Asian Cabbage Salad

Asian Cabbage Salad Recipe

If you don’t already have a salad like this in your repertoire, you need one. The “Asian” cabbage salad has become a mainstay of the American (and apparently Australian!) barbecue, potluck, and picnic and with good reason. It’s quick, easy, delicious, and travels well since the cabbage stays nice and crunchy even hours later. The Asian Cabbage Salad recipe is my pick for this month’s Secret Recipe Club. I was assigned the amazing blog Claire K Creations and, as usual, was torn between more than a few tempting options. The haloumi stuffed coconut chicken nuggets were also in the final running until my oven conked out, making this salad – which I’d had my eye on – a pretty easy choice.

Claire, who hails from Brisbane, Australia, is an amazingly talented blogger and photographer with mouth-watering recipes that all call out to me – seriously, a foodie after my own heart! Check out Claire K Creations if you haven’t already.

Asian Cabbage Salad recipe

But back to the salad – I have to laugh any time I make anything “Asian” – it always reminds me of the Margaret Cho bit where she declares that Asian chicken salad “is not the chicken of my people.” Ha! I’ve also seen this called Chinese Cabbage Salad. Still, it does describe the flavors that you’ll encounter here with soy sauce, mirin, and sesame oil all contributing to the tasty dressing. You can throw in whatever vegetables you like and have (I swapped Claire’s snow peas for red pepper and chives for scallions), and I’ve found a number of quick cooking or fried noodles work as well. If you add them at the last minute they add crunch, while after sitting they become tender and make it like a cabbage-noodle salad – win-win!

4.8 from 6 reviews
Asian Cabbage Salad
 
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This Asian cabbage salad recipe is flavorful, easy to make, and packed with veggies. It's the perfect addition to any potluck or barbecue, and is great with shredded chicken as well.
Author:
Recipe Type: Salad
Yield: 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients
  • ¼ cup soy sauce
  • ¼ cup mirin (sub white wine vinegar)
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ large white cabbage, shredded
  • 1 carrot, grated
  • 1 zucchini, sliced very thin
  • ½ bell pepper, cut into matchsticks
  • 1 cup sliced scallions
  • ¼ cup almond slivers, toasted
  • 2 ounces (60g) quick cooking Asian egg or ramen noodles, broken up
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, toasted
Directions
  1. Put the soy sauce, mirin, water, sesame oil, and brown sugar in a small pot over low heat. Heat, stirring, just until the sugar has fully dissolved. Whisk in the olive oil and set aside to cool.
  2. Put the cabbage, carrot, zucchini, pepper, scallions, almond slivers, and uncooked noodles in a salad bowl. Pour half of the dressing over and toss vigorously until every piece of vegetable is coated. Add more dressing until the salad is well dressed. The remaining dressing will keep in a sealed container in the fridge for at least 1 week.
  3. Garnish with the sesame seeds and serve (salad can be made up to a few hours ahead and refrigerated; simply omit the noodles and toss in just before serving.)
Notes
Gluten free (be sure to check the soy sauce, noodles, etc.), Parve, Vegan, Vegetarian

For more information about the Secret Recipe Club, visit their website!

 



31 thoughts on “Asian Cabbage Salad

  1. Claire @ Claire K Creations

    Katherine you’re so sweet! I’m glad you liked the salad. The first time I made it liked it so much we had it a few nights in a row until my husband said enough was enough. I didn’t realise it was an American favourite too but I can see why. Beautiful photos!

  2. Anna

    That looks so good! I love that there’s zucchini in it. I don’t know why, but I’d never thought of adding it to a salad like this.

  3. PolaM

    I always think about my Chinese colleagues looking at the Chinese restaurant dishes and asking us what that dish is…. Anyway, love the salad looks healthy and delicious!

  4. Kate

    What a wonderfully healthy side dish! I know we will enjoy sampling this one!! I am in Group B and stopping by for a quick peak…pinning this one!

  5. john@kitchenriffs

    Great looking salad! I do love Asian flavors (even when they’re “not of my people”), and you’re right that this really is a great BBQ dish. Good stuff – thanks.

  6. Katrina

    Mmm, love Asian salads. Just made one last week that had a spicy peanut dressing. Still have some cabbage left so I think I’ll try this one.

  7. Hannah

    I never tire of Asian cabbage salads and this one sounds terrific! What a refreshing, crunchy delight. So nice to see the humble cabbage shine!

  8. Eha

    Yes, yes, yes – this is how I cook and make salads – European-born and all 🙂 ! What a beautiful appetizing salad at times one just cannot wait for the next meal!!

  9. Jenna

    I’ve never made an Asian Cabbage Salad, but it does look like the perfect BBQ side-dish. I’ll have to take this to one of my husband’s work BBQs this summer (if summer ever makes it). Great SRC choice!

  10. Suzanne

    Love this! I’m a huge fan of slaws and I love the Asian “kick” that you’ve made here. I think I have all of the ingredients, so this will be on my table tonight!

  11. Leigh

    I’m a big fan of a fresh asian salad – so full of flavour and this one looks beautiful. May be it has something to do with your beautiful photos!

  12. Beth

    i made this today and it is SOOO good!!! thank you! i left out the zucchini because it’s hard to get where i lived. didn’t miss it!

  13. Courtney

    Great recipe! Made this last night and the boyfriend and I loved it! Super quick and easy too! Thanks for sharing!

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