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Quick Cabbage Apple Slaw (Korean-Inspired)

A QUICK kimchi-inspired slaw with cabbage, apple, carrot, and a tangy, optionally spicy dressing. Perfect for when you’re craving a side of kimchi for your favorite Korean dishes but don’t want to run to the store or wait for it to ferment. Ready in 20 minutes with just 10 ingredients!
Author Minimalist Baker
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Serving spoon and fork in a bowl of Korean-inspired cabbage apple slaw
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4 (~1 cup servings)
Course Side
Cuisine Gluten-Free, Korean-Inspired, Vegan
Freezer Friendly No
Does it keep? 1-2 Days

Ingredients

SLAW

  • 3 cups thinly sliced cabbage (purple or green*)
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1 cup grated carrot (1 large carrot yields ~1 cup or 110 g grated)
  • 1 cup grated apple or Asian pear (1/2 large apple or pear yields ~1 cup or 80 g grated)
  • 2 stalks green onion, thinly sliced (1 stalk yields ~1/4 cup or 25 g)

DRESSING

  • 2 medium cloves garlic, pressed or grated
  • 1 inch piece fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 ½ Tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp toasted sesame oil (if oil-free, omit)
  • 1/2 tsp maple syrup
  • 2-4 tsp gochujang or gochugaru (optional // for a kimchi-like spicy kick // ensure gluten-free as needed)
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the sliced cabbage and salt. Massage with clean hands for 2-3 minutes, until the cabbage has reduced a bit and just begins to release some moisture (it’s okay if it doesn’t, too). Add the grated carrot, grated apple or pear, and green onions. Toss until evenly combined.
  • In a small mixing bowl, combine the pressed or grated garlic, grated ginger, rice vinegar, sesame oil, maple syrup, and gochujang or gochugaru (optional). Whisk to combine, then add to the slaw and toss to combine. Taste and adjust as needed, adding more rice vinegar for brightness, maple syrup for sweetness, gochujang (or gochugaru) for heat, or salt for overall balance.
  • Serve immediately with your favorite Korean mains, or alongside anything spicy/savory that could use a fresh and crunchy side dish. Keeps in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. Not freezer friendly.

Video

Notes

*You can use the more traditional napa cabbage here, but we recommend adding 1-2 more cups as it tends to reduce much more than green or red cabbage when massaged.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated without optional ingredients.

Nutrition (1 of 4 servings)

Serving: 1 cup Calories: 54 Carbohydrates: 10.4 g Protein: 1.2 g Fat: 1.3 g Saturated Fat: 0.2 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0 g Monounsaturated Fat: 0 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 323 mg Potassium: 229 mg Fiber: 2.7 g Sugar: 6 g Vitamin A: 816 IU Vitamin C: 25 mg Calcium: 41 mg Iron: 0.4 mg