Right here’s the Napa cabbage salad I’ve been making on repeat. It’s remarkably tasty for the way straightforward it’s to throw collectively, and the sesame within the dressing may have you going again for extra!
I’ve fallen so exhausting for this cabbage salad, and I believe you’ll, too. I’m at all times on the hunt for tremendous easy, quick-to-prepare sides, and this Napa cabbage salad with garlic and sesame is hitting it out of the park.
This really is a low-effort dish. Only a fast therapeutic massage of toasted sesame oil, grated garlic, and salt into the cabbage rewards you with a candy, toasty, and scrumptious salad. It pairs extremely properly with grilled meats, hen, and seafood, and I particularly like it with meaty or umami-rich dishes, equivalent to grilled steak and pork chops made with this pork marinade.
Key Elements
- Napa Cabbage: I am keen on cabbage, made evident by the numerous cabbage recipes now we have, however Napa cabbage holds a particular place in my coronary heart. It’s lighter on its ft and splendidly crunchy, making it an extremely refreshing base for salads.
- Sesame Oil and Sesame Seeds: I really like the deep, toasty notes that toasted sesame oil provides to this salad. It brings a wealthy, nutty taste that makes it extremely exhausting to cease consuming! To essentially lean into the sesame, we additionally toss in some toasted sesame seeds.
- Garlic and Inexperienced Onions: A finely grated garlic clove, massaged into the cabbage, provides a lot taste, however don’t fear, it doesn’t overpower the salad. The pure sweetness of the cabbage stands up fantastically to the uncooked garlic, and the toasted sesame oil completely cuts via. I additionally love thinly sliced inexperienced onions for extra taste and colour.
- Salt and Pepper: These are apparent, however the salt actually helps with making our cabbage style unimaginable. You’ll therapeutic massage it into the cabbage, so it helps to tenderize the cabbage and make it style extra like cabbage.
The key to this salad’s superb taste is massaging the Napa cabbage with the dressing components. I do the identical when making kale salad and kimchi as a result of it really works wonders. The therapeutic massage relaxes the cabbage, making it extra tender and extremely receptive to absorbing the garlicky and toasty sesame flavors. It’s a easy step that makes an enormous distinction ultimately.
Simple Napa Cabbage Salad
It’s exhausting to cease consuming this Napa cabbage salad with toasted sesame oil and garlic. Consider it as a light-on-its-feet, crispy aspect good for richer, umami-rich dishes like grilled steak, baked pork chops, teriyaki hen, my favourite baked tofu, or grilled swordfish. This salad by no means overpowers! As an alternative, it provides a beautiful crisp, savory, contemporary chunk that really works properly with so many issues. Whereas Napa cabbage is ideal for this recipe, be at liberty to substitute different styles of cabbage if that’s what you could have available.
4 Servings
You Will Want
Half of a giant head Napa Cabbage, about 1 pound, about 8 cups sliced
3 tablespoons sesame seeds
1 ½ tablespoons toasted sesame oil, or extra to style
1 medium garlic clove, finely grated, about 1/4 teaspoon grated
1/4 teaspoon nice sea salt, or extra to style
1/4 teaspoon contemporary floor black pepper
2 inexperienced onions, thinly sliced
Instructions
1Put together the cabbage: Take away the core of the cabbage. Minimize lengthwise into 1-inch ribbons, then slice crosswise into 1-inch thick items. Rinse underneath cool water and pat very dry or spin dry utilizing a salad spinner (moist cabbage will water down the salad).
2Toast the sesame seeds: Add the sesame seeds to a small skillet over medium-low warmth and toast, stirring often, till golden brown and aromatic, 2 to 4 minutes. Preserve an in depth eye on them, as they’ll burn rapidly.
3Make the salad: In a big bowl, add the cabbage, toasted sesame seeds, 1 ½ tablespoons of toasted sesame oil, the grated garlic, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper, and thinly sliced inexperienced onions. Toss and calmly therapeutic massage every thing collectively till properly mixed. Style and alter with extra salt or sesame oil if wanted. Because the cabbage is massaged and sits with the salt, it can cut back in dimension.
Adam and Joanne’s Ideas
- Storing: The Napa cabbage is at its crispiest when served straight away, however this salad will preserve properly within the fridge for 1 to 2 days. Past that, the cabbage might turn out to be too gentle.
- The dietary info supplied are estimates.
Diet Per Serving
Serving Measurement
1/4 of the recipe (about 1 cup)
/
Energy
104
/
Complete Fats
8.7g
/
Saturated Fats
1.2g
/
Ldl cholesterol
0mg
/
Sodium
156.8mg
/
Carbohydrate
5.7g
/
Dietary Fiber
2.3g
/
Complete Sugars
1.7g
/
Protein
2.6g
We’re Adam and Joanne, a pair enthusiastic about cooking and sharing scrumptious, dependable recipes since 2009. Our objective? To encourage you to get within the kitchen and confidently prepare dinner contemporary and flavorful meals.Extra About Us
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