Can you ever get enough of Pad Thai? I’m thinking not, as it hasn’t happened to me yet! Today’s version of Pad Thai is far from the classic but stick with me because Pad Thai is delicious in all its forms. I’ll admit to being of the school of thinking ‘Why mess with a good thing’, but over the years I’ve begun to branch out with my recipes. And today’s salad version of Pad Thai is just such a recipe. With the warmer weather of summer coming, I wanted to create all the same comforting flavors, but in the refreshing form of a salad. So I pulled together a rainbow of veggies along with zucchini noodles and topped them with a flavorful Pad Thai dressing. And despite it being a departure from the classic, it’s been a huge hit. So if you love Pad Thai, but want something bright and refreshing for the summer months, I’ve got you covered! I kept the recipe 100% vegan which makes it great to take to any potluck because it fits so many different diet restrictions, (paleo, clean eating, gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegetarian to name a few). Sometimes though I do add a bit of fish sauce to the dressing, and top it with grilled chicken/shrimp for protein. With a bit of added protein, it makes a substantial meal, with no need to turn the stove on – which is a big bonus in my book! Traditional Pad Thai sauce never has peanut butter/cashew butter in it. But I feel this super creamy sauce with the touch of cashew butter really makes this salad! After you’ve blended up the dressing, it’s on to the spiralized zucchini and cucumber noodles. I used the 6mm blade on the Paderno 3-blade spiralizer because it creates a thicker noodle that I love in this salad. Finally, you chop up all the veggies along with fresh mango. I love using the Champagne/Ataulfo variety of mango, (recognizable by its yellow/orange skin) because it’s extra sweet with a silky smooth texture. Finally, a sprinkling of chopped cashews, and a little fresh cilantro is the perfect finish. If you want to pack some of this for lunch the next day, keep the cashews and dressing separately. The salad without the mango and avocado will keep up to 4 days. But the mango and avocado do tend to brown after 24 hours, so be sure and add it in fresh. 5 from 9 reviews
