Ginger Ground Beef Salad w/ Peanut Salad Dressing Recipe

This ground beef salad includes a peanut salad dressing that takes it over the top. Ginger, garlic & cilantro give this salad so much flavor.

Do you ever get in a rut with salads? If you think of salads as “boring,” it's probably because you find yourself making the same ole, same ole salad again and again. If that's the case, I've got a great one for you today!

Carrots, cabbage and peanuts give this ground beef salad so much crunch. Ginger, garlic and cilantro add super savory notes. Ground beef gives this salad a protein boost that will actually keep you full. Finally, the peanut salad dressing is the perfect balance of sweet, savory and slightly spicy.

To make the salad, you can start by making the peanut salad dressing. This is a great step to include in your meal prep. If you do make the dressing ahead, store it in the fridge and simply bring to room temperature before adding to the salad.

After making the dressing, you'll mince the garlic and ginger and chop the cilantro. Next you'll cook the beef along with the garlic, ginger and spices. Finally, you'll toss the romaine with carrots, cilantro and cabbage, top with ground beef and top with dressing and peanuts. That's it!

This ground beef salad is easy, savory, filling and completely delicious. I hope you love it!

 

Is this ground beef salad good for meal prep?

Yes! Like all Prep Dish recipes, this ground beef salad was specifically designed for meal prep. What does that mean? It means you can complete a few simple steps ahead of time and this recipe will come together quickly when you're ready to serve dinner. This is the #1 best way to make weeknight dinners less hectic!

To prep this salad ahead, you'll mince the garlic and ginger and cook the ground beef. I also recommend making the peanut sauce dressing ahead of time.

On dish day, when you're ready to serve, all you need to do is chop the cilantro and assemble the salads. Make sure to let the dressing come to room temperature before drizzling on the salads. Enjoy!

What's the nutrition like for this Ginger Ground Beef Salad?

In addition to being totally delicious, this ginger ground beef salad is incredibly nutritious. It's packed with veggies and protein and all kinds of vitamins and micronutrients. Here are the nutritional highlights:

Tamari

Tamari imparts all of the wonderful umami flavor of soy sauce, without the gluten. While most soy sauce in the US is made with wheat, tamari is generally wheat and gluten free, though you should of course look for the gluten free label to be sure if you have an intolerance!

Honey (Antioxidants)

Honey has antibacterial and antioxidant properties, which are strongest in darker honey. Buy raw local honey when possible as filtering the honey can diminish its nutrients.

Peanut Butter (Copper, Folate, Vitamin E, Magnesium)

High in protein, peanuts are legumes rather than actual nuts. They're a great source of folate and vitamin E. Make sure to get peanut butter that contains only peanuts and perhaps a bit of salt to maximize the nutrition.

Garlic (Beneficial Sulfur Compounds, Manganese, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Selenium)

Garlic has been used in homeopathic remedies for thousands of years and is thought to reduce the risk of heart disease, high cholesterol and some types of cancer. Eating garlic may also help prevent colds and other minor illnesses.

Scientists believe these substantial health benefits may stem primarily from garlic's sulfur compounds such as allicin, diallyl disulfide and sallyl cysteine.

Ginger (Antioxidants)

Ginger helps with nausea and indigestion and also provides antibacterial and antioxidant benefits.

Cilantro (Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folate, Potassium, Manganese)

Cilantro supports the health of your brain, possibly reducing the risk of Parkinsons and Alztheimers disease as well as anxiety. In addition, one of cilantro's biggest benefits is its prevention of blood sugar spikes. Finally, cilantro has antimicrobial elements and thus may help prevent food poisoning. It's worth noting that many studies on cilantro use cilantro extract, rather than the leaves.

Carrots (Vitamin A, Vitamin K1, Potassium, Vitamin B6, Antioxidants)

Both budget and kid-friendly, carrots are full of fiber and vitamins. Carrots also contain carotenoids, an antioxidant. As a result, they’re great for eye health, lowering cholesterol, and reducing cancer risk. Both cooking carrots and eating them alongside a source of fat, like the beef in this recipe, can help your body absorb more of the carrots' beta carotene. Beta carotene can then be converted into vitamin A.

Cabbage (Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Folate, Manganese, Vitamin B6, Potassium)

Cabbage contains a particularly high amount of Vitamin K. It's also a great source of Vitamin C and folate. Like other cruciferous vegetables, cabbage is good for reducing inflammation. It's high fiber content also supports healthy digestion.

Romaine (Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folate, Calcium, Potassium)

Romaine lettuce is good for your bones, your immune system and your eye health.

Beef (Iron, Zinc, B Vitamins, Selenium)

Particularly high in iron and zinc, beef also contains vitamin B6, vitamin B12, selenium, niacin phosphorus and, of course, lots of high quality protein.

Grass-fed beef is up to 500% higher in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). CLA may help reduce the risk for some types of cancer and type 2 diabetes. Grass-fed beef also contains up to 5 times as many Omega-3s as conventional beef, so it's worth going with grass-fed if you can.

FAQ – Everything You Want to Know about Ground Beef Salad with Peanut Salad Dressing recipe

Can salads be meal prepped?

Yes! Salads can be meal prepped. Leave the dressing off of the salad until you're ready to enjoy. You may also want to leave off certain ingredients, like tomatoes or berries, until ready to serve so they don't get soggy.

How long do prepped salads last in the fridge?

Prepped salads can last in the fridge for 4-5 days, assuming you wait to add the dressing to the salad.

How do you make meal prep salad not soggy?

Leave the dressing off of meal prepped salads until you're ready to enjoy. Also leave off ingredients like tomatoes, berries, avocado and nuts.

What can I put in my salad for protein?

You can add any meat such as chicken, salmon, shrimp or ground beef, as in the recipe above, to add protein to a salad. If you prefer a meat-free salad, you can also add chickpeas, black beans, lentils, seeds and nuts.

What are the advantages of protein salad?

A “protein salad,” or salad with plenty of protein, will keep you full much longer than a salad without protein.

What is peanut dressing made of?

While recipes will vary, peanut dressing generally includes peanut butter, tamari (or soy sauce), sesame oil and rice vinegar. Our recipe for peanut dressing also includes honey and a touch of sriracha. Some recipes for peanut dressing also include fresh garlic and ginger.

Can you use peanut butter for salad dressing?

Yes! Peanut butter is a delicious ingredient to add to salad dressing. In addition, it adds an extra dose of protein to your salad.

What is a healthy salad dressing?

In my book, the healthiest salad dressing is a homemade dressing. You can try my homemade peanut dressing above or see my roundup of DIY salad dressings, all of which are healthy and delicious.

I want more hearty meal prep salad recipes!