Red Cabbage Salad
A vibrant and crunchy red cabbage salad featuring toasted ramen noodles, sunflower seeds, and almonds, perfect for a light, flavorful side dish or a vegetarian main. Its combination of fresh vegetables and toasted toppings makes it a versatile dish suited for casual gatherings or everyday meals.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Chop the red cabbage and green onions.
- Break up the ramen noodles, reserving the flavor packets for the dressing.
- Toast the noodles, sunflower seeds, and slivered almonds in a dry Teflon pan until lightly browned.
- Cool the toasted ingredients.
- Mix the chopped vegetables, toasted noodles, seeds, and nuts together prior to serving.
- Toss with the prepared dressing made from the ramen flavor packets.
Tips & Substitutions
For a crunchier salad, add additional vegetables like carrots or bell peppers. If you prefer a lighter option, substitute the sunflower seeds with pumpkin seeds. For added protein, consider using grilled chicken or shrimp, which pairs beautifully with this Red Cabbage Salad. Adjust the seasoning in the dressing to your taste for a more personalized flavor.
Serving Suggestions
This Red Cabbage Salad makes a great side dish for grilled meats or a refreshing lunch on its own. Consider serving it alongside Skillet Barbecue Chicken for a complete meal. For a lighter option, pair it with a simple soup like Old-Fashioned Chicken Soup to balance flavors and textures.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. To maintain the crunchiness of the noodles and seeds, keep the dressing separate until ready to serve. If reheating, consider warming the chicken or shrimp separately to avoid sogginess in the salad.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Red Cabbage Salad contains roughly 505 calories, with 9g protein, 101g carbohydrates, and 9g fat. It is an excellent source of iron (24% of the Daily Value), dietary fiber (23% of the Daily Value), and vitamin C (22% of the Daily Value), and a good source of protein and potassium. It also contributes 6g of dietary fiber toward your daily target.
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this salad ahead of time?
Yes, you can prepare the chopped vegetables and toasted ingredients a few hours in advance. However, it’s best to mix everything and add the dressing just before serving to keep the salad fresh and crunchy.
How can I make this salad vegetarian?
To make this salad vegetarian, simply omit the chicken or shrimp and use vegetable broth instead of chicken-flavored ramen packets for the dressing. You can also add more protein with chickpeas or black beans.
What can I use instead of Top Ramen noodles?
If you prefer a gluten-free option, you can substitute Top Ramen with rice noodles or quinoa. Just ensure to adjust the cooking time accordingly and use a similar flavoring for the dressing.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).