Craving a vibrant, flavor-packed salad that's anything but ordinary? Get ready to meet your new favorite: an Asian slaw bursting with fresh, crunchy goodness.
Prepare to be amazed by a simple salad that elevates any meal from drab to fab.
Why You'll Love This Asian Slaw
I think you'll find this Asian slaw recipe is a total game-changer — it's light and healthy, plus it brings an amazing crunch to the table! You can serve it as a side dish or add chicken to make it a meal. The secret to a good crunch is crispy fried noodles, an approach used in noodle salad recipes. What's not to love?
It's super versatile! Whether you're having a BBQ or a cozy night in, this slaw fits right in. Trust me; it's a people-pleaser!
This slaw keeps well, but let's be honest: it's so tasty, it will disappear fast. It's also easy to whip up.
And hey, don't worry, if you're not a pro chef. If I can make it, you can too! It's really straightforward and fun to experiment with. Feel free to personalize it. Add more veggies or even some nuts.
Ingredients For Asian Slaw
Now, let's get into what you'll need to make this crazy-good Asian slaw. For the salad, you're gonna want 3 cups each of shredded green and red cabbage. Yeah, that's a lot of cabbage but trust me – it's essential.
Next, grab 2 large carrots and julienne them – or just buy them pre-cut. Toss in 3 cups of bean sprouts for that extra crunch!
Don't forget your greens – half a cup each of coriander (cilantro) and mint leaves. The beauty of this salad lies in the fact that fresh herbs boost the overall taste with their potent flavors. Also, slice 3 green onions on the diagonal–fancy, right?
Now, for the dressing, it's all about balance. You'll need 3 tablespoons of rice vinegar, soy sauce, and peanut oil, plus 2 teaspoons of fish sauce. And, I always add two tablespoons of lime juice. Don't forget 1 1/2 tablespoons of sugar, a minced garlic clove (or two!) and 1/2 tsp of red chili. It's really good!
How to Make Asian Slaw
Let's get into how to actually make this awesome Asian slaw! First, I'm grabbin' a jar—it's dressing-mixing time. Now, I'm gonna toss in 3 tablespoons of rice vinegar, 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 teaspoons of fish sauce—or more soy sauce if you're not a fishy kinda person, no pressure.
I'm adding 2 tablespoons of lime juice, 3 tablespoons of peanut oil, and a tablespoon and a half of sugar—any type works! Half a teaspoon of minced chili—optional, unless you like it spicy! I'm finishin' it with 2 minced garlic cloves, screw the vampire. Shake it all up till it's mixed!
Next, I'm combin'in the salad goodies—all those veggies—but hold off on those glorious fried shallots for now. Now, I am pourin' over that fantastic dressing – now toss it like you mean it, until the salad is evenly coated. I'm topping with fried shallots – and then serve it up!
Recipe Notes
Want extra crunch? Don't skip the fried shallots! You can usually find them pre-made in the Asian section of your supermarket – or even better, check out an Asian grocery store; they're way cheaper there!
Rice vinegar – it gives the dressing that special tang. If you don't have any, cider vinegar or white wine vinegar will do in a pinch.
For the soy sauce, stick to the regular kind – all purpose — not dark soy sauce!
Don't have fish sauce? No stress, just add more soy sauce. Likewise, if you're missing lime juice, more rice vinegar will do nicely!
You can use any neutral-flavored oil in place of peanut oil.
One quick tip – keep the dressing separate until you're ready to serve. It stops the slaw from getting soggy! It will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Nutritional Information
With those handy tips, your slaw's bound to be a hit – but what's inside this crunchy goodness? Let's break down the nutritional info, and you might be surprised!
A serving of this slaw – about 415g – clocks in at roughly 313 calories. Not bad, right? You're getting 21.3g of carbs (that's 7% of your daily intake), a whopping 29.4g of protein (59%!), and 13.3g of fat, which accounts for 20% of your daily needs.
I know, numbers can be boring! But check this out: You're also getting a hefty dose of vitamins – like 177% of your daily Vitamin A and 173% of Vitamin C. So, you can feel good about this tasty salad!
Short Recipe Version
Asian Slaw Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients:
- 1/2 head green cabbage, shredded
- 1/2 head red cabbage, shredded
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon ginger, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup fried shallots
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, combine green cabbage, red cabbage, carrots, cilantro, and green onions.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, ginger, and garlic.
- Pour dressing over slaw mixture and toss to combine.
- Top with fried shallots before serving.
Nutrition Information (Per Serving – Estimated):
- Calories: 150
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
- Sodium: 150mg
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 5g
- Protein: 2g