An Asian Twist to Classic Slaw
We first tasted this Asian Cabbage Salad when we lived in Hawaii, many decades ago. We would have it often, served with a stir fried dish called Beef Tomato. It’s been a favorite of mine ever since. As you can see, it is so easy to put together, yet looks very pretty for company. You can use more or less mayo if you like. Using veganaise makes it a vegan dish as well.
Normally I will serve it as a side dish with chicken or my favorite Vegetarian Wontons. It would be perfect paired and with Fried Cauliflower Rice, and quite satisfying. I enjoy it so much that I’ll often have it solo for lunch or a light dinner. Love the flavor of the soy sauce with a touch of mayo.
Besides being low in calories, cabbage is a great source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, and vitamin K, among others. Vitamin K has been shown to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
It makes a yummy, easy change from lettuce for a salad. Hope you enjoy it.
Rating
Prep time:
Total time:
Serves: 4
- ¼ to ½ Cabbage, (I used vegetarian mayo)
- 2 to 3 tablespoons Mayonnaise
- Low sodium soy sauce
- Slice cabbage very thin, keeping it together.
- Place a serving on each plate.
- Spread mayonnaise lightly across cabbage. Use more or less as you like.
- Sprinkle with soy sauce. Bragg's amino acids work well too.
Nutritional Value of Cabbage
Whenever I look at the nutritional value of various vegetables, I am always impressed and surprised. So many of the vegetables we eat every day have remarkable benefits. By the time I’m finished, it leaves me wondering why I don’t eat more veggies every day. Cabbage is a great example of that. It is so tasty and makes an excellent substitution when I’m not in the mood for a salad. It’s filling, so much so that I can have a dish like this for a meal.
Add to that, it’s low calorie. One cup has only 22 calories. Using 1 tablespoon of regular mayonnaise at 90 calories, you can have a satisfying meal for less that 150 calories. Using a vegan mayo, you would only add 60 calories per tablespoon.
As for the health benefits, check these out:
- It’s recently been learned that in addition to its other nutrients, cabbage contains a unique form of glucosinates that contribute to preventing several forms of cancer.
- Good for lowering cholesterol (especially when steamed) by binding to some bile acids.
- Healing peptic ulcers.
- Good for the stomach lining by helping with the regulation of bacteria in the stomach.
- Aids in cardiovascular health, partly by lowering cholesterol anthocyanins in cabbage are well known as anti-inflammatories.
- Since inflammation can be a risk factor for cancer, anthocyanins are another way cabbage helps prevention.
- 1 cup provides nearly 80% of the recommended does of vitamin K, nearly 70 % of vitamin C, and near 20% of manganese and vitamin B6 Some of the other nutrients are: choline, potassium, B1, folate, and copper , calcium, magnesium, B2, selenium.
To get the most of the nutrients, cabbage is best raw or steamed. Microwaving cabbage for only 2 minutes can destroy some of it nutrients. Cooking too long can do the same. Fortunately, cabbage is delicious raw, as in this recipe. Cut, sliced, shredded, it makes a tasty salad. It’s also good added to stir fry and soup.
It’s recommended that cabbage be included in our meals 3 to 4 times a week, in a serving size of at least 1 1/2 cups.
More Ideas for Asian Cabbage Salad
This recipe can be changed up in several ways. Sometimes I will eliminate the mayonnaise completely, and just use soy sauce of Braggs amines.
Garnish this dish with chopped green onion, chives or capers.
I will often chop it, and use a tablespoon of mayo with soy sauce then toss it as you would cole slaw. It doesn’t take that much mayonnaise to have the moisture and flavor, without adding very much.
If chopping and mixing it, try adding…
- 1/4 cup chopped onion,
- chopped celery
- chopped cucumber
- sliced, chopped or grated carrots
- finely sliced tomatoes,
- Chopped walnuts or almonds
- Sunflower seeds
You probably can think of several other options. The goal is to eat more cabbage for a refreshing, light, yet filling dish.
An 8 inch Chef’s Knife
A good sharp knife is the main thing you will need for this dish. This will help you slice the cabbage thinly. It’s a perfect choice if you prefer to chop the cabbage too.
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