Cabbage Salad Recipe

4.50 from 12 votes
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My easy cabbage salad recipe with garlic and lemon is SUCH a winner! It comes together in a snap and packs incredible fresh flavor. So healthy too!

Cabbage salad with garlic and lemon on a blue plate
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This salad is a winner in every way: the salad comes together in a snap, packs incredible fresh flavor in just a few ingredients, and is at home with most every grilled meat, vegetable, and wrap you can think of.

How to make Cabbage Salad

Number ONE: Cabbage salad with garlic and lemon tastes SO GOOD. Itโ€™s exciting to find a salad thatโ€™s this fast and easy to make with so much flavor without resorting to a creamy dressing.

Also, this cabbage salad is really versatile. I eat it on its own often, because itโ€™s so satisfying and especially because the recipe makes a lot. But youโ€™ll find the flavors and texture make it a natural next to grilled and roasted meats, roasted vegetables, fried (air fried!) anything, casseroles. You name it, and cabbage salad with the bright taste of lemon is going to be a match. The lemon really shines here, similar to the way apple cider vinegar brightens the salads it touches.

Cabbage cut in half with the core removed
Shredded cored cabbage on a board

Ingredients to make Cabbage Salad

Just a handful, and you probably have most of them on hand except the cabbage, which is easy to pick up at any grocery store.

The salad itself is made solely of thinly sliced raw cabbage. I prefer green cabbage for this. Can you add to it? Absolutely. As in: green onion, red bell pepper or any bell peppers,

Then, for the vinaigrette, you need:

  1. Lemon
  2. Garlic
  3. Salt
  4. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  5. Favorite fresh herbs: Cilantro or Mint are my favorites for this salad.
Vinaigrette for cabbage salad with lemon and garlic

How to make this salad

Step 1: Trim the cabbage and cut half of it into thin shreds. Save the other half for later unless you need a super giant salad. Half the cabbage makes about 12 cups of salad! Be sure to cut the core out of the cabbage, which can be done before cutting the cabbage in half, or after. Get tips on how to core and cut cabbage here.

Step 2: Make the vinaigrette. I like to grate the garlic on a microplane grater (used for zest)โ€”this makes such quick work of mincing garlic! You can adjust the garlic level here, but that garlicky flavor is much of what this salad is all about.

Step 3: Finely chop the cilantro or mint. Use dry herbs for the easiest chop that wonโ€™t clump as you chop.

Step 4: Get your big salad bowl out and toss the cabbage with the vinaigrette and chopped herbs.

Thatโ€™s it! Eat it up!

Big bowl of shredded cabbage with chopped cilantro on top for salad

How to store Cabbage Salad

The fresh-cut cabbage has a longer stability once its dressed than does bagged shredded cabbage. The salad will still be delicious on day two, stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The crunch may not be quite as crunchy as on day one but the upside is that the flavors have melded even more into the cabbage on day two!

Cabbage salad with garlic and lemon on a blue plate

Serving Suggestions

Oh the possibilities! I eat this salad on its own several times whenever I make a batch. Thatโ€™s no problem because the recipe makes a lot, and thereโ€™s still plenty for everyone even with all of my own bowls.

The intense flavor and refreshing cool crunch of this cabbage salad are right at home on the plate with any and all grilled meats, fish, and vegetables. Make the salad for a potluck and any buffet. This is the perfect salad for a party because it makes so much and so easily. You want at least one salad at any get-together, and this recipe as well as my fattoush salad or Lebanese salad recipe would be excellent choices!

Serve this salad with:

Chicken Shish Tawook

Chicken Shawarma

Cauliflower Shawarma

Lamb chops

Pomegranate Glazed Flank Steak

Simple 7 Spice Chicken

Oven Fried Zaโ€™atar Chicken Wings

More Cabbage recipes to enjoy:

Malfouf, Lebanese Cabbage Slaw

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Garlicky Cabbage Rolls

Cabbage salad with garlic and lemon on a blue plate
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4.50 from 12 votes

Cabbage Salad with Garlic and Lemon

My easy cabbage salad with garlic and lemon is a winner onall scores: the salad comes together in 10 minutes tops, packs incredible fresh flavorin just a few ingredients, and is at home with most every grilled meat, vegetable,and wrap you can think of.
Prep: 10 minutes
Servings: 15

Ingredients 

  • 1 head cabbage
  • 1 large clove garlic, minced or grated
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro or mint
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Instructions 

  • First, core and cut the cabbage. Use a sharp chefโ€™s knife. Make deep, angled cuts around the core, pulling it out like a plug. Usually four cuts around will do it, but keep cutting into your cut marks if the core is stubborn,to loosen it. Halve the cabbage, setting aside one half for another use. Slice the cabbage half into fine shreds.
  • In asmall bowl, whisk to combine the garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and salt.
  • In a large bowl, toss the cabbage with the dressing and the chopped cilantro or mint.Taste and add salt, if needed. Serve immediately or after chilling.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Maureen Abood
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 15
Like this recipe? Leave a comment below!
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4.50 from 12 votes (10 ratings without comment)

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12 Comments

  1. Shelli says:

    5 stars
    Very good! I made this for my Danish boyfriend and I. He said heโ€™d eat this every day. It is better than coleslaw!

    1. Maureen Abood says:

      I agree with him!! Thank you Shelli!

  2. David Doyle says:

    Simple and delicious. Thanks

    1. Maureen Abood says:

      Thank you David, we love this one too, so flavorful!

  3. Cynthia says:

    5 stars
    I am making this every week. So simple and good! Maureen, I am a big fan of your recipes. Thank you!

    1. Maureen Abood says:

      Oh my gosh Cynthia I love to hear that! Such a simple salad that delivers tons of flavor and crunch. Thank you!!!

  4. Aeil says:

    This recipe is totally awesome delicious
    Easy simple wanted something
    Totally blow my friends mind this
    Did your recipes Iโ€™ll use more there
    Ingredients are simple delicious
    With friends asking how I gave
    Them your blog
    Five stars two thumbs up
    โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ
    Awesome blog thanks again for sharing

    1. Maureen Abood says:

      What a great review! Thank you so much. We love this salad too…the flavor!!

  5. Patrice Tuohy says:

    Okay, I make many different salads in a given month. I LOVE salad. This simple cabbage salad with garlic, lemon, oil and a pinch of mint salt and parsley has made it to my top five favorites. So simple. So refreshing. Compliments just about any meal. My family loves it. My dinner guests love it. I love it! Thanks, Maureen.

    1. Maureen Abood says:

      Patrice, what a great compliment coming from a salad aficionado! Thank you! Ease and exceptional flavor don’t often meet in such a simple year-round recipe!

  6. Rose Ayup says:

    The best.

    1. Maureen Abood says:

      The best!