Cabbage Salad with Creamy Avocado Tahini Dressing
Today we are making a Cabbage Salad with Creamy Avocado Tahini Dressing! This vibrant dish is a delightful mix of crisp cabbage and a rich, velvety dressing that will leave your taste buds singing. Cabbage provides the perfect base for this salad, offering a crunchy texture that complements the smoothness of the avocado and tahini dressing. Whether you’re looking for a light lunch, a side dish, or something new to bring to the table, this salad is sure to impress.
The dressing is where this salad truly shines. Made with ripe avocado and creamy tahini, it brings together a luscious blend of flavors that are both nutty and tangy. Fresh lemon juice adds a bright acidity, while a touch of pure maple syrup brings just the right amount of sweetness to balance everything out. The garlic, olive oil, and seasonings give the dressing a depth that makes it irresistible. It’s a perfect match for the cabbage, coating every shred with a burst of flavor that’s both satisfying and nourishing.
What’s great about this Cabbage Salad with Creamy Avocado Tahini Dressing is how simple and versatile it is. You can enjoy it as-is for a quick, healthy meal, or add your favorite toppings like nuts, seeds, or grilled proteins to make it more substantial. Plus, it’s easy to prepare ahead of time, making it ideal for meal prep or entertaining. This salad is not just a dish—it’s a celebration of fresh, wholesome ingredients that come together to create something truly delicious.
Why You’ll Love This Cabbage Salad
Perfect Summer Salad: This Cabbage Salad with Creamy Avocado Tahini Dressing is an ideal summer dish that’s light, refreshing, and full of vibrant flavors. The crispness of the cabbage paired with the cooling, creamy dressing makes it a delightful option for warm days when you want something satisfying yet not too heavy. The fresh lemon juice in the dressing adds a burst of citrusy brightness, making it even more invigorating. Whether you’re enjoying it at a picnic, a barbecue, or simply as a quick lunch on a hot day, this salad is sure to become a go-to summer favorite.
Underrated Veggie: Cabbage often doesn’t get the attention it deserves, but this salad proves just how versatile and delicious this underrated veggie can be. With its crunchy texture and subtle flavor, cabbage provides the perfect canvas for bold, creamy dressings like the avocado tahini blend featured here. Not only is cabbage incredibly affordable and widely available, but it’s also packed with nutrients that make it a powerhouse addition to any meal. By showcasing cabbage in this salad, you’re embracing a humble ingredient and turning it into something truly special.
Substitutions
Cabbage: For a classic cabbage salad, green cabbage is a great option due to its crunchy texture and mild flavor. Red cabbage adds a vibrant color and slightly peppery taste. Savoy cabbage offers a softer texture and a more delicate flavor, perfect for a lighter salad. You can experiment with different cabbage types, as preferred.
Lemon: Use fresh lemon juice instead of bottled. Substitute this with a lime.
Tahini: Tahini can be found in grocery stores or Middle Eastern specific stores as well. The only ingredient on the label should be sesame seeds, since this is a paste made from the ground seeds. Do not substitute.
Olive Oil: Substitute extra-virgin olive oil with virgin/regular olive oil, or avocado oil.
Maple Syrup: Look for pure maple syrup, where the only ingredient on the label is one – just maple syrup. You can try different sweeteners, such as date syrup or coconut syrup. Certain sweeteners, such as agave nectar, are not considered refined sugar-free, but that can also work as a replacement.
Avocado: Do not substitute the avocado, as it provides the base of fats in order to make the dressing rich and creamy.
Cabbage Salad Recipe Notes
- Do not skip the step where you submerge the cabbage in ice water! This helps to remove the bitterness from it, otherwise it comes through in the recipe.
More Recipes You’ll Love
Chickea Quinoa Salad with Peanut Dressing
Quinoa Edamame Salad with Ginger Vinaigrette
Mediterranean Freekeh Herb Salad
If you make this Cabbage Salad with Creamy Avocado Tahini Dressing, then leave a comment and star rating! Don’t forget to tag your photos @peanut_palate on Instagram. Enjoy!
Cabbage Salad with Creamy Avocado Tahini Dressing
Equipment
- Hand Blender
Ingredients
- ¼ head cabbage
For the Dressing
- 1 medium avocado
- 2 tbsp tahini
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 medium garlic clove finely grated / paste-like
- 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp pure maple syrup
- ¼ tsp pink salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
Soak the Cabbage
- Fill a large bowl with ice-cold water. Add large pieces of cabbage, before chopping it, for 15 minutes. While this soaks, prepare the dressing in the section below.
- After soaking, drain and pat the cabbage dry before using it in the salad.
For the Dressing
- In a medium-sized bowl, add together all the dressing ingredients.
- Use a hand blender to blend the ingredients together until smooth.
- Set aside to use in the salad.
For the Salad
- Make sure to dry the cabbage after soaking in ice water. Chop it up into chunks (as in the photos), or thin slices. You can even shred it if you prefer.
- Pour the sauce over top, tossing to coat the salad.
- Enjoy!
Notes
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Storage
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days.
