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This homemade red cabbage and apple salad is a quick, simple, and delicious salad. It is a refreshing and light side dish that can be paired with really any main dish. Made with shredded red cabbage, apples, carrots, celery, onion and more! Let's make this yummy dish together.
There comes a point in Winter, especially around the New Year after the holidays, that I crave refreshing dishes. Between the constant servings of sweets and large meals, I just want a simple side dish. Something that I can eat that is delicious and full of flavor yet leaves you feeling energized and not slowed down. Anyone else?
Thankfully, this red cabbage and apple salad checks all of those boxes. Not to mention it a simple and quick one to whip up. Honestly, it checks every single box of dinner requirements out there.
Although, an important pairing to a delicious salad is the dressing. A dressing can either make or break a salad. This red cabbage and apple salad is mixed up with a dressing that is the perfect combo of sweet and tangy.
Grab your salad tongs and let's make this together!
How to Make Red Cabbage and Apple Salad
To start, lets mix the dressing together so it has time to chill in the fridge.
To make the dressing, combine the mayo, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and honey in a jar. Give everything a good stir and set it in the fridge while we prepare the rest of the salad.
Second, prepare the cabbage for this salad. Cabbage has a slight peppery flavor to it and is very crunchy - sometimes making it difficult to eat. To cut this, sprinkle a pinch of salt over the thinly sliced cabbage. Massage it with your hands for 1 to 2 minutes. This will help soften it a bit and make it more enjoyable to eat.
Once the cabbage is prepared, cut up the rest of the ingredients. Thinly slice the apples, carrots, and celery.
In a large mixing bowl, add all the prepared ingredients and drizzle with the dressing.
Serve immediately or set in the fridge to chill!
Tips To Make This Salad
- Chop your ingredients the same size as best you can. This will ensure you get something of everything in each bite.
- For quick and even chopping, try a vegetable chopper!
- To soften the cabbage, sprinkle it with a bit of salt then massage it with your hands for a minute or so.
- Cut the apples last so they don't turn brown. If prepping this salad, make ahead of time but add in the apples just before serving.
- For a longer lasting salad, keep it in the fridge without dressing. Add the dressing just before serving.
- Use crisp apples like Granny Smith, Fuji, or Honeycrisp.
- Don't add too much dressing to your salad. You don't want it overpowered with dressing and super runny.
Ingredients
For the Salad
Red Cabbage
Apples (Honeycrisp, fuji, or granny smith)
Carrots
Celery
For the Dressing
Mayo - Could use Greek yogurt for a higher protein option but other amounts may need to be altered.
Honey - Will add a slight sweetness to help balance out the tanginess of the ACV.
Apple Cider Vinegar - ACV adds that slight sourness and tanginess that leaves you wanting more of this salad!
Salt
Pepper
Why You'll Love This Recipe
Simple - If you haven't guessed, we love simple around here. This recipe does require a good bit of slicing, but overall, it is a very simple recipe. Simple ingredients with simple steps.
Meal Prep Friendly - This salad stores great in glass meal prep containers in the fridge! On those busy days when you need a side dish or a salad to add a protein to, this is great! This salad is meal prep friendly. It can keep in your fridge with the dressing on for a day or so (the veggies will become less crunchy and the apples brown) but it can store in the fridge undressed for 2 to 3 days!
Healthy - This salad is high in fiber, great for added hydration, gut health, rich in vitamins, and high in antioxidants. That is just a few of the health benefits! The list could go on.
Flavor - With all the ingredients and the dressing combined, this salad is slightly sweet as well as tangy and salty. It is also a refreshing dish.
FAQs
Is red cabbage with apples good for you?
Yes, red cabbage with apples is very good for you. Just to name a few of the health benefits, this salad is high in fiber, great for added hydration, gut health, rich in vitamins, and high in antioxidants. The list is much bigger than this!
Can you put raw red cabbage in a salad?
Yes! Raw red cabbage has many health benefits and is great raw in a salad. Slice it thinly and massage it a bit to make it easier to eat.
What is a good substitute for mayo?
If you wish to make this salad without the mayo, try using Greek yogurt or even blended cottage cheese. This will still help the dressing to be creamy but add a higher protein aspect to it.
What to Serve This Salad With
Protein Sides
Pork Chops - Pork pairs wonderfully with cabbage as well as apples. Serve this salad alongside grilled or seared pork chops.
Ground Beef Stuffed Peppers - Ground beef, black beans, onions, spices, topped with cheese in a bell pepper.
Barbecue Chicken - A simple slaw like this is a great addition to any kind of barbecue but especially barbecued chicken. Make crockpot barbecue chicken for an easy meal!
Sausages - Grilling some bratwursts or even chicken sausages to go along with this salad would be yummy!
Sticky Chicken Thighs - A sticky coated chicken that is tender and juicy.
Comfort Sides
Roasted Red Potatoes - Soft on the inside and crispy on the outside.
Mashed Potatoes - Warm and creamy potatoes with a chilled salad.
Homemade Dinner Rolls - These dinner rolls are slightly sweet and would be a great roll to put the salad between!
Red Cabbage and Apple Salad
This red cabbage and apple salad is made with thinly sliced red cabbage, apples, onions, carrots, and celery. It is topped with a creamy dressing that is slightly sweet, salty, and tangy. This is the perfect side dish for any meal. Refreshing and high in fiber!
Ingredients
- ¼ Cup mayo
- ½ Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 ½ teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ cup carrots, julienned
- 2 cups red cabbage, thinly sliced
- ½ cup celery, thinly sliced
- ½ cup white onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup apples, thinly sliced
- ¼ teaspoon salt, to massage the cabbage
Instructions
- To start, make the dressing by combining the ¼ cup mayo, ½ tablespoon honey, 1 ½ teaspoon honey, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Once combined, place in the fridge to chill while we prepare the salad.
- Next, prepare the cabbage. Thinly slice 2 cups of red cabbage and place it in a medium sized bowl. Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon of salt over the thinly sliced cabbage and massage it into the cabbage with clean hands for 1-2 minutes. Once finished massaging, the cabbage should be softer and a bit less peppery. Set aside.
- Third, prepare the rest of the ingredients. Julienne the carrots, onions, and apples and thinly slice the celery.
- Add all of the salad ingredients into a large mixing bowl. Drizzle on the chilled and prepared dressing and mix to combine.
- Serve immediately or allow to chill in the fridge for an hour.
Notes
This salad can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Past that, the apples may start to brown, and the ingredients may lose their crunch.
Optionally, add in craisins, walnuts, or sunflowers for extra flavor and texture.
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