This is my favorite Asian crunch salad because it is so easy, fast, and full of flavor and crisp texture! Tangy miso salad dressing satisfies one of the most sought after elements, it’s so simple to make! Requiring few ingredients the entire recipe whips up quickly, impresses in a snap, and needs to be on your rotation for weekly meals.
Updated on February 28, 2025
I’m usually on a tight schedule between business, mom life, errands, and basic self care…so I specialize in the quick, yet satisfying meal category. This is my salad go-to when I am starving for something tasty, filling, and on the lighter side.
As a low calorie and fiber-filled salad, it hits the spot with the savory miso salad dressing that makes it feel like I just bought it from Erewhon without spending twenty dollars! (If you’re not from around my parts, that place is a fancier healthy grocery with incredible choices, but comes with the price tag.)
Let’s save the money and make this special, impressive, and wonderfully colorful salad at home. Personally, I am way happier when my food looks beautiful, so no wonder why this salad is a home run.
Miso crunch salad is also versatile, so adding whatever protein and extra veggies you want to give it even more sparkle, is easy peesy.
What is Crunch Salad?
Any salad that is crunchy! In all seriousness, a crisp bite of fresh veggies is what a salad’s all about. For some reason, people love crunchy textures and I’ll have to agree with that.
A salad should be refreshing and though there are only three main ingredients in this salad, they each deliver flavor, crunchy texture, and balanced notes. Add more crunchy ingredients as you like!
Why Try this Salad?
- healthy, filling, fit
- very low fat and high nutrients
- super simple, few ingredients
- meal prep salad friendly
- tasty and satisfying
- vegan option
- gluten free option
Ingredients in Crunch Salad with Miso Salad Dressing
The salad fillings are very basic. Exactly why this healthy recipe is going to be the one you might make the most. It’s refrigerator staples that you can access all the time and makes for an ideal meal prep salad recipe.
- Romaine lettuce – mild taste, nutritious, and crunchy
- Red Cabbage – Thin slice with a mandolin for best results. It adds nutrition and makes this salad filling.
- Carrots – Fresh sweet carrots are best, cut in matchstick or julienne style. Here’s a tip…store carrots submerged IN water, in a glass container, and they last a long time. So pre-prep and you won’t have to worry about cutting them all the time.
- Roasted Peanuts or Almond Slivers – a must for crunch and flavor
- Avocado – (optional) Add as a garnish for adding rich, creamy bites and healthy fat.
That’s all folks!
Make Miso Salad Dressing
My version of miso dressing is so fuss-free that anyone can do it. The ingredients are mostly easy access and miso paste can be purchased at so many stores these days, but the Asian store always has it. Also, miso paste lasts a very long time so you can always have it readily available once it’s in your fridge.
- miso paste – The darker the more salt-forward, but you can use any kind you like. This recipe uses red miso paste which is on the medium level.
- toasted sesame oil – Must be toasted.
- seasoned rice vinegar – Seasoned is already perfect for salads because it has some sugar and salt added.
- honey – a must for the balancing sweetness
- fresh lemon juice – use fresh, not pre-bottled, for the best zesty flavor
It’s optional to use a pinch of toasted sesame seeds as an add-in.
Meal Prep Recipe Tips
Make the salad two ways for meal prep. Either combine the salad ingredients and store in glass meal prep containers, or precut everything and store separately in glass containers to combine later.
Be sure to pat dry everything if you are combining first, then storing. Also, put a paper towel inside the glass jar to help soak any moisture. Your salad will last much longer.
Make the dressing separately, make four times the amount, and then store in little salad dressing meal prep containers.
What is Miso Paste?
Miso paste is widely seen as a Japanese staple ingredient, and if you haven’t discovered miso paste and begun using it in your recipes, now is the time. It can be incorporated easily into salad dressings, sauce, marinades, and in stir fry.
Try These Recipes with Miso
Miso paste is a fermented soybean paste. It has myriad health benefits from probiotics, protein, and vitamins.
Earthy, salty, umami…miso has one of the most tongue-hugging flavors of the world.
types of miso
Basically, the lighter, the more mild and sweet. The darker, the saltier and more potent. This recipe uses red miso that is common at the grocery and it has a nice middle balance of salt. I love red miso in this because the dressing is vibrant, but not overwhelming. Use white miso for the most mild flavor of miso.
does miso go bad?
This is a good ingredient to have in your refrigerator that you can experiment with and make lots of recipes. Best of all, it can last a long time. Due to the salt content, miso is well preserved and stays consistent for almost a year in the back of the refrigerator in a glass container.
Is Miso Gluten Free?
If miso is fermented from soybeans, then yes. If the miso is made from wheat or barley, then no. You can usually find fermented soybean miso at Asian markets.
MORE SALAD RECIPES TO TRY
Recipe Additions
- speckle with Thai chilis
- top with grilled shrimp or salmon
- mix in scallions
- add in chickpeas
- try with baked tofu
Yes. A rainbow of vegetables is nutritious and has fiber. The dressing is light with reduced oil and no added salt. The miso is salty, so use less dressing or only half of the miso.
Yes. Use blue agave instead of honey to make it vegan. Check that you use miso that is fermented from soybeans to ensure it is gluten-free.
Yes. Store leftovers without dressing, in an airtight glass container. Put a paper towel in the container to maintain freshness and reduce moisture.
This foundational salad recipe can be varied in many ways so go ahead…add chicken, shrimp, pork, steak, tofu, or beans!
Crunch Salad with Easy Miso Salad Dressing
Equipment
- 1 whisk
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 1 head of Romaine lettuce chopped
- 1 cup red cabbage very thin sliced
- 1 cup fresh carrots cut like matchsticks or julienned
- ½ cup peanuts or almond slivers
- avocado slices garnish
Miso Salad Dressing
- 1 tbsp miso paste this recipe uses red miso, but you can use light miso as well
- 2 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 tbsp honey
- ½ tbsp fresh lemon juice fresh squeezed is a must
Instructions
Make Miso Salad Dressing
- Combine the dressing ingredients and whisk very well until completely mixed.1 tbsp miso paste, 2 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar, 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil, 1 tbsp honey, ½ tbsp fresh lemon juice
Make Miso Crunch Salad
- Combine the lettuce, red cabbage, and carrots.1 head of Romaine lettuce, 1 cup red cabbage, 1 cup fresh carrots
- Top with nuts and avocado garnish.½ cup peanuts or almond slivers, avocado slices
- Add the dressing. Serve and Enjoy!
Notes
- top with grilled or fried shrimp
- top with grilled chicken or salmon
- add spicy garnishes like pepper flakes or red chilis
LEAVE A COMMENT