Packed with fresh and crisp veggies, this Asian-inspired napa cabbage salad is easy to make and absolutely delicious! Tossed in a soy sesame dressing, this recipe is sweet, savory and a must-try if you ever wondered what to make with napa cabbage!
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Why You'll love this recipe
- It's so flavorful! Crunchy napa cabbage, green onions, carrots, bell pepper and edamame mixed with sweet delicious oranges, fresh cilantro and chopped peanuts, tossed in an easy soy sesame dressing. So delicious!
- This Asian-inspired salad is beautiful, colorful and easy to make. If you love this recipe, you must try my spring roll salad, cucumber carrot salad and edamame cucumber salad.
- It's very versatile and customizable. This healthy and nutritious salad can be use as a side dish, or a main entrée if you add chicken, tofu or even shrimp.
Key Ingredients and variations
- Napa cabbage: this is a Chinese cabbage and kind of feels like a cross between green cabbage and romaine lettuce. Tender, crispy with a mild, delicious flavor. Sliced thinly for this salad.
- Red bell pepper: adds crunch and sweetness. Could be replaced by yellow or orange bell peppers.
- Green onions: also called scallions.
- Carrots: shredded or cut julienne style. You can use pre-shredded carrots for a shortcut or use my favorite kitchen gadget.
- Edamame: brings extra protein.
- Fresh cilantro: could be replaced with parsley.
- Peanuts: they're delicious in this salad. Could be replaced by cashews or almonds.
- Soy sesame dressing: soy sauce, rice vinegar, Dijon, sesame oil and seeds, honey, ginger and garlic. So good!
How to make This Napa Cabbage Salad
Whisk together the dressing and set aside.
Chop all the veggies.
Segment oranges by removing outer skin, then carefully using a pairing knife to cut skinless segments.
Gently stir everything with dressing. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Serve and enjoy!
More Salad Recipes
If you love salads check these out!
Tips
- Slice the napa cabbage and veggies thinly.
- Add some grilled or rotisserie chicken to make this salad a full meal. Or tofu, shrimp or even steak.
- While this salad is best eaten right after dressing it, it actually holds up well in the fridge for a couple days without welting.
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frequently asked questions
Yes I recommend it cause this kind of cabbage is pretty loose like romaine and dirt can get in. Slice it first, then rinse it under cold water and dry it using a salad spinner.
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Napa Cabbage Salad
Equipment
- julienne vegetable peeler optional for the carrots
Ingredients
- 1 napa cabbage shredded
- 1-2 carrots shredded
- 1 red pepper sliced thinly or diced
- 2 oranges segmented
- 3 green onions sliced
- 1 handful cilantro chopped
- ⅓ cup peanuts roughly chopped
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
For the sesame dressing
- 3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
- 1 ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1-2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ - 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes or more to taste, optional
Instructions
- Whisk together the dressing and set aside.
- Chop all the veggies thinly.
- Segment the oranges by removing the outer skin, then carefully using a pairing knife to cut the skinless segments (this part is a little messy, I recommend doing it over a bowl to collect all the juice and add it to the salad).
- Gently stir everything in a large bowl with the dressing. Adjust salt and pepper to taste. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Low-Sodium Soy Sauce: can be replaced with lite tamari or coconut aminos to make this recipe gluten-free.
Nutrition
About Priscilla Lawrence
Hi there, I'm Priscilla Lawrence! Welcome to Sprinkled With Balance where I share elevated and approachable nutrient-rich recipes that aren't overly restrictive, complicated or boring! Based in California but born and raised in France, I'm a mom of two, former certified nutritionist, recipe developer, and food photographer.
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