As a best-selling cookbook creator and recipe-testing perfectionist, I’ve spent lots of time determining the issue with most cabbage salads.
Typically, cabbage tends to get watery because it sits in salad dressing. This doesn’t essentially have an effect on the general taste, however it will possibly make coleslaw look limp and unappealing. (That is lower than best if you wish to use it as a part of your meal prep routine.)
The key is to do some prep work— actually, one step— earlier than you make the dressing. Should you’re prepared to take this further step, you’ll be rewarded with much less watery cabbage salad.
It’s as straightforward as that.
Comply with the instructions beneath, and also you’ll have one of the best Asian coleslaw you’ve ever tasted. Take pleasure in it as a aspect dish or with burgers and tacos. It makes virtually the whole lot style higher!
Asian Slaw Components
Like most salads, 90% of the flavour will come from the dressing. This one is made with rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, tamari (gluten-free soy sauce), honey, garlic, ginger, and pink pepper flakes.
So far as greens go, use traditional coleslaw staples like shredded inexperienced cabbage and carrots. Or, you should use coleslaw combine from the shop for comfort, too! Add in chopped inexperienced onion and recent cilantro for further taste.
In case you have Napa cabbage or a head of pink cabbage, these will work, too.
Craving a crunchy Asian coleslaw recipe?
You possibly can add sliced almonds or crunchy ramen noodles for extra texture.
Make Asian Cabbage Slaw
Right here’s the key to a much less watery cabbage salad: salt your cabbage first! This system can be frequent when working with different watery veggies, like zucchini or tomatoes.
In case you have a salad spinner, use it for comfort. In any other case, place the shredded cabbage in a colander and prepare that colander over a bowl. (The bowl will catch the water that drips from the cabbage.) Sprinkle two teaspoons of advantageous sea salt over the cabbage and toss nicely. Set it apart to “sweat” whilst you put together the remainder of the veggies and dressing.
(Ideally, it ought to marinate within the salt for an hour or two, however something helps.)
When prepared to decorate the cabbage, rinse it below operating water to take away many of the salt. This may occasionally sound counterintuitive, nevertheless it doesn’t trigger the cabbage to lose its crunch.
Use the salad spinner to spin away the surplus water. Repeat the rinsing and spinning course of, if mandatory, after draining away the water. The cabbage will style seasoned, however shouldn’t style too salty.
To organize the dressing, add the rice vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil, toasted sesame oil, tamari, honey, garlic, ginger, and pink pepper flakes to a mason jar with a lid. Stir nicely till the honey is dissolved, then set this apart.
Switch the drained cabbage to a big bowl and add the shredded carrot, inexperienced onion, and cilantro. Pour half of the dressing over the salad and toss nicely.
Style the salad and add extra dressing, as wanted, to style. It’s able to function quickly as you’re pleased with the flavour.
Should you really feel prefer it wants tweaking, you possibly can add a squeeze of recent lime juice for a extra tangy taste, or an additional drizzle of honey to steadiness out the salt. Garnish with sesame seeds, should you like.
In search of extra salad recipes? Strive my Italian Salad, Thai Peanut Salad, or Detox Salad.
Slaw Components
- 1 medium head inexperienced cabbage (about 1.5 kilos shredded)
- 2 carrots , peeled and shredded
- 3 inexperienced onions , chopped
- 1 cup recent cilantro , chopped
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds (optionally available)
Asian Slaw Dressing
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil (see notes)
- 1 tablespoon Tamari (or soy sauce)
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 clove garlic , minced
- 1 inch recent ginger , minced
- ¼ teaspoon crushed pink pepper flakes (optionally available; for spice)
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For a much less watery/soggy salad, begin by arranging a colander in a big bowl.(You may as well use a salad spinner to make the method simpler.) Place the cabbage within the colander and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons of advantageous sea salt. Toss nicely, then let the salad relaxation for as much as 2 hours, or at the very least half-hour. The cabbage will sweat and begin to launch extra water.
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When you await that, put together the dressing. In a mason jar with a lid, mix the vinegar, oil, tamari, honey, garlic, ginger, and pink pepper flakes. (Notice: Use a microplane to finely mince the garlic and ginger into the jar.) Stir till the honey absolutely dissolves, then put aside. You possibly can retailer this with a lid within the fridge for as much as 5 days to make it upfront.
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If you’re prepared to make use of the cabbage, take away the colander from the bowl and rinse the salted cabbage below operating water. This can be a essential step to take away the surplus salt. Run it by way of the salad spinner, if utilizing, to take away extra water after rinsing it. Or, press it dry with a towel. This offers you crunchy cabbage that will not get soggy within the dressing.
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Switch the drained cabbage to a big bowl and prime with shredded carrots, inexperienced onion, and cilantro. Stir the dressing nicely, then pour a ⅓ cup of it over the salad. Toss nicely, and provides the salad a style. Add extra dressing as wanted, till the salad is flavorful. (Chances are you’ll need to use all of it, however everybody’s style buds are completely different.) The salad is able to serve instantly; garnish with sesame seeds, if desired.
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Leftover dressed salad may be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Stir nicely once more earlier than serving, to ensure the dressing is nicely distributed.
Vinegar Notice: Should you don’t have rice vinegar readily available, apple cider vinegar will work simply as nicely.
Make it Creamy: Add a 1/4 cup of almond butter or peanut butter to the dressing for a creamier texture.
Replace Notice: This recipe was up to date in Could 2025 with the salting step, which helps forestall a watery cabbage salad. I additionally swapped one tablespoon of olive oil for extra toasted sesame seed oil. Should you don’t love the flavour of toasted sesame oil, use olive oil as a substitute.
Want a vegan dressing? Swap the honey for maple syrup or agave nectar.
Energy: 153kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 3g | Fats: 6g | Saturated Fats: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 3g | Monounsaturated Fats: 2g | Sodium: 214mg | Potassium: 388mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 3810IU | Vitamin C: 59mg | Calcium: 103mg | Iron: 1mg
Should you do this Asian coleslaw recipe, please depart a remark and star score beneath letting me understand how you prefer it.
