Description
A vibrant and crunchy Asian Chopped Salad featuring a colorful mix of cabbages, bell pepper, carrot, snap peas, and green onions, topped with toasted cashews, sesame seeds, and crispy chow mein noodles, all tossed in a tangy sesame-lime dressing for a refreshing and flavorful dish perfect as a side or light meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 3 cups white cabbage, thinly sliced
- 3 cups red cabbage, thinly sliced
- 1 medium red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
- 1 medium carrot, julienned
- 1 cup sugar snap peas, chopped
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 1 tbsp cilantro, chopped
Toppings
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1/2 cup cashews, toasted and chopped
- 1/2 cup crispy chow mein noodles or wontons
Dressing
- 4 tbsp sesame oil
- 4 tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 2 tsp fresh ginger, peeled and grated
- 1 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper, or to taste
Instructions
- Toast Cashews: Heat a skillet over medium heat and roast cashews until they turn golden brown. Remove from heat and allow to cool completely before chopping them into small pieces.
- Prepare Vegetables: Wash and slice the white and red cabbages thinly. Julienne the carrot, slice the red bell pepper into thin strips, chop the sugar snap peas and green onions, then combine all the vegetables in a large salad bowl.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the chopped cilantro, sesame seeds, crispy chow mein noodles, and toasted chopped cashews evenly over the vegetable mixture in the bowl.
- Make Dressing: In a jar or small bowl, combine sesame oil, rice vinegar, honey, lime juice, fresh grated ginger, salt, and pepper. Shake or whisk well until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
- Toss and Serve: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad just before serving. Toss gently to combine all ingredients evenly. Adjust seasoning with extra salt and pepper if desired, then serve immediately for best texture.
Notes
- To toast cashews evenly, stir frequently and watch carefully to avoid burning.
- For a spicier kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the dressing.
- Substitute crispy chow mein noodles with fried wonton strips or crunchy fried onions if preferred.
- This salad is best served fresh to maintain crispness of vegetables and toppings.
- Can be prepared a few hours ahead; keep dressing separate until ready to serve to avoid sogginess.