Thai Salad Recipe: Sweet, Salty and Ready in 10 Minutes 2026

This Thai salad brings the unmistakable flavors of Thailand to your table in just 10 minutes. It is a simple preparation built on a surprising combination of sweet and salty notes, with juicy mango, crisp carrot and a bright lime-soy dressing.

Everything comes together with pantry-friendly ingredients and no cooking at all, so it works beautifully as a light starter or first course. Serve it on its own or alongside grilled shrimp, rice noodles or strips of chicken or beef sautéed in a wok.

Ingredients for Thai Salad

This makes 2 servings as a starter or side.

• 1 garlic clove
• 30 g shallot or onion
• 1 teaspoon chopped chili (optional)
• ½ mango
• 6 cherry tomatoes
• 75 g carrot
• 1 tablespoon peanuts
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• ½ tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon cilantro leaves

How to Make Thai Salad Step by Step

1. Crush the aromatics

Crush or mash 1 peeled garlic clove together with 30 g of chopped shallot. If you like a spicy kick, add 1 teaspoon of chopped chili at this point.

2. Marinate the mango

Peel and cut half a mango into thin slices, then mix it in a bowl with the shallot and garlic mixture. Let it sit while you prepare the vegetables so the fruit takes on the savory aromatics.

3. Cut the vegetables and peanuts

Wash and quarter 6 cherry tomatoes. Wash, peel and cut 75 g of carrot into thin sticks. Roughly chop 1 tablespoon of peanuts.

4. Mix and dress

Combine all the cut ingredients in a bowl with the marinated mango. Add the dressing ingredients: 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon lime juice and ½ tablespoon brown sugar, then toss to coat.

5. Serve

Serve the Thai salad immediately, topped with 1 tablespoon of washed and roughly chopped cilantro leaves.

Tips for the Best Thai Salad

Make it a full meal

Add grilled shrimp or prawns and some rice noodles to turn this starter into a more complete dish. Sliced scallions or bean sprouts also bring a lovely fresh crunch.

Switch up the dressing

Soy sauce is easy to find and works well here, but fish sauce gives the dressing a particularly deep umami note if you have it on hand. Taste and adjust the lime and sugar to your liking.

How to serve it

Enjoy it on its own as a starter or first course, or as a side with wok-seared chicken or beef strips. It also pairs wonderfully with fish dishes.

30 Top Recipes I Enjoy Cooking at Home

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a balanced lineup ready to go: simple comfort dishes, well-known international plates, and desserts that make everyone happy.

On nights when I want something rich and indulgent, my picks tend to be this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this elegant Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a decadent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And whenever something fruity and soothing sounds good, this classic French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I keep coming back to.

For quick breakfasts and lighter plates, these fluffy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe are a regular in my rotation, along with a satisfying Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe and these fresh Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple to keep in the pantry, this simple Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe is one I like to prepare.

When tapas and Mediterranean flavors are calling, I move between this bold Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, creamy Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and refreshing Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is also a favorite of mine to serve when the occasion calls for something a bit more special.

For filling lunches and cozy dinners, these are the ones I always point people toward: this comforting Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, rich Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and creamy Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. And if I'm after something even heartier, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a rustic Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the ultra-comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street food and party-style plates are another mood I cook for often, and that usually means this juicy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, flavorful Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crunchy Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These easy Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another one I like to set out as a no-fuss appetizer or snack.

And when I'm building drinks and a full spread for company, dinner often gets paired with this refreshing Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this bold Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the table, this tangy French Remoulade Sauce recipe works great on the side, and this striking Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe makes a beautiful finish.

Additional Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of testing and fine-tuning recipes in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the strongest dishes rely on three things: simplicity, techniques you can trust, and serious flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the ones I genuinely keep coming back to—whether it's a fast meal just for me or something a little more special for friends and family.

On the dessert side, the rich and silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I reach for when I want something elegant without much effort. Another sweet favorite is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, inspired by the famous Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better texture in desserts comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something fresh and unfussy is what I'm after, I usually reach for the classic Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a perfectly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For heavier comfort food, I'm quick to suggest the satisfying Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the quick weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

Traditional dishes from around the world are another thing I love to share, among them the authentic Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the classic Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is a category I turn to often too, since it saves time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my comforting Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

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