Cabbage Apple Walnut Salad (Printable)

Crisp shaved cabbage tossed with apple, walnuts, and creamy sesame dressing for a refreshing side.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Salad

01 - 1 small head green cabbage, finely shaved (about 5 cups)
02 - 1 large crisp apple (Honeycrisp or Gala), thinly sliced
03 - ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
04 - ½ cup walnuts, roughly chopped
05 - ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped

→ Sesame Dressing

06 - 3 tbsp tahini (sesame paste)
07 - 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
08 - 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
09 - 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
10 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame oil
11 - 1 tbsp olive oil
12 - 1–2 tbsp water, as needed to thin
13 - ½ tsp sea salt
14 - ¼ tsp ground black pepper

→ Garnish

15 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the finely shaved cabbage, thinly sliced apple, red onion slices, chopped walnuts, and fresh parsley.
02 - In a separate small bowl, whisk together the tahini, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, honey or maple syrup, toasted sesame oil, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Gradually add water, one tablespoon at a time, until the dressing reaches a creamy, pourable consistency.
03 - Pour the sesame dressing over the salad ingredients and toss thoroughly using tongs or serving spoons until everything is evenly coated.
04 - Transfer to individual serving bowls and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds if desired.
05 - Serve immediately for maximum crunch and freshness, or refrigerate for up to 1 hour before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The dressing comes together in about sixty seconds and tastes like something from a restaurant that charges twenty two dollars for a side salad.
  • Every single bite has crunch, which is the one thing most salads promise and almost never deliver on.
02 -
  • If you dress the salad more than an hour ahead of time the cabbage will release water and you will end up with a puddle at the bottom of the bowl, which is heartbreaking after all that careful slicing.
  • Tahini brands vary wildly in thickness and bitterness, so taste your dressing before adding it to the salad and adjust lemon or water accordingly.
03 -
  • Toasting the walnuts in a dry pan for three or four minutes transforms them from fine to extraordinary, and it costs you almost no extra effort.
  • If your tahini is stiff and separated in the jar, stir it vigorously before measuring or your dressing will be lumpy no matter how hard you whisk.

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