Cooked and Loved Cabbage Salad (Printable)

Tender warm cabbage with crisp vegetables in tangy herb dressing

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 medium green cabbage (about 2 pounds), cored and thinly sliced
02 - 1 large carrot, peeled and julienned
03 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

→ Dressing

06 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
07 - 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
08 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
09 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
10 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Optional Toppings

12 - 1/4 cup toasted walnuts or sunflower seeds
13 - 1 ounce feta cheese, crumbled

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced cabbage and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the cabbage is tender but still vibrant.
02 - Remove the cabbage from the heat and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
03 - Add the julienned carrot, red onion, bell pepper, and parsley to the warm cabbage.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining olive oil, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
05 - Pour the dressing over the vegetables and toss thoroughly to combine.
06 - Allow the salad to rest for 5 minutes to let flavors meld. Top with walnuts or sunflower seeds and feta cheese if using. Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The cabbage transforms from raw to tender-sweet in minutes, giving you that satisfying shift from crunch to comfort without losing its character.
  • It's the rare salad that tastes better warm, making it perfect for those moments when you want something fresh but not cold.
  • One bowl, minimal cleanup, and flavors that somehow taste more complex than the ingredient list suggests.
02 -
  • Don't oversauté the cabbage; it should stay bright and slightly yielding, not soft and grey—the line between perfect and overdone is maybe two minutes.
  • Whisking the dressing until it emulsifies is what prevents it from tasting like a sad vinaigrette; the mustard and oil need to really meld together.
03 -
  • Toast your own nuts or seeds in a dry skillet for two minutes—the difference between stale and just-toasted is the difference between a salad and a celebration.
  • If your dressing looks separated, whisk it again vigorously; sometimes that emulsion breaks, and it's easier to fix than you'd think.
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