Can you put lettuce in Pad Thai?

While lettuce isn’t a traditional ingredient in Pad Thai, it works surprisingly well in Pad Thai Salad . Adding romaine or iceberg lettuce gives extra crunch and freshness, making the dish lighter and more refreshing. Some creative chefs even use lettuce leaves as wraps for serving Pad Thai Salad, turning it into a fun, handheld appetizer. This adaptation is a great example of how Thai-inspired dishes can evolve without losing their flavor identity.

What are the four types of Thai salad?

Thailand boasts a variety of flavorful salads, each offering a unique sensory experience: Som Tum (Green Papaya Salad): A crunchy, spicy salad with shredded green papaya, chilies, lime, and fish sauce. Yum Nua (Thai Beef Salad): Grilled beef slices tossed with herbs, cucumber, and a tangy lime dressing. Larb (Spicy Minced Meat Salad): Minced chicken or pork with mint, lime, and toasted rice powder. Yum Woon Sen (Glass Noodle Salad): Vermicelli noodles mixed with shrimp, herbs, and spicy-sour dressing. Pad Thai Salad draws inspiration from all these types, blending textures and flavors into a modern, fusion-friendly dish that appeals globally.

What is Pad Thai made of?

Traditional Pad Thai is a stir-fried noodle dish featuring rice noodles, eggs, tofu or shrimp, bean sprouts, peanuts, and garlic. It’s tossed in a sauce made from tamarind paste, fish sauce, palm sugar, and chili flakes, then garnished with lime wedges and crushed peanuts. Pad Thai Salad , on the other hand, swaps out stir-fried noodles for a base of crisp vegetables like cabbage and swiss chard. It keeps the protein element with scrambled egg or tofu and brings in fresh herbs, crunchy cashews, and a creamy almond butter dressing that evokes the nutty, tangy notes of classic Pad Thai sauce.

What is the secret ingredient in Pad Thai?

The secret ingredient that gives Pad Thai its signature flavor is tamarind paste . This dark, tangy fruit concentrate provides the sweet-sour base that balances with the saltiness of fish sauce and the heat of chili peppers. In Pad Thai Salad , a similar balance is achieved with lime juice and white wine vinegar for acidity, almond butter for creamy richness, and a touch of sweetness from natural ingredients like maple syrup or honey. This clever adaptation captures the essence of tamarind without requiring a trip to specialty stores.

Pad Thai Salad: The Most Delicious Thai Recipe To Try Today

Description

This vibrant Thai-inspired salad combines crisp vegetables, fresh herbs, and a creamy almond butter dressing for a light yet satisfying meal. Perfect for a healthy lunch or dinner with a punch of flavor and a hint of spice.

Ingredients

Scale

1 cup cabbage, shredded
4–5 large leaves of swiss chard, sliced/chiffonade
1/2 yellow pepper, sliced thin
1/2 cup bean sprouts
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/4 cup chopped cashews
2 green onions, chopped
2 small chili peppers, diced
1 egg, scrambled
juice of 1/2 a lime
1/2 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1 small garlic clove, minced
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
2 tablespoons almond butter
2–3 tablespoons almond milk

Instructions

Arrange all salad ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
In a separate small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, white wine vinegar, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, ground ginger, almond butter, and 2 tablespoons of almond milk. Add more almond milk as needed to achieve a creamy dressing consistency.
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
Serve immediately and enjoy fresh.

Notes

You can substitute almond butter with peanut butter for a different flavor.
Add grilled chicken or tofu for extra protein.
Adjust chili peppers and red pepper flakes for desired spice level.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl
Calories: 220
Sugar: 5g
Sodium: 220mg
Fat: 16g
Saturated Fat: 2g
Unsaturated Fat: 12g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 15g
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 6g
Cholesterol: 90mg

Keywords: Thai salad, healthy salad, vegetarian Thai salad, almond butter dressing, spicy Thai salad