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A plate of cabbage salad

Crunchy Cabbage Salad with Peanut Sauce (Gluten-Free, Vegan)


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5 from 1 review

  • Author: Felicia Lim
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

Ready in just 15 minutes, this fresh and crunchy cabbage salad is tossed in a delicious Asian-flavored peanut sauce, making it a perfect side dish or even a light main if you toss in some protein. Naturally gluten-free and vegan too.


Ingredients

Units Scale

For the Salad:

  • 1/2 small cabbage, shredded (approx. 2 cups, shredded)
  • 1 medium carrot, peeled and grated (approx. 1 cup grated)
  • 1/2 medium white radish (daikon), peeled and sliced into matchsticks (approx. 1 cup sliced)
  • 2 cups bean sprouts
  • 1/2 cup packed cilantro leaves
  • 1/2 cup chopped roasted peanuts

For the Dressing:


Instructions

  1. Slice Cabbage and Radish: Very finely slice cabbage, removing all the core. Peel and cut the white radish into 2-inch long match sticks (the thinner the better).
  2. Grate Carrot and Chop Cilantro: Peel and grate the carrot. Wash and dry, and chop the cilantro very finely.
  3. Prepare the Peanut Dressing: In a large bowl combine the peanut butter, lime juice, coconut milk, 1 teaspoon sriracha, and ½ teaspoon salt. Whisk until smooth. Taste and adjust spice and salt as needed.
  4. Toss Veggies with Dressing: Add the shredded cabbage, grated carrot, chopped daikon, and bean sprouts to the large bowl with the dressing. Add the chopped peanuts and cilantro. Toss to coat vegetables in dressing.
  5. Serve and Enjoy: Best served the same day. 

Notes

Cabbage: You can use either green or red cabbage, just make sure to shred the cabbage very finely.

Carrot: Make sure to grate or shred the cabbage as finely as possible.

Radish: If you can’t find daikon radish, other types of radish can be substituted including watermelon radish or purple daikon. Very small radishes should be cut in the longest matchsticks possible.

Roasted Peanuts: Roasted peanuts add extra crunchiness to this salad. Alternatively, if you are allergic to peanuts, you may use roasted cashews or roasted almonds instead.

Peanut Butter: I recommend using creamy peanut butter (instead of crunchy peanut butter) to create a very creamy and smooth texture for the peanut dressing so that it contrasts well with the crunchiness of the vegetables and the roasted peanuts. Make sure to use unsalted peanut butter as we will be adding salt to taste later. Alternatively, if you are allergic to peanuts, you can use unsalted cashew butter or almond butter instead.

Lime Juice: A squeeze of fresh lime juice adds tanginess to the salad. If you don’t have lime juice, lemon juice will work too, although you will get a different flavor profile.

Coconut Milk: I used unsweetened coconut milk to keep this recipe vegan and dairy-free. Alternatively, if you are not lactose-intolerant, you can also use heavy cream instead.

Sriracha: If you enjoy a kick of heat, I recommend adding 1 or 2 teaspoons of Sriracha chili sauce (increase or decrease the amount of Sriracha according to how much heat you can take). Alternatively, if you rather not have any heat at all, feel free to leave it out directly. 

  • Prep Time: 15 mins
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Cuisine: Asian