This post may contain affiliate links.
This Crunchy Cabbage Salad offers something a little different and is full of good stuff – no soggy lettuce in sight! Mixed with a delicious peanut butter dressing, it’s a perfect side dish, with something zesty, fruity and creamy in every single mouthful.
This is a favourite ‘doesn’t even taste like a salad’ salad – perfect for lettuce-dodgers like me!
I know, I know… a Cabbage Salad doesn’t sound super inspiring but I promise, this explosion of colour and flavour in a bowl manages to be fruity, zesty, fresh, crunchy and creamy all at once.
The peanut butter salad dressing takes the whole thing to another level.
You can also make it ahead of time (because… no limp lettuce leaves!) and add the dressing at the last minute before serving. BOOM!
More delicious salad recipes…
Side Dishes
Greek Salad {Easiest Ever Recipe}
Under 15 minutes
Mexican Style Salad {with Zesty Lime Dressing}
Side Dishes
Quick Cucumber Salad {with Yoghurt Dressing}
Why you’ll love this Cabbage Salad recipe
⭐️ Healthy and quick – ready in 10
⭐️ Something a little different
⭐️ Impressive make-ahead side dish
How we came up with this recipe
This Cabbage Salad is actually a mix of red peppers, white cabbage, spring onions, cucumber and mangos – SUCH a delicious combination and works so well with the dressing.
I suppose you could call it a crunch bowl rather than a salad?
For the dressing I use peanut butter, soy sauce, sweet chilli sauce, honey, limes, a handful of salted peanuts, fresh mint and a splash of water. Simple store cupboard ingredients that are all modestly priced in the supermarket.
It’s influenced by those amazing Thai style salads that incorporate interesting, fresh ingredients that complement each other well.
I hope you love it!
Cabbage Salad Ingredients Notes
- Salad ingredients – Red peppers, white cabbage, spring onions, cucumber, mangos (make sure they’re ripe)
- Peanut butter – You can use whichever kind you like, but natural peanut butter is a lot more runny than regular so you’ll probably need less water than in the recipe
- Rest of the dressing ingredients – Soy sauce, sweet chilli sauce, honey, lime (zest and juice), fresh mint, salted peanuts and a splash of water
How to make Cabbage Salad
1. Finely slice the salad ingredients with a sharp knife or chopping gadget.
2. Measure out the dressing ingredients into a bowl.
3. Mix the dressing ingredients together well. Add just enough water to make a smooth, runny sauce.
4. When ready to serve, add the dressing to the salad bowl and mix everything together. Top with peanuts and mint.
Leftovers
In the fridge You can keep this recipe in the fridge for up to 3 days, but try and eat it quickly as it will go soggy.
In the freezer This isn’t suitable for freezing. It would be far too watery and soggy after defrosting.
Top Tips
⭐️ Dress the salad just before serving to avoid the cucumber going soft.
⭐️ A great quality, sharp knife will honestly change your cooking life. This is one of my favourites that I use.
⭐️ If you prefer to use a gadget to speed things up, you can use a chopper instead. This one is my favourite and is a salad gamechanger!
Serving ideas…
Under 30 minutes
Chicken Satay Skewers {with Peanut Sauce}
Under 15 minutes
Philly Cheesesteak {15 Minute Meal}
Under 15 minutes
Halloumi Burger {15 Minute Recipe}
FAQs
This works so well with fresh meat or fish, especially when grilling or barbecuing. The mango really brings out the flavours and is delicious alongside it.
That said, this salad can hold its own and packs enough punch to be a meal in its own right, if you prefer.
Other than this salad, my favourite recipe for using cabbage is Coleslaw. Such a simple but tasty side dish!
For something a little heartier, there’s my Braised Red Cabbage recipe for the slow cooker. Yum!
Let me know how you got on and what you thought of these recipes. Please rate the recipe using the ⭐️ below.
Also I’d LOVE to see your cooking creations. If you’d like to share yours with me, you can tag me on Instagram (@tamingtwins).
Crunchy Cabbage Salad {with Peanut Dressing}
Ingredients
- 2 Red peppers
- Half White cabbage
- Bunch Spring onions
- Half Cucumber
- 2 Ripe mangos
For the peanut butter salad dressing:
- 125 g Peanut butter, See notes
- 4 tbsp Soy sauce
- 3 tbsp Sweet chilli sauce
- 1 tbsp Honey
- 2 Limes , Zest and juice
- Splash of water
- Handful of fresh mint
- Handful of salted peanuts
Instructions
- Chop everything up into small chunks and add to a bowl.
- Mix the salad dressing in a separate bowl or jug. Add just enough water to make a smooth, runny sauce.
- When ready to serve, add the dressing to the salad bowl and mix everything together.
- Top with peanuts and mint.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Absolutely loved this! Super simple and the peanut dressing is delicious. I added some marinated chicken pieces (using a few ingredients from the dressing) on this occasion too. Didn’t think my partner would enjoy it, but he did and has asked that we do it again – he was spooning the leftover dressing out of the dish.
Made this to go alongside a fabulous Thai roast chicken dish – my ‘’non-salad’ liking family all said “only a little bit of salad please! 😬 but by the time they tried it they all asked for seconds! (Even my OH who HATES anything remotely salad-like!) Fabulous dish – delicious! Worth the ‘chopping up time’ – will defo make again! 👍
OOOOH! Can you share your Thai chicken recipe?
Very tasty flavoursome salad. I served it at a BBQ. My husband who isnt a big salad lover was back for seconds and even thirds! The dressing is very tasty. Will absolutely make this again thank you Sarah!
This was fabulous, I added a diced carrot, finally got my kids eating salad.
Sarah must chop superfast though as it took me nearer 30 minutes to prepare but worth a bit of effort. It also makes a huge amount (as homemade coleslaw always does) the leftovers will be going on a jacket potato for lunch
Made this today to go with an Asian style pulled pork dish, along with a radish and cucumber salad. It was absolutely delicious, easy to make and produced an enormous bowl of salad!