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This fresh, healthy and delicious Asian Red Cabbage Slaw will take the boring out of everyday meals and entertaining menus.

Do you ever feel "thick"... and tired of it? That's what Scott and I have been experiencing lately. With all the wonderful holiday treats, winter comfort foods, Superbowl munchies and Valentine desserts, a few extra pounds have crept on. Several warmer than normal, Carolina February days in the past week reminded me that spring and summer are actually right around the corner. Shorts, sandals and swimsuits will be replacing these big sweaters and long pants. Yikes! So it's time to switch gears a bit, amp up the exercise and start adding more fresh, light and lean recipes into the mix. This Asian Red Cabbage Slaw is a perfect and delicious way to do just that!

I love red (or purple) cabbage, especially at this time of year when it's hard to find pretty greens at the grocery store. More often than not, I find I'm disappointed when looking for fresh, beautiful lettuce in the colder months. But not with red cabbage. I can have a head in the crisper drawer for weeks, yet when I slice it open, it's unblemished, crisp and beautiful!

Despite red cabbage's pretty appearance and wonderful crunch, it has a drawback in that it doesn't have a lot of flavor. So I like to pizzazz things up a bit with a few super delicious flavor boosters. Fresh lime juice, rice vinegar, sugar, fresh ginger, finely diced red bell pepper, red onion and a touch of spicy chili pepper combine with the cabbage to make a salad that's fresh, vibrant and delicious.

Health Benefits of eating cabbage

Want to know another fabulous thing about red cabbage? It's INCREDIBLY healthy! Here are some of its nutritional benefits.

Red cabbage is higher in Vitamin C (best known for its immune-boosting benefits) than white cabbage - or oranges!
Red cabbage contains more glucosinolates than white cabbage. Glucosinolates are associated with the ability to fight cancer and hinder cancer cell proliferation.
Red cabbage also contains anthocyanin (also called super antioxidants). Its the compound that gives red cabbage it's vibrant color and it's associated with the ability to slow cancer cell proliferation, kill already formed cancer cells, and stop the formation of new tumor growths
Cabbage (both red and white) contains high levels of sulforaphane. Research has show sulforaphane to be consistently associated with a lower risk of cancer..
Cabbage is super high in fiber which helps maintain a healthy digestive tract. Recent studies have shown that dietary fiber may even play a role in regulating the immune system and inflammation, consequently decreasing the risk of inflammation-related conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity.
Cabbage can promote heart health as it is a good source of flavonoids. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition recently reported that the intake of flavonoid-rich foods like cabbage is associated with a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
The high polyphenol content in cabbage might also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by preventing platelet buildup and reducing blood pressure.

Add pizzazz to everyday meals and dinner parties

This Asian Red Cabbage Slaw pairs nicely with chicken, pork, shrimp, salmon and lots of other entrees. It makes a beautiful presentation served on a simple white plate, in a pretty bowl or beside an entrée.

I love that this salad can be prepared hours in advance and actually gets more flavorful as the ingredients have time to marry and meld. It can be made early in the day and refrigerated, just set aside the cilantro (or parsley). It will be all set to go at dinner time except for a shower of herbs. This makes meal prep less stressful, especially when entertaining guests.

Pick up a head of red cabbage next time you shop. Add red bell peppers, red onion and cilantro (or parsley) to the list too. You probably have everything else you need for this Asian Red Cabbage Slaw. Whether you're feeling "thick" or not (lucky dog!), I think you'll love this fresh, beautiful salad!

Café Tips for making this Asian Red Cabbage Slaw

If you have an aversion to cilantro, feel free to use parsley. The flavor will be a bit different but the salad will still be fresh and delicious.
If I'm making this Asian Red Cabbage Slaw early in the day, I like to wait until just before serving to add the cilantro or parsley as it will look much prettier.
This salad is delicious topped with a handful of coarsely chopped peanuts. It would also be wonderful with this Healthy, Crunchy Salad Topper.
Chop the peppers and red onion nice and small. You want them to blend in not stand on their own. A good set of knives is worth its weight in gold when it comes to food prep. You can start with a set or just one good chef knife. Once you have a really good kitchen knife, you'll find you reach for it all the time. To choose a perfect knife, visit a kitchen store and actually hold some knives until you find one that feels really comfortable in your hand. I love my Global knives. I've had them for over 5 years now. Scott keeps them sharpened and they always feel like brand new.
Have leftovers? Box them up and takes them for lunch the next day. Add some grilled or rotisserie chicken for a delicious high protein, healthy salad!

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