This Asian napa salad recipe originally came from Megan, but I’ve adapted it a bit, as I like to do! I often will use crispy almonds or pecans for the tasty crunch OR see below where I fry up some wonton wrappers–yum… Also you'll see TWO dressing options. A traditional vinegar based dressing and a new citrus based dressing that I love too. Both take just a minute to whisk together!
Asian Napa Salad Recipe with crispy nuts or fried wontons
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients:
- 1 head of Napa cabbage, cleaned and sliced
- 1 bunch green onions, cleaned & chopped
- 1-2 cups CRISP options: 1. crispy nuts: cashews, almonds, or pecans-yum! If you don't have crispy nuts on hand (soaked in salt water overnight, then slow roasted 'til crispy), just roast some nuts on a baking sheet a few minutes until crispy. OR 2. cut wonton wrappers into strips or triangles and fry in tallow or avocado oil, then sprinkle with sea salt (see photos & notes on this below).
- 1 bunch cilantro, cleaned and chopped
- Optional tasty add-ins, just throw in whatever you have on-hand: dried organic cherries or cranberries, slivered/shredded carrots, chopped peppers, sesame seeds (toasted in butter 'til golden), crumbled cooked bacon, organic broccoli slaw mix, apple pieces, mandarin oranges--peeled and cut into pieces.
Asian Vinaigrette Dressing:
- 1 cup avocado oil , or sometimes I use half olive oil and/or this sesame oil
- 1/2 cup raw organic apple cider vinegar , sometimes I'll use balsamic instead and omit or use less of the sugar below!
- 2 Tablespoons fermented soy sauce or coconut aminos , or more to your taste
- 1/4-1/2 cup organic palm or coconut sugar , try less first and taste-test--you may not need it all!
Asian Citrus Dressing (for a different option):
- 1 batch homemade mayo
- 1/4 cup organic orange juice
- 1 orange or 2 mandarins/clementines, zested-- + the juice
- 1 1/2 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon fermented soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 2 Tablespoons real maple syrup or palm sugar
- 1/2 Tablespoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Just toss the salad ingredients all together, mix the dressing ingredients together and pour over, you know the drill. 🙂 You may not need all of the dressing, so start with half and add more as needed.
- You may want to add any crispy ingredients on the side as you serve it though, so they stay crispy. (Bacon, nuts, sesame seeds, wonton wrappers, etc.)
Notes
Note:
I made wonton strips as explained above (cut wonton wrappers into strips, then fry in beef tallow or avocado oil until golden brown, sprinkle with sea salt), but it was a pain chasing those little strips around the pan. I found it to be much easier to just fry them whole, then break them into pieces over your salad! If you want it to look a little prettier, just cut them into 2 triangles and fry that way.
Wontons cut into strips & fried. These are so delicious over your Asian Napa salad!
Here I just fried them whole…
and broke them into pieces over the salad. So delicious!
Do you make a similar recipe? How is yours different? I love new salad ideas. 🙂
- Here are more Healthy Salad variations!
KitchenKop says
@kitblue, Yes, I made it again the other day and used less, just play with it and see what you think. I’ll adjust the recipe, too, thanks!
Kelly
KitchenKop says
Elaine, if you’re still monitoring these comments from all those years ago, I now know what expeller pressed means! It means it’s a more refined oil, and it has a milder flavor. Otherwise, the unrefined is quite strong, but less processed, and you’d need a lot less of it. (Then use olive oil for the rest.)
Kelly
kitblue says
Half cup sugar seems like a lot. I`m hoping that is a typo because, otherwise, it looks like a great salad.
shannon says
Thanks Kelly. I’ll save this recipe for Napa; I did see that post last week or so and thanks for the link as I remembered that about spinach but not cabbage. Always something, isn’t it? 🙂 Wow, lots of great comments in her comment section.
Speaking of the oxalic acid, I have a confession to make. Maybe I should change my name on this comment. LOL. Anyway, 90% of the time I use baking soda, vinegar or Dr. Bronners for cleaning. But, last week I felt the need for a “deep” clean in my bathroom (mistake, I know). “The Works” was on sale so I picked it up and used it. AHH! Listed as an active ingredient is Oxalic Acid. That stuff was nasty of course but it really did clean my toilet better than ever. Maybe I should try dumping out my cabbage water into the toilet 🙂
shannon says
Hi Kelly. Our cabbage is ready but I only have “regular” cabbage, no napa. Do you think that would work? Thanks!
Kelly the Kitchen Kop says
I’m not sure, because the Napa cabbage is lighter and crunchier.
Also, by the way, I’ve since found out that if you eat a lot of cabbage, it should be at least lightly cooked. Here’s more from Sarah: https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/2010/10/think-raw-veggies-are-best-think-again/
If you’re wondering about traditionally fermented sauerkraut like I was, that question is answered in the comments. 🙂
Kelly says
Hi Elaine!
Your question isn’t basic at all – I had no idea, and still don’t! All I know is that in all the Nourishing Traditions reading I’ve done, it always calls for the expeller pressed…sorry I’m not more help! No luck googling, either. (I use Spectrum Naturals brand.)
elaine says
Hi Kelly~
Can’t wait to try this – we just got Napa cabbage in our CSA delivery.
I’ve got “cold pressed Sesame Oil” but wondered what the difference was between that and the “expeller pressed” you noted? Sorry if I’m asking a basic question – I’m still in the learning curve 🙂
Thanks for your terrific blog!!
Kelly says
Catherine, I’ll have to try that, it sounds funky! (I love funky stuff – things that sound odd and end up tasting great together.)
Julie, I think garlic and ginger would be great, too!
Jen, I wish I could sleep in, that would make my late nights more enjoyable! 🙂
Jen says
This sounds yummy! I’m one of those late night/early morning wackos too. And yes, the pic looks beautiful!!! 🙂
Julie says
I like to add fresh chopped garlic and or ginger to the dressing. Always trying to get more of those in the diet, too.
Julie
Catherine says
I used to love a recipe that was very similar to this. Although it was for an Asian Tuna Wrap. The additional ingredients you can add to make it “out of this world” would be to add pineapple junks and tuna to the salad and a tablespoon of peanut butter to the dressing.
Catherine
Kelly says
Good morning Zeke,
Where do you live? Or were you really up at 3:22 am? I thought I was the only wacko who stayed up too late sometimes.
Broccoli slaw mix: look in the organic bagged salad section at your grocery store – even my kids like it, but they wouldn’t touch broccoli. 🙂 For us it’s something we buy once in a while in the winter when there are NO fresh options.
Zeke says
What is broccoli slaw mix? I have never heard of this. Please enlighten me.
Zeke