My favorite Thai Salad with Spicy Cashew Dressing might look familiar – I revisited this fan favorite recipe from my second book, Body Love Everyday – and tweaked it to have more protein and crunch!
Ever come back to an old go-to recipe and give it a new twist? That’s exactly what I did with this vibrant, flavor-packed Thai Salad with Spicy Cashew Dressing. This time, I upgraded the protein, amped up the micronutrients, and added a whole new level of crunch and satisfaction. Texture lovers – this one's for you!
Where this salad hit the marks of my Fab Four Formula before, it’s even better this time around. This salad checks every box and then some.
The Remix: What’s New?
The original version of my Thai Salad used chickpeas for plant-based protein, but this time I swapped in roasted chicken to boost the protein content and ease of assimilation – perfect for a more sustained blood sugar response, increased satiety, and protein synthesis benefits.
I also added red bell pepper for a pop of color and vitamin C, and swapped microgreens for green onions – because sometimes, you just use what you have! A generous sprinkle of cashews and sesame seeds takes the crunch factor up a notch, and honestly? I’m not mad about it.
Fab Four Breakdown
The Fab Four – protein + fat + fiber + greens – is my loosely structured formula for achieving blood sugar balance and optimized nutrition at every meal, regardless of your eating style. When you hit your 4 marks, it calms hunger hormones, elongates your blood sugar curve, and cuts cravings.
Let’s see how my new twist on an old recipe stacks up:
- Protein: Roasted chicken
- Fat: Avocado, avocado oil, cashews, sesame seeds
- Fiber: Spinach, cabbage, carrots, bell pepper, seed mix
- Greens: Spinach, basil, cilantro, green onions
This salad is not only nutrient-dense and blood sugar balancing, but it’s beautiful and fun – a celebration in a bowl! Bright, bold, and completely satisfying.
Be Well Tips
- Double the dressing and keep it in your fridge – it makes a great dip for raw veggies, a sauce for roasted veggies, or a dressing for tomorrow’s lunch.
- Feel free to swap out the veggies I have listed in the recipe for whatever you happen to have on hand! This recipe is beautifully flexible!
- Shortcut! Instead of roasting your own chicken, grab a pastured rotisserie chicken at the store and shred it to save on time.
It’s the kind of meal that proves eating for blood sugar balance doesn’t have to be boring – it can be colorful, flavorful, and fun.
Still Hungry?
If you’re looking for more satisfying salads that hit the Fab Four marks to balance blood sugar and actually satiate, add these to your list. Light, filling, and as always – they bring the flavor:
