Simple Napa Cabbage Salad Recipe

Right here’s the Napa cabbage salad I’ve been making on repeat. It’s remarkably tasty for the way straightforward it’s to throw collectively, and the sesame within the dressing may have you going again for extra!

I’ve fallen so laborious for this cabbage salad, and I believe you’ll, too. I’m all the time on the hunt for tremendous easy, quick-to-prepare sides, and this Napa cabbage salad with garlic and sesame is hitting it out of the park.

This actually is a low-effort dish. Only a fast therapeutic massage of toasted sesame oil, grated garlic, and salt into the cabbage rewards you with a candy, toasty, and scrumptious salad. It pairs extremely nicely with grilled meats, hen, and seafood, and I particularly find it irresistible with meaty or umami-rich dishes, comparable to grilled steak and pork chops made with this pork marinade.

Key Elements

• Napa Cabbage: I like cabbage, made evident by the various cabbage recipes we’ve got, however Napa cabbage holds a particular place in my coronary heart. It’s lighter on its ft and splendidly crunchy, making it an extremely refreshing base for salads.
• Sesame Oil and Sesame Seeds: I like the deep, toasty notes that toasted sesame oil provides to this salad. It brings a wealthy, nutty taste that makes it extremely laborious to cease consuming! To actually lean into the sesame, we additionally toss in some toasted sesame seeds.
• Garlic and Inexperienced Onions: A finely grated garlic clove, massaged into the cabbage, provides a lot taste, however don’t fear, it doesn’t overpower the salad. The pure sweetness of the cabbage stands up fantastically to the uncooked garlic, and the toasted sesame oil completely cuts via. I additionally love thinly sliced inexperienced onions for extra taste and shade.
• Salt and Pepper: These are apparent, however the salt actually helps with making our cabbage style unbelievable. You’ll therapeutic massage it into the cabbage, so it helps to tenderize the cabbage and make it style extra like cabbage.

The key to this salad’s superb taste is massaging the Napa cabbage with the dressing elements. I do the identical when making kale salad and kimchi as a result of it really works wonders. The therapeutic massage relaxes the cabbage, making it extra tender and extremely receptive to absorbing the garlicky and toasty sesame flavors. It’s a easy step that makes a giant distinction ultimately.