Crunchy alert! Asian Chopped Salad recipe with gluten-free Crispy Chow Mein Noodles and chopped bok choy is a bowl of crunchy deliciousness. With bok choy, carrots, toasted almonds, and crispy noodles, this easy chopped Asian salad is perfect for a potluck, family dinner, and your holiday table! Get ready for a whole lot of crunch and yum!

Feature image shows the salad chopped with crispy noodles

Crunch 100% – Asian Chopped Salad with Crispy Chow Mein Noodles (paleo, gluten-free)

Which one do you like more? Crispy noodles or crisp-tender chopped salad? I almost had a hard time deciding which ingredient should be the star of today’s dish – crunchy chopped baby bok choy and sweet carrots or crispy chow mein noodles?

As you eat your way through the bowl, you get that fantastic combo of tender-crisp chopped veggies, toasted almonds, and the best part…all the crispy chow mein noodle bits, all tossed in a creamy roasted Japanese-inspired sesame dressing.

It’s crazy good!!!

Best of all, this easy chopped Asian salad can be served on the table in 20 minutes!

What is a chopped salad?

A chopped salad can come in all shapes and forms with various ingredients. Crisp and crunchy texture is a must in a chopped salad. Think julienned carrots, celery, chopped bok choy, napa cabbage, shredded green or purple cabbage, Romaine lettuce, and with toasted nuts. The possibilities are endless but the crunch is a must!

To keep the recipe simple, I only selected 5 main components in my salad today.

Ingredients for the salad dish

Ingredients for my Asian-inspired chopped salad

See? I told you this recipe is super easy and because it’s quick to assemble, I can totally see it goes well with practically anything!

How to make Asian Chopped Salad

Tip No. 1 – Don’t get the bagged salad kits! Most of the time, store-bought chopped salad kits aren’t fresh. Making an Asian chopped salad is super easy. Follow these simple steps:

  • Chopped the baby bok choy. Rinse and set aside to drain.
Steps on how to make the recipe - step 1 chop the baby bok choy
  • Julienne the carrots.
step 2- Julienne the carrots
  • Toss the almonds and chow mein noodles in a saute pan with little olive oil until golden toasty
Step 3 lightly toast the chow mein noodles with almonds on a stovetop
  • Toss them together with a creamy dressing. I recommend my roasted sesame dressing and season with salt to taste.
  • Serve and enjoy a load of crunch!
Step 4 combine the ingredients and add the dressing

Best Dressings for Chopped Salad Recipe

Because the veggies are heartier and with a firmer texture, a creamy dressing will be the best pairing. To keep it Asian-inspired, I use toasted sesame dressing. You can also use my Asian peanut sauce, or Thai peanut sauce, all made with almond butter.

Whole30 ranch yogurt dressing, creamy caper chive, or herbed tahini from my Whole30 salad dressings collection will bring out a different flavor profile to the chopped salad. They are all fantastic choices!

Paleo Japanese Roasted Sesame Salad Dressing recipe is Whole30 and easy to make with no added sugar.

Salad Variations and Swap Suggestions

  • Add cooked proteins to make the salad heartier and turn it into a main dish. Grilled chicken, beef, pork, or seafood are all fabulous.
  • Use napa cabbage, and shredded green and purple cabbage, if you can’t find bok choy.
  • Add chopped celery for more crunch.
  • If you can’t have almonds, try seeds. Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, and sesame seeds.

Tips for the best crunch! Make ahead and storage

Remember your number 1 goal is to keep the salad crunch and fresh!

The idea of this salad is that with every bite you get a big spoonful of crisp-tender veggies and a whole lot of crunch from the chow mein noodles and toasted almonds, so only combine the two – veggies and the noodles – with the dressing right before serving.

What I like to do is to 1) chop the veggies first and store them in an airtight container. 2) Store the dressing separately. 3) Only toast the almonds and the noodles before you are about to serve. 4) When you combine them, toss the dressing with the veggies first then sprinkle in the noodles and the almonds then toss again and serve right away.

Individual serving plate with the Asian chopped salad

Pairing suggestions

This wonderful salad goes well with so many things! Here are some of my favorites –

More Bok Choy Recipes

So are you ready for loads of crunch and freshness? This Asian Chopped Salad recipe with crispy chow mein noodles is seriously my new favorite! It’s like a grown-up version of ramen noodle salad and with more crunch, more freshness, and a whole lot healthier. So grab some crunchy veggies on your way home, chop chop chop, and toss! I guarantee you’ll love the crunch and freshness of every single bite!

Feature image shows the salad chopped with crispy noodles
5 from 9 votes

Asian Chopped Salad Recipe with Crispy Chow Mein Noodles

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Author: ChihYu Smith
Asian Chopped Salad Recipe with gluten-free crispy chow mein noodles is a bowl of crunchy deliciousness for the perfect healthy salad!
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Ingredients 

For the roasted sesame dressing (makes ½ cup. Double the quantity to make 1 cup) :

For the Asian Chopped Salad:

Instructions 

For the sesame dressing:

For the chopped salad:

  • Dice the bok choy to smaller bite sizes. Rinse and drain well.
    Steps on how to make the recipe - step 1 chop the baby bok choy
  • Julienne the carrots. Add the bok choy and carrots to a large mixing bowl.
    step 2- Julienne the carrots
  • Warm-up a medium-size skillet, add the olive oil. Add the chow mein noodles and almonds. Gently toss over low heat for about 5 minutes or until you can smell a light roasted almond aroma. Take care not to burn the nuts. Season with 2 small pinch of salt or the mushroom seasoning.
    Step 3 lightly toast the chow mein noodles with almonds on a stovetop

To Serve:

  • Toss the veggies with the dressing. Season with salt to taste. Right before serving, sprinkle-in the noodles and almonds. Toss the whole salad bowl again and divide it into individual serving bowls/plates. Enjoy it right away!
    Step 4 combine the ingredients and add the dressing

Notes

Tips for the best crunch! Make ahead and storage:
1) chop the veggies first and store them in an airtight container. 2) Store the dressing separately. 3) Only toast the almonds and the noodles before you are about to serve. 4) When you combine them, toss the dressing with the veggies first then sprinkle-in the noodles and the almonds then toss again and serve right away. 
 
The nutritional label is calculated without the dressing. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 319kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 25g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 1mg, Sodium: 174mg, Potassium: 363mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 5629IU, Vitamin C: 18mg, Calcium: 153mg, Iron: 2mg
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Asian
Keyword: Asian Chopped Salad, Chinese Chopped Salad, Chopped Salad, Chopped Salad Recipe, Crispy Chow Mein Noodles, Easy Chopped Salad
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Tag @iheartumami.ny on Instagram and hashtag it #iheartumami.
Chopped Salad recipe served on two white plates