Need a fresh, crunchy side that’s easy to make? This red cabbage salad is the answer! With a light, tangy dressing, it’s perfect for beginners and comes together in no time.
Serve it alongside fried chicken, roasted salmon, or your favorite main dish for a colorful and delicious addition to your dinner table.
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Red Cabbage Salad
This blog is all about cooking from scratch with fresh, wholesome ingredients. I believe that making healthy, delicious meals should be simple and rewarding.
If you’re new here, check out more About The Yummy Bowl to learn how I can help you create meals you’ll feel good about serving.
One of my favorite ways to cook is by using seasonal produce and pantry staples.
This Red Cabbage Salad is a perfect example—it’s packed with crisp veggies and tossed in a light, homemade dressing. Whether you’re building a weeknight dinner or planning a special gathering, this salad adds freshness and flavor with minimal effort.
Cooking from scratch doesn’t have to be complicated—it’s about enjoying real ingredients in every bite!
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Ingredients
- Red cabbage - provides a sweeter base for this recipe, adding visual appeal.
- Olive & lemon juice vinaigrette - made with extra virgin olive oil and maple syrup, perfectly complements the natural sweetness of the dish.
- Maple - maple syrup balances the sourness of the lemon juice with its sweetness
- Cucumbers - are optional, you can also use some shallots of red onion.
- Fresh herbs - parsley and dill, together they make a powerful duo for this salad. Thai basil would work great too!
How To Make Red Cabbage Salad
- Toss the veggies. In a bowl, mix cabbage, carrots, cucumber, and sunflower seeds.
- Prepare the vinaigrette. In a small jar, shake together olive oil, lemon juice, black pepper, salt, and maple syrup.Â
- Assemble. Pour over salad, add herbs, toss, and serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Tips
- Prevent cabbage bleeding - Coat cabbage with 2-3 tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice before mixing to prevent red color bleeding. Add cucumbers just before serving to keep them from turning red.
- Add dressing just before serving to avoid soggy vegetables. Aim for adding it as close to serving time as possible.
- Keep it crispy - Use fresh produce and serve promptly to maintain crunchiness.
- For thin even strips shred the cabbage or use a mandoline slicer.
Freezing And Storing Instructions
- To Store. For optimal freshness, enjoy the salad the day it's dressed.
- Making Ahead. Prepare the red cabbage salad ahead of time and refrigerate it covered for a few hours or overnight. Add sunflower seeds and cucumbers just before serving to keep them crunchy.
More Amazing Salad Recipes
Cabbage recipes are our weekly staples, try these unstuffed cabbage rolls, green goddess salad or pickled cabbage next.
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Recipe Card
10-Minute Red Cabbage Salad Recipe
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INGREDIENTS
Salad:
- 6 cups purple cabbage, sliced thinly
- 1 cup carrots, shredded
- 1 cup cucumber, chopped
- 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon dill, chopped
- ¼ cup toasted sunflower seeds
Dressing
- 4 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 4 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- A pinch of black pepper
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup
INSTRUCTIONS
- Toss the veggies. In a bowl, mix cabbage, carrots, cucumber, and sunflower seeds.
- Prepare the vinaigrette. In a small jar, shake together olive oil, lemon juice, black pepper, salt, and maple syrup.
- Assemble. Pour over salad, add herbs, toss, and serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 3 days.
NOTES
- For optimal freshness, enjoy the salad the day it's dressed.
- Making Ahead: Prepare the red cabbage salad ahead of time and refrigerate it covered for a few hours or overnight. Add sunflower seeds just before serving to keep them crunchy.
ADD YOUR OWN PRIVATE NOTES
NUTRITION
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For all side salad recipes, hop on to our Salad collection.
Note:Â Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on the products used.
Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be found here.
Sara Welch
Enjoyed this for lunch yesterday and it was a delicious success! Light, quick and refreshing; easily, a new favorite recipe!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
glad you liked it, enjoy!
TAYLER ROSS
I made this salad with dinner last night and it was incredible! Perfectly crunchy and delicious
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
so happy you liked it! thank you!
Beth
This is an amazing salad! The maple vinaigrette is perfect with the vegetal bite of the cabbage. DEE-licious.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
thank you and enjoy!
rebecca
Ohh love this simple cabbage salad. It's gorgeous and has such a great lemony flavor
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
thank you,enjoy!
Andrea
This simple and easy to make cabbage salad has light and refreshing flavors that my family are going to love. I'm looking forward to trying this.
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
thank you and enjoy!
Sky
Absolutely delicious cabbage salad recipe! I love the dressing; it is so good!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
thank you and enjoy! the dressing is so good I agree!
Julia | The Yummy Bowl
Enjoy this delicious, tangy and crisp red cabbage salad on its own or as a side salad with your favorite mains.