Home / Vegetarian Recipes / Asian Cabbage Slaw with Ginger Vinaigrette

Asian Cabbage Slaw with Ginger Vinaigrette

Liz DellaCroce Avatar

LIZ DELLA CROCE

Updated:

Jump to Recipe


This bright and flavorful Asian Cabbage Slaw with Ginger Vinaigrette is the perfect side dish for stir-fries or Summer grilling. Inspired by classic Asian flavors, it’s healthy, delicious and filling.

Garnishing asian cabbage slaw with ginger vinaigrette.

When mixing up my weekly salad routine, I like to pull inspiration from all over the world. Since my pantry is always stocked with some classic Asian flavors, my Asian Cabbage Slaw with Ginger Vinaigrette is the perfect balance of salty, sour, sweet, and spicy. Fresh herbs bring it all together and toasted nut and sesame seeds make you want to keep going back for more. If you keep some basics like soy sauce and rice vinegar in your pantry, you probably already have all you need to make this quick and delicious slaw!

Ingredients

  • Green cabbage: Crunchy and mild in flavor, but full of vitamins like vitamin C, cabbage is the base of this slaw.
  • Scallions: Also known as green onions, they add mild oniony flavor to the slaw.
  • Fresh mint: Along with the cilantro, these fresh herbs add bright flavor to the dish.
  • Cilantro: If you like cilantro, it adds a wonderful citrusy taste to the dish.
  • Peanuts: You could also use sliced almonds, but crushed peanuts add both a nice crunchy texture as well as some classic flavor.
  • Rice wine vinegar: Much milder than regular vinegar, it adds some acidity to the vinaigrette.
  • Soy sauce: Full of umami and well-known Asian flavors for the dressing.
  • Sesame oil: Nutty and rich in flavor, use toasted sesame oil for an even bigger punch of flavor.
  • Honey: Naturally sweet, without being overly so in the dressing.
  • Ginger: Freshly grated ginger is the star of the vinaigrette on this slaw.

How to Make Asian Cabbage Slaw with GInger Vinaigrette

Start your Asian cabbage slaw by shredding your cabbage and chopping or mincing the rest of the fresh produce and herbs.

Then add the shredded cabbage and green onions to a large bowl.

Top it off with the cilantro and mint.

Then add the chopped peanuts or sliced almonds, whichever you have on hand.

While optional, if I have some in my cupboard I like to add some black sesame seeds as well.

Next make your vinaigrette by adding rice wine vinegar to a measuring cup or small bowl.

Then add the soy sauce and sesame oil.

Use a microplane to grate in the fresh ginger root.

Then whisk in the honey.

Another optional ingredient I like to add to my slaw is chili paste, as it gives the vinaigrette a wonderful kick of heat. But if you don’t like spicy food, you can totally skip it!

When the vinaigrette is whisked well, pour it over the slaw and then toss together until evenly coated.

Garnish with more sesame seeds, serve, and enjoy your Asian Cabbage Slaw with Ginger Vinaigrette! Looking for more recipes like this? Check out my Spicy Asian Coleslaw if you haven’t already!

Easy Substitutions

  • No green cabbage. If your local market was out of green cabbage, you could still make this slaw with red cabbage or napa cabbage.
  • Add some protein. To keep the dish vegetarian, you could add some shelled edamame for some protein. Or add some shredded chicken!
  • Include more veggies. Include some more traditional coleslaw veggies like shredded carrots, or add some color with some peppers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between coleslaw and slaw?

Sometimes there isn’t a difference, but coleslaw is always made with cabbage, and if something is labeled as just a “slaw” it might not be primarily cabbage, but another vegetable like broccoli.

Why is it called slaw?

Slaw is just a shortened part of the word coleslaw, which is Dutch for cabbage salad.

Can I dress my cabbage slaw in advance?

Yes Because of how crunchy and sturdy cabbage leaves are, you can make this slaw in advance, including dressing it, and it won’t wilt or get soggy.

More Asian Inspired REcipes

Eat It, LIke It, Share It!

Did you try this recipe and love it? The next time you make it, snap a picture and share it to your socials! Tag @thelemonbowl and #thelemonbowl so we can admire and share your dish.

Liz eating Asian cabbage slaw with ginger vinaigrette.

Crunchy, quick, and delicious, my Asian Cabbage Slaw with Ginger Vinaigrette is the perfect side dish for your next dinner or summer BBQ.

Your fork is waiting.

Asian Cabbage Slaw with Ginger Vinaigrette

4.48 stars average
This bright and flavorful Asian Cabbage Slaw with Ginger Vinaigrette is the perfect side dish for stir-fries or Summer grilling. Inspired by classic Asian flavors, it's healthy, delicious and filling.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Serves4
CourseMain Dish, Salad
Calories125

Ingredients
 
 

Asian slaw:
  • ½ green cabbage thinly sliced – savoy and napa work well
  • ½ cup scallions thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup fresh mint minced
  • ¼ cup cilantro roughly chopped
  • ¼ cup toasted slivered almonds or roasted peanuts
  • 2 tablespoons black roasted sesame seeds optional garnish
Sesame Ginger Vinaigrette

Instructions
 

  1. Add cabbage, scallions, cilantro and mint to a large bowl.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together vinaigrette and drizzle over the slaw. Toss well, check for seasoning and adjust accordingly.
  3. Sprinkle toasted almonds on slaw before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 125kcalCarbohydrates: 15.5gProtein: 4.7gFat: 5.8gSaturated Fat: 0.6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5.2gSodium: 324mgFiber: 4.3gSugar: 9.6g

Liz’s Notes

Serving size will vary depending on the size of your cabbage head. In fact, 1/4 of the dish will most likely be more than 2 cups of slaw. Slaw can be dressed well in advance because the cabbage is sturdy enough that it won’t wilt. Great for parties!

Have you tried this?

Let us know how it was!

4.48 from 21 votes (17 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *






This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.


28 responses to “Asian Cabbage Slaw with Ginger Vinaigrette”

  1. Carol Avatar
    Carol

    I can’t wait to make this for lunch today!