi Ropa, I’m so happy you loved it. As a general rule of thumb, I keep dressing for 3-4 days as it has garlic in it. N x Reply Hi Nagi, yet another perfect recipe from you! This dressing is so tasty and perfect. I am wondering how long this dressing would keep if I made a batch if it at a time and stored it in a mason jar in the fridge. Thanks! Hi Ropa, I’m so happy you loved it. As a general rule of thumb, I keep dressing for 3-4 days as it has garlic in it. N x Reply Hi Ropa, I’m so happy you loved it. As a general rule of thumb, I keep dressing for 3-4 days as it has garlic in it. N x