Description
A vibrant and crunchy Asian Chopped Salad featuring a colorful mix of cabbages, bell pepper, carrots, and snap peas, tossed with a zesty sesame-ginger dressing and topped with toasted cashews, crispy chow mein noodles, and fresh cilantro. This quick and refreshing salad is perfect as a light lunch or a side dish.
Ingredients
Salad
- 3 cups white cabbage, thinly sliced
- 3 cups red cabbage, thinly sliced
- 1 medium red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
- 1 medium carrot, julienned
- 1 cup sugar snap peas, chopped
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 1 tbsp cilantro, chopped
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1/2 cup cashews, toasted and chopped
- 1/2 cup crispy chow mein noodles or wontons
Dressing
- 4 tbsp sesame oil
- 4 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tsp fresh ginger, peeled and grated
- 1 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Toast Cashews: Preheat a skillet over medium heat and roast the cashews until golden brown, stirring frequently to avoid burning. Remove from heat and let them cool completely before chopping into small pieces.
- Prepare Vegetables: Wash and thoroughly dry all vegetables. Thinly slice the white and red cabbages, cut the red bell pepper into thin strips, julienne the carrot, chop the sugar snap peas, and finely chop the green onions. Combine all the vegetables in a large salad bowl.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the chopped cilantro, sesame seeds, crispy chow mein noodles, and toasted chopped cashews evenly over the arranged vegetables in the bowl.
- Make Dressing: In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey, lime juice, grated fresh ginger, salt, and black pepper. Secure the lid and shake vigorously until the dressing is well emulsified.
- Toss Salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad just before serving. Toss gently but thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated. Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed, and serve immediately for maximum crunch and flavor.
Notes
- Toasting cashews enhances their flavor and adds a crunchy texture to the salad.
- You can substitute crispy chow mein noodles with wonton strips or fried rice noodles based on availability.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of red chili flakes to the dressing.
- This salad is best enjoyed fresh to maintain the crispness of the vegetables and toppings.
- Store leftovers separately without noodles and nuts to prevent them from getting soggy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian
