This healthy purple cabbage slaw is loaded with crunchy texture, fresh flavor, and vibrant colors! It’s slightly sweet, tangy, and absolutely delicious with Medjool dates, mandarin oranges, parmesan, and walnuts. Use this delicious recipe as an easy side dish for any season!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
I’m a huge fan of crunchy, hearty salads that are chock full of amazing flavors and textures, especially ones that don’t get soggy overnight. I love making a big batch to eat for several days. This tangy Purple Cabbage Slaw (or purple cabbage salad) is my latest favorite dish to do just that, and it makes a wonderful addition to just about any meal. It’s a simple recipe and a beautiful side dish!
Purple cabbage combined with shredded kale, toasted walnuts, Medjool dates, and Mandarin oranges, then tossed in the most flavor-packed parmesan balsamic dressing. Using hardy greens is the key to a no-wilt salad, and blending in cheese to the dressing ensures that every bite is coated in the wonderful flavor without getting soggy.
This purple cabbage slaw salad is the perfect dish to make ahead salad for meal prep or to bring to a potluck, picnic, or summer cookout! Simple ingredients, easy steps, and the creamy, tangy dressing is a bonus!
Ingredient Notes
- walnuts: I personally like to toast walnuts myself for the best flavor, but you can use pre-toasted walnuts. Other nuts like almonds, cashews, or pecans will also work!
- red cabbage: You’ll need a head of cabbage for this recipe. You can use green cabbage if you like. Pre-shredded cabbage or purple cabbage coleslaw mix will work as well.
- kale: Use lacinato kale or flat-leaf kale for the best texture.
- Natural Delights Medjool Dates: Medjool dates add a wonderful natural sweetness to this purple cabbage slaw while also giving it a wonderful texture. I love that they are packed with healthy nutrients like selenium, magnesium, calcium, and potassium, which is why I use them often when I cook for my family. Natural Delights is the brand I’m loyal to because they always have the best quality Medjool dates. They are also non-GMO, and I love their commitment to sustainability in every step of their manufacturing process.
- Mandarin oranges: The burst of flavor from Mandarin oranges is wonderful in this recipe. You’ll need the oranges, as well as some of the juice from the can. This is my favorite brand with the cleanest ingredients.
- parmesan cheese: You can use freshly grated or pre-grated parmesan. Another great option is pecorino cheese.
- olive oil
- balsamic vinegar: I personally love balsamic vinegar, but you can also use apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, or white wine vinegar.
- Dijon mustard
- garlic
- ground black pepper
- salt
How to Make Purple Cabbage Slaw: Step-By-Step Instructions
- Combine all dressing ingredients in a blender (or food processor) and blend until smooth. Add more water 1 tablespoon at a time, if the dressing won’t blend properly or if it’s too thick for your liking. Set aside.
- Heat a dry skillet over medium heat, and add walnuts. Cook, stirring for 4-5 minutes, until they are fragrant and golden brown. Remove from heat, then coarsely chop.
- Prepare the vegetables: Core and thinly slice cabbage. Remove the stems from kale, then stack the leaves to slice into thin ribbons with a sharp knife. Remove the pit and chop the Medjool dates into 1/2-inch pieces.
- In a large mixing bowl, add cabbage, kale, Medjool dates, and walnuts. Drain the Mandarin oranges and add to the large bowl.
- Pour the dressing over the slaw, then toss to coat evenly.
- Serve, topped with more grated parmesan cheese.
Serving Tips
This red cabbage salad recipe goes wonderfully with grilled chicken, steak, pulled pork, wings, drumsticks, or just on its own.
You can even add shredded cooked chicken to make it a complete meal or serve it alongside burgers, sandwiches, and fish tacos! It’s a healthy side dish that complements so many main dishes.
Storage Tips
Store leftover cabbage slaw in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. It’ll still maintain that wonderful crunch and taste amazing! I don’t recommend freezing.
Recipe FAQs
Purple cabbage (red cabbage) is a nutritious and delicious vegetable that offers a range of health benefits, from antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory effects to heart health, cancer-fighting properties, digestive health, and immune support. Tons of nutrients are packed into this hardy vegetable.
More Green & Purple Cabbage Recipes
Curtido | Salvadoran Spicy Cabbage Slaw
Easy Asian Ground Beef & Cabbage Stir Fry
Chinese Chicken Salad with Dates
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Easy Purple Cabbage Slaw with Parmesan Balsamic Dressing
Ingredients
- 1 cup walnuts
- 1/2 head medium purple cabbage
- 1/2 bunch lacinato kale
- 1/2 cup Natural Delights Medjool Dates
- 10 oz canned mandarin oranges reserve 2 tbsp of juice for the dressing
Parmesan Balsamic Dressing
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese plus more for serving
- 1/4 cup water plus more, if needed
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp juice from canned mandarin orange
- 2 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 garlic clove
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients for the dressing in a blender, and blend until smooth. Add more water 1 tablespoon at a time if the dressing won't blend properly or if it's too thick for your liking. Set aside.
- Heat a dry skillet over medium heat, and add walnuts. Cook stirring for 4-5 minutes, until they are fragrant and golden brown. Remove from heat, then coarsely chop.
- Core and thinly slice red cabbage. Remove the stems from kale, then stack the leaves to slice into thin ribbons. Remove the pit and chop the Medjool dates into 1/2 inch pieces.
- In a large mixing bowl, add cabbage, kale, Medjool dates, and walnuts. Drain the Mandarin oranges and add to the bowl. (If not eating right away, add walnuts and Mandarin oranges just before serving.)
- Pour the dressing over the slaw, then toss to coat evenly.
- Serve, topped with more grated parmesan cheese.
Notes
Serving Tips
This salad is wonderful with grilled chicken, steak, pulled pork, wings, drumsticks, or just on its own. You can even add in shredded cooked chicken to make it a complete meal, or serve alongside burgers, sandwiches, and fish tacos.Storage Tips
You can stored this red cabbage salad recipe in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. It’ll still maintain that wonderful crunch and taste amazing! I don’t recommend freezing this slaw.Regarding other affiliate links and affiliate relationships: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. Thank you for your support and understanding.
This salad had the perfect combination of flavors!! The dressing was super good and I plan to try it with other salads as well.
Once again you have proved to me that your recipes outclass everyone else’s. Your purple cabbage salad is delicious!
Thank you!! So appreciate you leaving a review. 🙂