Make yourself one of the best detox red cabbage slaw recipes for dinner tonight. This beach body friendly salad will keep you slim and healthy all summer long!
Has the kale trend left the station? It seems that everywhere I look these days I see purple instead of green. I’ve also noticed that most restaurants in Manhattan have taken kale off their menu and replaced it with brighter, more vibrant ingredients. While some people may think it’s a bummer to see this cruciferous vegetable go, I see it as rather refreshing.
Kale became so big in New York that its omnipresence (in soups, salads, sides, even in snacks) was almost too much to bear. Don’t get me wrong I love kale, but to me a little goes a long way.
Purple food on the other hand is something I can’t seem to get enough of! Be it in the form of a potato, pickled in vinegar or shredded into a salad, I love the rich color and powerful impact purple has on a plate. Not only are purple veggies stunning, they are also very good for us. Darker vegetables are known to be higher in antioxidants and vitamins which makes them a nutritional powerhouse and and will also give you an energy punch.
This detox red cabbage slaw is all that and a bag of imaginary chips! It has red bell peppers, nuts, seeds, oranges, apples and a ton of Italian parsley. It’s healthy eating and beyond!
Ingredients for Red Cabbage Slaw
- Bell pepper: I’m using a red one but you can use any color for this recipe.
- Red cabbage: Also called purple cabbage. You will need about a small head of cabbage, shredded or thinly sliced.
- Parsley: I personally prefer flat leaf parsley over curly parsley but you can use one or the other. It’s mostly a preference in texture.
- Orange: The better the orange you can find, the better your salad will be! Look for an orange that feels heavy and has a thin and smooth skin.
- Apple: Use your favorite apple to add to this salad. Mine is the Honeycrisp because of its juicy, crispy, and slightly tart taste.
- Cashews: Cashews add a nice crunch, some nuttiness and sweetness. You can whole or halved ones.
- Pumpkin seeds: Pumpkin seeds also add a lovely crunch but have a chewy element as well. They are loaded with vitamin and nutrients and are excellent for the skin.
- Salad dressing: A mixture of olive oil, lemon juice, pure maple syrup, kosher salt, and black pepper.
Ingredient Variations
For the first time attempting this recipe, I highly encourage you to try this recipe as is. However, next time you’re feeling like trying something new, there are always different ways to take that leap in the kitchen. Here are several popular ingredients that can be found in similar recipes:
- Swap your purple cabbage for green cabbage
- Adding a grated or thinly sliced carrot
- Using a mix of sunflower seeds and/or sesame seeds
- Adding thinly sliced red onion
- Topping the salad with chopped scallions (green onions) or fresh herbs
- Coconut shavings
- Adding a squeeze of lime juice or grating some lime zest
- Adding some fresh ginger, grated, to the dressing for a little heat
How to Make Red Cabbage Slaw
- In a small bowl, whisk all the ingredients for the dressing and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add all the ingredients for the slaw and pour the dressing over.
- Toss well and let sit for 10 minutes to let the cabbage soften a bit and absorb the flavor of the dressing.
- Place in a serving bowl and enjoy!
What are the Benefits of Red Cabbage?
Like many other cruciferous vegetables, red cabbage contains a multitude of nutrients. Red cabbage is known for being a great source for vitamin k. It also offers smaller amounts of magnesium, calcium and zinc. It’s also a good source of fiber therefore making it the perfect detox ingredient to add to your cleansing ritual!
What Does Red Cabbage Taste Like?
Served raw, red cabbage has a fresh, light, and slightly peppery taste. When it’s cooked it becomes sweeter and as tender as regular cabbage. Since it’s not cooked in this recipe, you will get the full crunchy and peppery experience.
A Cleansing Meal That’s Low in Carbs
I make a red cabbage detox salad whenever I feel a little bloated or commit to eat less carbs for a few days. Since summer is barbecue season, I thought a detox red cabbage slaw would be a good side dish to serve alongside your favorite protein.
Salads are great because they require no cooking skills and are virtually impossible to mess up. Tossing a variety of fresh produce in a bowl and coating them with a citrus dressing is about the easiest meal a person can make. What better way to consume your veggie intake? It’s also a feel good food because we know we are doing our bodies a service by ingesting so many wholesome ingredients.
This crunchy salad offers bright fresh flavors that are both tangy and sweet. I added pure maple syrup to the simple lemon and olive oil dressing to elevate the natural sweetness of the apple and orange slices. It offers a vibrant explosion of flavor that’s refreshing and energizing.
Other Nutritious and Bright Salads You Might Like
Did you like this detox red cabbage slaw? Are there changes you made that you would like to share?
PrintDetox Red Cabbage Slaw
Cleanse your body and palate with this delicious vegan and gluten-free red cabbage slaw!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 people 1x
- Category: Salads
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 red bell pepper (core, seeded and thinly sliced)
- 3/4 pound red cabbage (shredded or thinly sliced )
- 1 cup flat leaf parsley, Italian parsley (chopped)
- 1 orange (peeled and segmented )
- 1 apple such as Honeycrisp or Pink Lady
- 2 tablespoons cashews
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds
For the dressing:
- juice of 1 lemon
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon 100% pure maple syrup (optional but highly recommended!)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- ground black pepper ( to taste)
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk all the ingredients for the dressing and set aside.
- In a large bowl, add all the ingredients for the slaw and pour the dressing over.
- Toss well and let sit for 10 minutes to let the cabbage soften a bit and absorb the flavor of the dressing. Serve
Notes
This detox red cabbage slaw will keep refrigerated for up to a day.
Alternatively, you can prep all the ingredients ahead of time (and make enough for the week) and keep them separate in containers, stored in the fridge. The only ingredients that cannot be prepped in advance is the apple since it will start to brown as soon as it’s cut.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 632
- Sugar: 62.4g
- Sodium: 651.3mg
- Fat: 32.2g
- Saturated Fat: 4.9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5.3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 87.6g
- Fiber: 11.1g
- Protein: 10.1g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
You have just offered the most wonderful inspiration, as I prepare my home to receive a new Home Stay student. – a 17 year old from Tainjin, a coastal city in North East China. The little information I have is that she loves vegetables! With a new German student also who loves to bake, and wants to help in the kitchen, you show the approach and flexibilty that I am going to need. These recipes all look delcious and do-able, and have the lightness of style that I am seeking. I love your website and newsletters. Thankyou.
We are red cabbage fans and I include it in all of our salads. I’ve never really gotten into kale . Your salad looks delicious.
AWESOME recipe Caroline! Really loved what you did here. And you’re so right; vibrant color fruits and veggies are super antioxidant (plus most of them taste delicious as well) 🙂 One of our favorite spreads for instance, is pantzarosalata, which is Greek yogurt, garlic, beets vinegar and EVOO. The color is so beautiful, due to the beets (just thought we’d mention that in case you wanna check it out) 🙂
Thank you for the amazing recipe, pinned immediately:)
Hugs!
xoxoxo
Never tried pantzaro salata, will check it out! 🙂