Name: Easy Red Cabbage Salad Recipe
Ingredients: Red Cabbage: The star of the show! You’ll need about 1 medium-sized head of red cabbage. Look for a firm, heavy head with tightly packed leaves. Red cabbage is not only visually stunning but also packed with nutrients and a satisfying crunch.; Apples: Choose a crisp and slightly tart apple variety for the best flavor and texture contrast. Granny Smith, Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady apples all work wonderfully. You’ll need 1-2 medium apples, depending on their size and your preference for sweetness.; Red Onion: A small red onion adds a pungent bite that complements the sweetness of the apples and cabbage. If you prefer a milder flavor, you can use a shallot or even omit the onion altogether, although it does contribute to the overall flavor complexity.; Fresh Parsley or Dill: Fresh herbs elevate the salad with a touch of freshness and brightness. Parsley and dill are both excellent choices, offering slightly different flavor profiles. Parsley is more herbaceous and slightly peppery, while dill is more delicate and slightly anise-like. You can use either or even a combination of both.; Apple Cider Vinegar: This is the key ingredient for the tangy and slightly sweet dressing. Apple cider vinegar provides a bright acidity that cuts through the richness of the cabbage and complements the sweetness of the apples. It also has a slightly fruity note that enhances the overall flavor.; Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil adds richness and healthy fats to the dressing. It helps to emulsify the dressing and coat the cabbage and other ingredients, ensuring that every bite is flavorful.; Honey or Maple Syrup: A touch of sweetness balances the acidity of the vinegar and the slight bitterness of the red cabbage. Honey and maple syrup are both natural sweeteners that work beautifully in this dressing. You can adjust the amount to your desired level of sweetness. For a vegan option, maple syrup is an excellent choice.; Dijon Mustard: Dijon mustard adds a subtle tang and depth of flavor to the dressing. It also acts as an emulsifier, helping to bind the vinegar and oil together.; Salt and Black Pepper: Essential seasonings to enhance all the flavors in the salad. Use sea salt or kosher salt for the best flavor. Freshly ground black pepper is always preferred for its bolder taste.; Optional Additions: This salad is delicious as is, but you can easily customize it with additional ingredients to add even more flavor and texture. Consider adding: Dried Cranberries or Raisins: For extra sweetness and chewiness.; Toasted Nuts or Seeds: Such as walnuts, pecans, almonds, or sunflower seeds, for added crunch and nutty flavor.; Feta Cheese or Goat Cheese: For a creamy and salty element.; Caraway Seeds: For a traditional German-inspired flavor.; Shredded Carrots: For added sweetness and color.; Orange Zest: For a bright citrusy note in the dressing.

Ingredients

Red Cabbage: The star of the show! You’ll need about 1 medium-sized head of red cabbage. Look for a firm, heavy head with tightly packed leaves. Red cabbage is not only visually stunning but also packed with nutrients and a satisfying crunch.

Apples: Choose a crisp and slightly tart apple variety for the best flavor and texture contrast. Granny Smith, Fuji, Honeycrisp, or Pink Lady apples all work wonderfully. You’ll need 1-2 medium apples, depending on their size and your preference for sweetness.

Red Onion: A small red onion adds a pungent bite that complements the sweetness of the apples and cabbage. If you prefer a milder flavor, you can use a shallot or even omit the onion altogether, although it does contribute to the overall flavor complexity.

Fresh Parsley or Dill: Fresh herbs elevate the salad with a touch of freshness and brightness. Parsley and dill are both excellent choices, offering slightly different flavor profiles. Parsley is more herbaceous and slightly peppery, while dill is more delicate and slightly anise-like. You can use either or even a combination of both.

Apple Cider Vinegar: This is the key ingredient for the tangy and slightly sweet dressing. Apple cider vinegar provides a bright acidity that cuts through the richness of the cabbage and complements the sweetness of the apples. It also has a slightly fruity note that enhances the overall flavor.

Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil adds richness and healthy fats to the dressing. It helps to emulsify the dressing and coat the cabbage and other ingredients, ensuring that every bite is flavorful.

Honey or Maple Syrup: A touch of sweetness balances the acidity of the vinegar and the slight bitterness of the red cabbage. Honey and maple syrup are both natural sweeteners that work beautifully in this dressing. You can adjust the amount to your desired level of sweetness. For a vegan option, maple syrup is an excellent choice.

Dijon Mustard: Dijon mustard adds a subtle tang and depth of flavor to the dressing. It also acts as an emulsifier, helping to bind the vinegar and oil together.

Salt and Black Pepper: Essential seasonings to enhance all the flavors in the salad. Use sea salt or kosher salt for the best flavor. Freshly ground black pepper is always preferred for its bolder taste.

Optional Additions: This salad is delicious as is, but you can easily customize it with additional ingredients to add even more flavor and texture. Consider adding:
- Dried Cranberries or Raisins: For extra sweetness and chewiness.
- Toasted Nuts or Seeds: Such as walnuts, pecans, almonds, or sunflower seeds, for added crunch and nutty flavor.
- Feta Cheese or Goat Cheese: For a creamy and salty element.
- Caraway Seeds: For a traditional German-inspired flavor.
- Shredded Carrots: For added sweetness and color.
- Orange Zest: For a bright citrusy note in the dressing.

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Instructions

Prepare the Cabbage: Begin by washing the red cabbage thoroughly under cold water. Remove the outer leaves if they are wilted or damaged. Cut the cabbage in half through the core. Place the flat side down on your cutting board and thinly slice the cabbage using a sharp knife or a mandoline slicer. You want to achieve thin, even shreds. Alternatively, you can use a food processor with the shredding attachment for even faster preparation. Once shredded, place the cabbage in a large bowl.

Prepare the Apples: Wash the apples thoroughly. You can peel them if you prefer, but leaving the skin on adds fiber and nutrients, as well as a beautiful color contrast. Core the apples and cut them into thin slices or small cubes. To prevent the apples from browning, you can toss them with a squeeze of lemon juice or a splash of apple cider vinegar, although the vinegar in the dressing will also help to prevent oxidation. Add the sliced or cubed apples to the bowl with the shredded cabbage.

Prepare the Red Onion and Herbs: Peel and thinly slice the red onion. You can slice it into half-moons or finely chop it, depending on your preference. If you find red onion too strong, you can soak the sliced onion in cold water for 10-15 minutes to mellow its flavor. Finely chop the fresh parsley or dill. Add the sliced red onion and chopped herbs to the bowl with the cabbage and apples.

Make the Dressing: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, olive oil, honey or maple syrup, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper. Whisk vigorously until the dressing is well combined and slightly emulsified. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. You may want to add a little more honey or maple syrup if you prefer a sweeter dressing, or a little more vinegar for a tangier dressing.

Dress the Salad: Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture in the large bowl. Using your hands or salad tongs, toss the salad gently but thoroughly to ensure that all the cabbage, apples, and onions are evenly coated with the dressing. Massage the dressing into the cabbage with your hands for a minute or two. This helps to soften the cabbage slightly and allows the flavors to meld together. Don’t over-massage, as you still want the cabbage to retain some of its crunch.

Let it Marinate (Optional but Recommended): For the best flavor, allow the salad to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or even up to a few hours. This allows the flavors to meld and deepen, and the cabbage to soften slightly while still retaining its satisfying crunch. If you are short on time, you can serve it immediately, but the flavor will improve with marinating.

Serve and Enjoy: Before serving, give the salad another gentle toss. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary. You can add any of your optional ingredients at this point, such as dried cranberries, toasted nuts, or feta cheese. Serve the Easy Red Cabbage Salad chilled or at room temperature. It’s a fantastic side dish for a variety of meals, from grilled meats and fish to vegetarian dishes and sandwiches.

Nutrition

Serving Size: one normal portion
Calories: 120-150
Sugar: 6-8g
Sodium: 100-150mg
Fat: 8-10g
Saturated Fat: 1-1.5g
Carbohydrates: 10-15g
Fiber: 3-4g
Protein: 1-2g
Cholesterol: 0mg