Crisp Crunchy Cabbage Salad Recipe: A Refreshing Summer Twist

Crisp and refreshing, this delightful crunchy cabbage salad brings vibrant textures to your meal with an unexpected twist.

Shredded leaves dance alongside zesty seasonings, creating a symphony of flavors that awaken your taste buds.

Minimal ingredients combine for maximum impact, making this dish surprisingly simple to prepare.

Cool and light, the salad offers a perfect balance between nutrition and taste.

Mediterranean herbs and a tangy dressing elevate each bite into something special.

Colorful vegetables add visual appeal and nutritional depth to the mix.

You’ll want to make this salad again and again, so grab your chopping board and let’s get started!

Why Crunchy Cabbage Salad Is A Total Crunch-Fest

• Boost Nutrition Powerhouse: Packed with raw vegetables like cabbage, cucumber, and carrots, this salad delivers a massive nutritional punch loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
• Master Versatile Meal Solution: Perfect as a standalone side dish or easily transformed into a complete meal by adding proteins like grilled chicken, tofu, or shrimp for extra substance.
• Create Quick Kitchen Magic: Requires minimal cooking skills and basic ingredients, making it an ideal recipe for beginners or busy individuals seeking a fast, healthy meal option.
• Customize Flavor Adventure: Incredibly adaptable salad that allows personal tweaks like swapping nuts, adjusting dressing sweetness, or incorporating different vegetable combinations to match personal taste preferences.

What’s Inside Crunchy Cabbage Salad

• Green Cabbage: A crisp and hearty base that provides a fresh and sturdy foundation for the salad.
• Red Cabbage: Adds vibrant color and additional crunch to the vegetable mix.
• Cucumber: Brings a cool and refreshing element to the salad.
• Carrot: Offers a sweet and crunchy texture with bright orange color.
• Onion: Provides a sharp and zesty flavor to enhance the overall taste.

• Walnuts: Delivers a rich, nutty flavor and satisfying crunch to the salad.

• Garlic, Olive Oil, Honey, Mustard, Rice Vinegar, Soy Sauce: A balanced combination that creates a smooth, flavorful dressing with sweet, tangy, and savory notes.

• Salt: Helps to soften vegetables and enhance the overall flavor profile of the salad.

How To Make Crunchy Cabbage Salad Pop

Step 1: Prep Cabbage Base

Grab green and red cabbage and slice them super thin using a sharp knife. Transfer the delicate ribbons into a spacious mixing bowl.

Gently massage the green cabbage with salt to soften its texture and release natural flavors.

Step 2: Build Vegetable Layer

Add crisp cucumber slices to the cabbage.

Thinly slice red onion and incorporate into the mix. Shred carrot using a grater or create delicate matchsticks for extra visual appeal.

Step 3: Add Nutty Dimension

Roughly chop walnuts to create delightful crunchy fragments. Sprinkle these nutty pieces throughout the vegetable medley.

Step 4: Whip Up Zesty Dressing

• Minced garlic
• Olive oil
• Honey
• Dijon mustard
• Rice vinegar
• Soy sauce

Whisk ingredients until they transform into a smooth, well-blended sauce.

Step 5: Balance Dressing Flavors

Taste the dressing and adjust according to preference.

Want more sweetness? Add extra honey.

Craving more tanginess? Splash additional vinegar.

Step 6: Marry Salad Components

Pour dressing over vegetable mixture. Toss thoroughly ensuring every ingredient gets beautifully coated.

Allow salad to rest for 10 minutes, letting flavors meld and intensify.

Step 7: Final Seasoning Check

Give salad a final toss.

Taste and sprinkle additional salt if needed.

Step 8: Serve with Flair

Present as a stunning side dish or transform into a complete meal by adding protein like grilled chicken or tofu.

Pro Tips For Perfect Crunchy Cabbage Salad

• Massage cabbage with salt to soften and release moisture, creating a more tender texture. This technique helps break down the tough fibers, making the salad easier to chew and digest.
• Customize the dressing by experimenting with different vinegars like apple cider or white wine vinegar for unique flavor profiles. Each type of vinegar brings its own subtle nuance to the overall taste.
• Toast walnuts briefly in a dry pan before chopping to enhance their nutty flavor and add extra depth to the salad. Toasting releases natural oils and creates a more intense, rich taste.
• Prepare the salad ahead of time and let it sit in the refrigerator for a few hours to allow flavors to meld together. The vegetables will absorb the dressing, creating a more harmonious and delicious dish.

Zingy Variations For Crunchy Cabbage Salad

• Asian Fusion Salad: Replace rice vinegar with sesame oil and add toasted sesame seeds for an authentic Asian flavor profile.
• Mediterranean Magic: Swap walnuts for pine nuts, include crumbled feta cheese, and use lemon juice instead of rice vinegar for a Mediterranean touch.
• Spicy Southwest Crunch: Add diced jalapeños, replace honey with agave nectar, include chopped cilantro, and sprinkle chili powder for a bold southwestern kick.
• Protein Power Salad: Mix in grilled chicken strips, quinoa, and edamame beans to transform the salad into a complete protein-packed meal with additional nutritional value.

Pairings That Make Crunchy Cabbage Salad Shine

• Pair with Crisp White Wine: Select a light, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio that complements the salad's crunchy texture and bright vinegar notes, cutting through the richness of walnuts.
• Enhance with Grilled Protein: Top the salad with seared chicken breast, grilled salmon, or tofu for a protein-packed meal that balances the vegetable's freshness and adds substantial nutrition.
• Match with Rustic Bread: Serve alongside a crusty sourdough or whole grain baguette to provide a hearty contrast to the salad's light and tangy profile, perfect for soaking up extra dressing.

How To Keep Crunchy Cabbage Salad Crisp

• Refrigerate in Airtight Container: Store leftovers in a sealed glass or plastic container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. Keep salad crisp by placing a paper towel on top to absorb excess moisture.
• Drain Excess Liquid: Before serving refrigerated salad, drain any accumulated liquid and give it a quick toss to redistribute the dressing and restore crunchiness.
• Avoid Freezing: Do not freeze this cabbage salad as the vegetables will become soggy and lose their crisp texture when thawed.
• Quick Refresh: If salad seems slightly wilted, sprinkle fresh chopped nuts on top and add a small splash of rice vinegar to revive the flavors and texture before serving.

Everything You’ve Asked About Crunchy Cabbage Salad

• Why massage the cabbage with salt?

Massaging helps break down the tough cabbage fibers, making it softer and more tender. This technique also helps the cabbage absorb flavors better and reduces its raw, harsh texture.

• Can I substitute rice vinegar?

Yes, you can use apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar as alternatives. Each will bring a slightly different tangy flavor to the dressing, but they’ll work well in the recipe.

• Are walnuts necessary for the salad?

While walnuts add a nice crunch and nutty flavor, you can replace them with sunflower seeds, sliced almonds, or skip nuts entirely if you have allergies or preferences.

• How do I get crisp vegetables for the salad?

Use fresh, firm vegetables and slice them thinly.

Crunchy Cabbage Salad Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 25 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Crisp and refreshing Chinese cabbage salad brings zesty Asian-inspired flavors to your table with a delightful crunch. Bold sesame and ginger notes dance through each bite, making this simple side dish a crowd-pleasing sensation you won’t want to miss.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Vegetables:

• 1/3 whole green cabbage, shredded
• 1/3 whole red cabbage, shredded
• 1 large cucumber, thinly sliced
• 1/2 medium onion, finely sliced
• 1 medium carrot, julienned or grated
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Nuts and Seasonings:

• 20 grams (0.7 ounces) walnuts, roughly chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)

Dressing Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon natural honey
• 2 tablespoons mustard
• 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Shred green and red cabbage into a large salad bowl, using hands to massage 1/4 teaspoon salt into green cabbage, helping leaves soften and relax.
2. Slice cucumber and add to cabbage mixture, optionally sprinkling with a pinch of remaining salt to enhance flavor profile.
3. Thinly slice onion and incorporate into vegetable blend, then julienne or grate carrot, adding it to the mix for textural complexity.
4. Roughly chop walnuts into smaller fragments, maintaining their signature crunch, and scatter throughout the salad.
5. Create dressing by whisking minced garlic, olive oil, honey, mustard, rice vinegar, and soy sauce in a small bowl until smooth and fully emulsified.
6. Fine-tune dressing by adjusting sweetness with additional honey or increasing tanginess with extra vinegar to suit personal taste preferences.
7. Drizzle prepared dressing over salad, thoroughly coating vegetables and allowing ingredients to marinate for 10 minutes, enabling flavors to harmonize.
8. Perform final toss, evaluating seasoning and adding salt if necessary to balance overall taste.
9. Present as a vibrant side dish or transform into a complete meal by incorporating protein of choice.

Notes

• Massage cabbage with salt to break down fibers, creating a more tender texture and reducing raw bitterness.
• Slice vegetables uniformly for consistent texture and even dressing distribution throughout the salad.
• Toast walnuts briefly before chopping to enhance their nutty flavor and add extra crunch to the dish.
• Customize dressing by adjusting honey and vinegar levels to suit personal taste preferences or dietary needs.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: None
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 150
• Sugar: 5g
• Sodium: 200mg
• Fat: 10g
• Saturated Fat: 1.5g
• Unsaturated Fat: 7g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 15g
• Fiber: 4g
• Protein: 3g
• Cholesterol: 0mg