The RED CABBAGE AND WALNUT SALAD is a fresh, very quick, crunchy and flavorful dish, ideal as a side or as a light main course. It can be prepared in a few minutes and guarantees an interesting taste and a beautiful visual effect thanks to its bright color.
The combination of ingredients provides a perfect balance of sweetness, acidity and crunch, and the nutritional contribution is perfectly suitable for those who want to stay in shape while ensuring valuable nutrients. If you want to indulge a little, you can add blue cheese (such as gorgonzola) or salty, tasty feta to the salad — both pair wonderfully with the sweetness of the dish.
Ideal for the cold season, when cabbage is in season, the dish can also be served in summer to make your meal fresher and lighter without giving up taste and visual appeal, which also matters in cooking.
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- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very inexpensive
- Rest time: 10 Minutes
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 4 Servings
- Cooking methods: No cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Fall, Winter
Ingredients
- 14 oz (about 4 1/2 cups) red cabbage
- 1.8 oz (about 1/3 cup) walnut halves
- 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- to taste salt
Steps
Separate the cabbage, remove any damaged outer leaves and slice it very thinly. Place it in a bowl with water, rinse and drain it well.
Meanwhile, in a bowl or a glass jar combine the apple cider vinegar, the oil and the salt. Emulsify everything until you obtain a smooth, light dressing.
Transfer the cabbage to a salad bowl, add the chopped walnut halves and dress with the emulsified dressing. Toss well to combine.
Let the red cabbage and walnut salad rest for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Then serve.
VARIATION
You can add thin slices of apple, sunflower or pumpkin seeds for extra crunch, or feta or gorgonzola cheese for a creamy note. For an exotic touch, try adding pomegranate seeds or a sprinkle of cumin.
DID YOU KNOW?
The color of red cabbage changes depending on the acidity level: it turns blue in a basic environment and tends toward red in an acidic one, for example when lemon juice is added. This property also makes it a natural pH indicator.
It is considered an ally for cardiovascular health thanks to its antioxidant content.
