Forget the traditional mandarin orange salad — this Chopped Asian Salad is bursting with flavor in every bite and protein-packed with edamame and sweet chili glazed shrimp.
Before we get to today’s recipe, can we talk about how crazy the weather was this weekend? I don’t know about you, but when I woke up Saturday morning to 38-degree weather I thought I had taken a time machine back to March. Dear Mother Nature, you can stop being a pain in the butt at any time now. Sincerely, Lauren.
Luckily the weather didn’t keep Mr. MLS and I from having fun with our old neighbor from Minnesota and her little boy. The two of them were kind enough to drive down and see us this weekend, and we had a blast cooking, baking, playing and going to the farmers market together. Warmer weather would have been nice, but I’ll take friends over warmer temperatures every day if I have to.
What did you do this weekend? Any exploring? Any kitchen adventures? I love knowing what you guys have been up to! Aside from hanging out with our friends, I was also busy making this amazingly delicious Chopped Asian Salad with Sweet Chili Glazed Shrimp.
When you think of an asian salad, you probably think about mandarin oranges, sliced almonds and crispy Chinese noodles. That’s what most restaurants put on these kinds of salads. As a person who doesn’t really like fruit in their salad (call me crazy, but that’s just how I am!), I was inspired to create a different kind of asian salad — a more satisfying, crunchy and mouthwatering kind.
Let’s talk about how this salad is made. You won’t believe it only takes five steps!! First, you start by prepping and mixing together a bunch of fresh veggies — romaine, red cabbage, edamame, carrots, bell peppers and green onions. Then there’s the shrimp. My favorite part! This shrimp is made extra sweet and spicy because it is slathered in Thai sweet chili sauce. AKA one of the best sauces on the planet.
Licking the sweet chili sauce off the brush is encouraged once you’re done marinating the shrimp … it’s too good to waste! 😉 This salad is topped off with sesame seeds, which adds a nutty flavor to the dish and makes it look extra pretty, too!
- 2 heads romaine, shredded
- 1 ½ cups red cabbage, shredded
- 1 cup frozen edamame, thawed
- 3 carrots, julienned
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 1 lb. frozen shrimp, thawed
- 3 tablespoons Thai sweet chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- Additional Thai sweet chili sauce for serving
- Preheat the oven broiler. Place romaine, red cabbage, edamame, carrots, bell pepper, green onions and sesame seeds in a large bowl and toss to combine.
- In a small bowl, combine Thai sweet chili sauce and Sriracha.
- Place shrimp on a baking sheet and brush with marinade. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and cook under broiler about five minutes until slightly opaque, flipping halfway through.
- Top salad with shrimp and additional sweet chili sauce and toss to combine.
- Serve immediately or let everything marinade for a few hours and serve later.
- Tip: The longer it sits, the more flavorful it gets!
What a gorgeous salad, Lauren! I love when you can eat the rainbow! 🙂 Sounds just perfect with that glazed shrimp!
Ohhhh yum! This looks sooooo tasty. I want to try it. Pinned!
Just love the sauce! Sweet, spicy, and zesty!
The weather has been pretty nuts here, too. It’ll be nice and blue-skied, then the clouds swoop in and it starts raining during the afternoons. I can’t complain because we need all the precip we can get after a few years of drought. Looking forward to summer, though!
This salad looks fabulous! I love that it only requires a few steps and not much time. Now my mouth’s watering for shrimp!
I want to completely devour all the shrimp. Love the sound of the sweet chili glaze!!
I love all the colors and flavors! Can’t wait to try it.
Best,
Chrystal
Thanks so much Chrystal!
I looooove Asian-inspired food. This salad looks delicious, Lauren. 🙂
Thanks Raia! Have a fabulous day!
So yummy with those beautiful shrimp. My husband would love this. We’re big fans of Asian inspired food in our home.
Thanks Emily! My husband and I really love Asian inspired food, too! Do you have a fav recipe you make often?
I love colorful salads! This looks delicious! xo, Kristina
Thanks so much Kristina! Hope your Monday is off to a good start!
This looks delicious. I can’t pass up a salad with shrimp! Not to mention edamame. They are so addictive!
Thanks so much Amy! Gotta love protein. I can’t live without it!
YUM! I’ll be right over!
~jules
Ooooh yum! This salad looks perfect! Of course you know I love shrimp, and thai sweet chili sauce is the best! I could eat this salad anytime! And our weather was kind of weird this weekend too. After having very warm and sunny weather for a long time, we had grey, rainy PNW style weather. I didn’t mind because I really needed to clean my house and the rainy weather makes it easier to stay inside! Glad you had a great weekend dear, pinning this!
The weather was crazy this weekend! When I walked outside and it was cold Friday I was like “whhaaaa?!” I’m glad the weather didn’t keep you from having fun with your neighbor!! Glad you guys had a blast this weekend, dear! LOVING this Shrimp Salad, chicka!! I am kinda obsessed with sweet chili sauce, so this looks beyond perfect for me! Lots of fresh crunchy veggies and plump shrimp? Heck yes! I’ll take 5 bowls please! Cheers, friend! xoxo
This looks so delicious – and so colourful! What an awesome salad!
This recipe looks amazing! Would love to try something like this, specially for my husband. He loves these kind of food. It will be great thing for him. Thanks for sharing!
It has been really cold in my neck of the woods for Spring too! I’m sure I’ll miss it in the muggy, hot summer though 🙂
These flavors look so great! Yum!
I am so ready for warm weather to come and stay too Lauren–but totally agree friends are better!
This salad is gorgeous! The colors alone would make me want to eat it. Yum!
such a beautiful salad, perfect for a summer evening at home!
What a gorgeous salad! It’s definitely feeling more like salad weather lately, great timing to keep me out of a salad lull.
Love the colors! This looks amazing!
So fresh and flavorful! YUM 🙂
Thanks for sharing this at Savoring Saturdays, Lauren! 🙂