I have always been a huge lover of salads and of coleslaw in general. I never tire of them, and if they are quick and easy to make, so much the better.
That is the way with this crunchy cashew slaw salad recipe I am sharing with you today. Not only is it very quick and easy to make, but it is incredibly delicious!
I know I say that about everything I cook and make, but its true. It is delicious. Its a fabulous combination of all things crunchy, salty, sweet and tangy!
Plus it only uses six (if you count all the nuts and seeds as one) basic ingredients. It makes for a great mid-week salad for the whole family, filled with plenty of color, fiber and crunch!
The recipe is one which I adapted from a cookbook I have by Gooseberry Patch, entitled Best Church Suppers and is attributed to Lori Comer of North Carolina.
I have always loved the Gooseberry Patch cookbooks. I used to have quite a few of them. I can remember when they put out a lovely catalogue a few times a year filled with sweet little illustrations and the company used to sell all sorts of things besides cookbooks.
I loved their catalogues.
I cut the original recipe in half today because I just did not need 12 servings of anything. I will save the full recipe for sometime when I have a potluck or some such to go to. God willing we will not be restricted from gathering for too much longer.
Who would have ever thought that this would carry on for more than two years? I can remember at the beginning of the pandemic I thought maybe six months or so at most. I think we all did.
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE CRUNCHY CASHEW SLAW
Very simple ingredients that can be as complicated or as uncomplicated as you wish.
- 8 ounces (226g) of coleslaw mix (grated cabbage and carrot)
- 1 package chicken flavored ramen noodles
- 1/4 cup (50g) sugar
- 1/4 cup (60ml) rice wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup (60ml) light olive oil
- 1/2 cup (55g) roasted cashew halves
- 1/2 cup (55g) shelled sunflower seeds
If you are not able to get the ready made coleslaw mix where you live (and I can appreciate it is not available everywhere) then you can very easily make your own. Just shred cabbage and carrot in the same measure.
I would use 1/3 carrot to 2/3 cabbage. I do not recommend using anything other than the white/hard cabbage for this. Red cabbage would dye everything an unsightly color.
Ramen noodles are those square packages of instant noodles that you see in the stores. They come in a lot of different flavors. Some spicy some not so spicy.
You will need the chicken ones for this recipe and you will also be using the flavor packet which is included.
I used Chinese rice wine vinegar in this. You can use just plain white vinegar. It will work just as well.
I like to use light olive oil, but you can use canola oil if you wish. I also have a confession to make here. I used a one to one sugar substitute in this as I am a diabetic. Swerve granulated sugar. It works very well.
Also I used salted cashew nuts and unsalted sunflower seeds.
HOW TO MAKE CRUNCHY CASHEW SLAW
Nothing could be easier. This goes together in a flash, especially if you are using a prepared package of coleslaw mix. Otherwise you will need to take the time to shred your own, but even so, that doesn't take too long.
Place the coleslaw mix in a bowl. Crush the noodles from the packet of ramen and add them to the coleslaw. Reserve the seasoning packet.
Whisk together the oil, vinegar, sugar and reserved seasoning mix.
Pour this dressing over the coleslaw/noodle mix in the bowl and toss to combine. Cover and chill for two hours. (Don't chill it overnight as the noodles become soggy.)
When you are ready to serve add the cashew halves and the sunflower seeds, tossing to mix them in well. Serve immediately.
It is not recommended that you make this much more than a few hours ahead of time as the noodles will soften in the dressing. That doesn't really bother me overly much however, and so I am just as happy with this the second day as I am on the first day!
Its all a matter of taste I guess! Crusty bread goes very well with this as well. It also makes an excellent side dish for a week night supper and I will be honest, I enjoy it in a packed lunch, but again, I don't mind soggy noodles.
There are a lot of versions of this salad out there. You can add all sorts of things. I have even seen it with mayonnaise added. Spring onions go well.
I like it in this very basic version myself. It quick, easy and delicious. That works for me on every level!!
Cashew Slaw
Yield: 5 to 6
Prep time: 5 MinCook time: 2 HourTotal time: 2 H & 5 M
Simple to make and scrumptious. I could eat a bowl full of this and nothing else. It is crunchy, salty, sweet, yummy.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces (226g) of coleslaw mix (grated cabbage and carrot)
- 1 package chicken flavored ramen noodles
- 1/4 cup (50g) sugar
- 1/4 cup (60ml) rice wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup (60ml) light olive oil
- 1/2 cup (55g) roasted cashew halves
- 1/2 cup (55g) shelled sunflower seeds
Instructions
- Place the coleslaw mix in a bowl. Crush the noodles from the packet of ramen and add them to the coleslaw. Reserve the seasoning packet.
- Whisk together the oil, vinegar, sugar and reserved seasoning mix.
- Pour this dressing over the coleslaw/noodle mix in the bowl and toss to combine.
- Cover and chill for two hours. (Don't chill it overnight as the noodles become soggy.)
- When you are ready to serve add the cashew halves and the sunflower seeds, tossing to mix them in well. Serve immediately.
I especially love cole slaw in the summer and I'm saving this one. You can bet it will be on my spring or summer tables. The dressing looks nice. I'm not big on super mayo-types of dressings or milky types as they don't always weather well on hot days. This would.
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