This raw salad pairs fresh, crisp zucchini and yellow squash with a spicy Thai dressing for a dish that will catch your tastebuds by surprise.

I’ve never been one for raw zucchini, or raw squash of any kind for that matter. This salad changed all of that. I don’t remember what actually inspired me to make this salad, considering that the raw ingredients didn’t actually appeal to me. But that doesn’t really matter now, because all I can think of when I remember this salad is fresh, crunchy summertime vegetables, punctuated by a spicy savory Thai dressing.

I decided to cut the vegetables into matchstick-like pieces, but you could just as easily dice them. Either will work. Just be sure to do the same to all of the vegetables to maintain a consistent texture across the salad. In other words, it’s matchsticks for all or dicing for all.
If you’re not familiar with Thai cooking, fear not. There’s nothing in this recipe that you can’t find on the shelves of your local supermarket. Both Thai fish sauce and Chili Garlic Sauce
should be nestled amongst the soy sauces in the Asian aisle. And I know that the smell of fish sauce is a bit tough to take when you first take a whiff. My recommendation is this…don’t take a whiff! Just mix it into the dressing, holding your breath the whole time, and then trust that the flavor will mellow and a distinctive, pleasant flavor to the dish. Seriously, trust me.
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If you prefer to make this salad vegetarian, replace the fish sauce with extra soy sauce.
The recipe:
The salad:
In a medium-sized bowl, combine the zucchini, yellow squash, red bell pepper, cilantro and mint.
The dressing:
In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, soy sauce, fish sauce, rice vinegar, agave nectar and chili garlic paste.
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine. Serve.
Other zucchini recipes:

Cookin’ Canuck’s Quick Mushorom, Zucchini & Thyme Saute with Fried Egg
Cookin’ Canuck’s Grilled Zucchini Roll with Goat Cheese, Roasted Peppers & Capers
The Perfect Pantry’s Zucchini Ribbon Salad
The Vintage Mixer’s Hazelnut Zucchini Bread
So Hungry I Could Blog’s Grilled Chopped Ratatouille Salad
Tricolor Thai Salad Recipe with Zucchini & Yellow Squash
From the kitchen of Cookin Canuck. www.cookincanuck.com
Ingredients
The salad
- 1 medium zucchini, cut into matchsticks
- 1 medium yellow squash, cut into matchsticks
- 1 red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp minced cilantro
- 1 tbsp minced mint leaves
The dressing
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp fish sauce
- 1 tsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp agave nectar or honey
- 1/4 tsp chili garlic paste
Directions
The salad:
- In a medium-sized bowl, combine the zucchini, yellow squash, red bell pepper, cilantro and mint.
The dressing:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, soy sauce, fish sauce, rice vinegar, agave nectar and chili garlic paste.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine. Serve.
Recipe Notes
These are some of the ingredients used in this recipe:
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Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
This Thai salad is lovely! So full of fun flavours and colours. Great summer recipe!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Thank you, Katrina! I was so taken with the flavors in this salad.
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says
We are on the same wavelength this morning!! Love this idea for all of that zucchini growing right now!!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
It looks as though we were both craving these flavors. And yes, I love playing with zucchini at this time of year.
Sommer @ ASpicyPerspective says
This is the most gorgeous salad, ever!! Love the colors and that dressing looks fabulous! 🙂
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Thanks so much, Sommer! It’s a keeper, that’s for certain.
Tieghan says
This looks so good. I love that thai dressing! such a perfect quick and easy summer dish!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Thanks, Tieghan! It’s amazing what a good dressing can do to somewhat plain veggies.
Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com says
Such a refreshing salad! so glad to have stumbled on your blog today
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Thanks, Shashi! I so glad you stumbled in and I hope you’ll be back.
Kalyn says
Wow, this looks like a total winner. Love everything in that dressing.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Thanks, Kalyn. I ate two bowlfuls of this right away. It’s a winner, for certain.
Lauren @ Climbing Grier Mountain says
Anything with Thai flavors is a winner in my book! Gorgeous!!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
I agree, Lauren. Thank you!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
This salad looks so good, love the summery veggies and Thai dressing!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Thanks, Laura! We fell in love with these flavors.
kirsten@FarmFreshFeasts says
Dara,
What a great idea to flavor summer veggies with Thai seasonings!
I like how my kitchen will stay cool with this salad.
Thanks!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Thanks, Kirsten. I was drawn to the “no cooking” aspect of this salad, too.
rachel says
I absolutely am loving all the colors and flavors in this salad, Dara!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Thank you, Rachel! I always love food that’s photogenic. 🙂
The Café Sucré Farine says
I’m on such a Thai kick right now, in fact I’m posting a Thai salad on my blog right now and have been enjoying these flavors for the past week. Your salad sounds and looks wonderful Dara!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Thank you! I’ll have to head over to check out your Thai salad. I can’t get enough of those flavors, either.
Donna says
A few years ago I made Michael Symon’s Zucchioni Crudo salad, and became a raw zucchini convert. This gorgreous salad looks right up there with his – on my Must Try this summner list!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
That sounds wonderful, Donna! I’ll have to look up that recipe.
addie | culicurious says
This looks so fresh and tasty! Love the flavor combination in that dressing! 🙂
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Thanks, Addie! It’s a salad dressing that I never tire of.
Sandy @ RE says
The colors of summer and the garden. LOVE this, Dara!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Thank you, Sandy! Yes, I am so inspired by all of the fresh produce available right now. I wish it would never end!
Paula - bell'alimento says
Love that dressing Dara! This looks so refreshing.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Thanks, Paula. It’s always a crowd pleaser!
Nutmeg Nanny says
This looks so vibrant 🙂 I love this, must make soon!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck) says
Thank you, Brandy! I loved the colors in this one, too.
Nessa says
This looks great!
Jeanette says
I love fish sauce! It’s definitely strong if you take a whiff, and I think it scares a lot of people off, so your tip of just holding your breath for a brief moment when mixing in is great. It’s such a great ingredient, wouldn’t want anyone to miss out. Love how pretty your Thai salad is Dara!
Sandy Coughlin says
This salad is almost too pretty to eat! Love using healthy (and pretty!) side dishes at my dinner parties. Definitely trying this soon!
Lucretia says
This was amazing. I used my spiralizer for the zucchini and yellow squash. I could it this every day for lunch. Thanks for a great recipe
Lucretia says
*eat it every day