Green Cabbage Coleslaw with Ginger Lime Dressing
Green Cabbage Coleslaw with Ginger Lime Dressing
By: Merritt Allen
Being on a salad kick is never a bad thing. In fact, salad is one of my favorite dishes to experiment with since there are no rules, endless combinations, and so many dishes that it can pair with! This salad is a green cabbage coleslaw with a creamy ginger lime dressing. I came up with this salad or coleslaw variation after making my pork and vegetable gyoza and I had so much green cabbage leftover! Since I am not a fan of cooked cabbage, I thought the best way to use it up, would be a delicious and crunchy coleslaw, or at least my version of one.
This green cabbage coleslaw is vegetable focused, with carrots, green onion, and Tuscan or Lacinato Kale as the base. The hearty greens are complimented with sweet apple, and the ginger lime dressing that tops everything off and makes this almost addictive dish! The dressing uses less mayo than a traditional coleslaw, which I prefer as those can feel heavier than I would like. It also uses roasted cashews as a way to add texture without using anything bready. I hope you give this delicious green salad a try and love it as much as I do.
How to Make Great Green Cabbage Slaw:
The key to a good cabbage slaw, is the size of your cabbage. Cutting your green cabbage in small shreds helps create good texture. If your cabbage is too big, it can be hard to eat.
Do not over dress your slaw! Unless you love soggy vegetables, adding to much dressing can create quite a heavy dish. Using less dressing, and adding to taste allows the vegetables to be the star of the dish, while the dressing compliments.
The dressing for this salad uses avocado oil mayonnaise, soy sauce, olive oil, and lime juice. Feel free to add in extra mayo, oil, soy sauce or lime juice if you make more salad or like extra dressing. I have also used rice vinegar if I do not have limes and it tastes great!
I talk about what makes a great salad in my Roasted Chickpea Salad Recipe, check it out!
What is the Difference Between Slaw and Salad?
Traditionally, coleslaw uses a mayo based dressing and incorporates green or napa cabbage in the base. Everyone has probably tasted the traditional coleslaw that often accompanies bbq dishes.
The great thing about salad and coleslaw is that you can make it your own. I call this recipe a slaw because it uses green cabbage and mayo but it could also be called a salad. I add kale and the dressing is lighter than the traditional version. What do you call this recipe? Let me know in the comments below!
Can I Make Salad the Day Before?
If you need to prepare this salad for an event or dinner the next day, you can definitely do a lot of the preparation the day before!
Wash and cut your green cabbage and kale. Chop your carrot, apple, fresh ginger, and fresh garlic.
Prepare your ginger lime dressing by whisking together and storing in a jar for the next day. Do not dress your salad the day before. You will find a soggy salad in your fridge that does not have near the crunch. I recommend storing the prepared salad and the prepared ginger lime dressing in separate containers and combining fresh before serving.
What to Pair with Green Cabbage Slaw with Ginger Lime Dressing:
This cabbage mixture is umami rich between the soy sauce, ginger, and garlic in the dressing. It has great texture and will go with so many different dishes! Below are some of my favorites to put with this salad.
My Homemade Pork and Vegetable Gyoza
Ingredients For Green Cabbage Slaw and Ginger Lime Dressing
Recipe for Green Cabbage Slaw
- 3 cups shredded green cabbage You can also use red cabbage
- 1 cup Lacinato or Tuscan Kale You can also use green kale
- 1 medium carrot chopped into bite size pieces
- 1/2 red apple chopped into small pieces, you can also use green apple
- 2 sprigs green onion You can also use 1 Tbs diced shallot
- **1/4 cup roasted cashews ** Cashews are slightly sweet and almost crunchy when toasted. You can use toasted walnuts or shaved almonds too.
- 1/2 bunch cilanto chopped into small pieces for sprinkling
- 1 tsp sesame seeds optional for topping. You can use white or black
Recipe for Ginger Lime Dressing
- 1 tsp fresh ginger finely minced or grated
- 1 garlic cloved finely minced or grated
- 1.5 Tbs soy sauce to taste. If you use full soduum soy sauce, start with 1 Tbs.
- juice of 1 lime, about 2 Tbs
- 2 Tbs mayo
- 1 Tbs olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
How To Make Green Cabbage Slaw:
Assemble the Salad
Chop you green cabbage until you have about 3 cups. This should use about 1/2 a small green cabbage head. Add to a large salad bowl
Chop you green kale, carrots, green onion and add to the you bowl.
Chop your apple very finely as you would when you finely mince something. Add to you bowl.
Add cilantro leaves to desired level. I use about 1/4 of a bunch, destemmed and washed. I leave my cilantro leaves whole, but feel free to chop if you prefer.
Sprinkle the roasted cashews on top.
Make the Ginger Lime Dressing
Finley mince a small knob of fresh ginger until you have 1 tsp. Any leftover ginger can be added to stir fries, soups, or another round of this incredible salad!
Finely mince 1 garlic clove.
Add the ginger, garlic, soy sauce, lime juice, mayo, and olive oil to a small bowl and whisk until combined. Taste and adjust levels of soy sauce, acid, or mayo.
Add your dressing to you salad and toss until well coated and combined.
Top with roasted sesame seeds, and Enjoy!
Green Cabbage Slaw with Soy Ginger Dressing
Ingredients
- 3 cups shredded green cabbage
- 1 cup Lacinato or Tuscan Kale
- 1 medium carrot, chopped
- 1/2 red apple, chopped
- 2 sprigs green onion
- 1/4 cup roasted cashews
- 1/2 bunch cilanto, chopped
- 1 tsp sesame seeds, optional for topping
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely minced
- 1 garlic cloved, finely minced
- 1 Tbs soy sauce, to taste
- juice of 1 lime, about 2 Tbs
- 2 Tbs mayo
- 1 Tbs olive oil
- salt and pepper, to taste