This Cilantro Lime Cabbage Salad is light, refreshing, and super versatile! Enjoy it as a veggie side dish, or use it as a topping for tacos, salads, sandwiches, and more. This healthy salad comes together quickly and requires just a few ingredients. It’s great for hot summer picnics and cold winter afternoons.
I know coleslaw is typically a dish served in the summertime, but cabbage and limes are in season this month! I’m calling this recipe a Cilantro Lime Cabbage Salad, although it’s similar to a slaw. This zesty winter salad will brighten up any meal you add it to. It’s great by itself as a snack or side dish and can also be enjoyed as a topping for all your Mexican-inspired meals.
Why You’ll Love This Refreshing Cabbage Salad Recipe
- It’s easy to make – The dressing comes together quickly in the blender, and if you have a food processor or mandolin, the cabbage can also be shredded quickly. I like to let my salad sit for a bit in the refrigerator to allow the flavors to develop, but you can also enjoy it right away.
- It’s flavorful and refreshing – Cabbage is already cool and refreshing, but adding the cilantro and lime flavors takes it to the next level. I enjoy this salad anytime, but it’s especially great for a summer BBQ.
- It’s versatile – This cabbage salad is similar to a slaw and can be used similarly. I enjoy this salad as a side dish, but I also like to eat it on tacos or with beans and rice. It adds a cool and refreshing bite to everything you add it to.
Why Your Body Will Love This Recipe
- Reduced Inflammation – Cabbage is high in antioxidants, which are substances that can help delay or prevent cell damage. Antioxidants are important because they help reduce inflammation inside the body and improve the immune system. Excess inflammation in the body can be responsible for all kinds of sicknesses, including cancer and heart disease.
- Digestive Health – Cabbage is in the Crusifers family, along with broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Some people are extra sensitive to these veggies and develop gas and bloating after eating them. However, they’re full of fiber, which really helps digestion run smoothly. Cabbage is also a low-calorie food, but a little goes a long way toward helping our bodies feel full for longer.
- Diabetes Management – Please check with your doctor before adding cilantro to your diet if you have diabetes or low blood sugar levels. Cilantro, or coriander, can help reduce blood sugar by stimulating an enzyme that removes sugar from the blood.
Cilantro Lime Cabbage Salad Recipe Ingredients
- Cabbage – I used one medium-sized head of green cabbage for this recipe. I love cabbage because it’s crunchy and refreshing. You could also use purple or napa cabbage. Of course, if you go the purple route, it will change the look of this salad.
- Cilantro Lime Dressing – This homemade dressing is packed full of flavor and takes no time to whip together. It uses cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, garlic, dijon mustard, maple syrup, cumin and salt. If you don’t like cilantro, I suggest using parsley in its place.
How To Make This Crunchy Cabbage Salad
- Cut the stalk of the cabbage off and peel off a few of the outer layers. Thinly shred the entire head of cabbage and add it to a large bowl. You can shred your cabbage using a sharp knife, mandolin, or food processor.
- Add all of the dressing ingredients into a blender and blend until creamy and completely combined, 30 seconds – 1 minute. Pour the dressing over the shredded cabbage and mix together well until the cabbage is completely coated with the dressing.
- Add in about 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro and mix well. You can enjoy salad immediately or store it in the refrigerator for a couple of hours to allow the flavors to develop. Store in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. Enjoy as a side salad, as a topping for tacos, or with tortilla chips.
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
- This recipe is already vegan and gluten-free.
- Can I use a substitute in place of cilantro? Yes, if you don’t like cilantro, you can use parsley instead.
- What is the best type of cabbage for this recipe? I used green cabbage, which worked great, but you can also use napa or purple cabbage if you like.
- How long do leftovers last? If stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator, leftovers should last about 4-5 days.
- How should this recipe be enjoyed? I like to eat this cabbage salad as a side dish or afternoon snack. You can also use it like you would any kind of slaw (tacos, sandwiches, salads, and more).
Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comment section below, and I will reply ASAP!
Looking For More Hearty Cabbage Recipes?
Fried Cabbage and Noodles with Tofu
Chickpea Salad with Cucumber and Cabbage
Noodles with Cabbage and Carrots
Asian Inspired Crunchy Cabbage Salad
Creamy Southwestern Chopped Cabbage Salad,
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Cilantro Lime Cabbage Salad
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 1x
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Cilantro Lime Cabbage Salad is light, refreshing and super versatile! Enjoy as a veggie side dish, or use it as a topping for tacos, salads, sandwiches and more. This healthy salad comes together quickly and only requires a few ingredients. It’s great for hot summer picnics, as well as cold winter afternoons.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 medium sized head green cabbage, about 6–8 cups once shredded
Cilantro Lime Dressing
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup fresh lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon lime zest
- 1/2 cup packed cilantro
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and black pepper, to taste (I used about 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cut the stalk of the cabbage off and then peel a few of the outer layers off. Thinly shred the entire head of cabbage and then add to a large bowl. You can shred your cabbage using a sharp knife, mandolin or food processor.
- Add all of the dressing ingredients into a blender and blend until creamy and completely combined, 30 seconds – 1 minute. Pour the dressing over the shredded cabbage and mix together well, until cabbage is completely coated with dressing.
- Add in about 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro and mix well. You can enjoy salad immediately, or store in the refrigerator for a couple hours to allow the flavors to develop. Store in an air-tight container, in the refrigerator, for 4-5 days. Enjoy as a side salad, as a topping for tacos or enjoy with tortilla chips.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 0 mins
- Category: Side, Vegan
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
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