02 February 2017

Cabbage and Kale Salad with Creamy Sesame Seed Dressing

Cabbage and Kale Salad with Creamy Sesame Seed Dressing / www.delightfulrepast.com

Salads of cabbage and kale or other hearty greens are a favorite of mine because they're such a great way to get those vegetables into people who don't like them cooked. And since the cabbage and especially the kale benefit from sitting in the dressing, it's an easy make-ahead dish. 

All you have to do the next day is cut the apple and segment the Satsumas one to two hours before serving. Any seedless (or close to it) mandarin/tangerine will do, and any apple that is crisp and flavorful. 

Note: Since there is sufficient acid in the dressing, there may be no need to wait till closer to serving time to add the fruit. I don't know if it's true of all apples, but the organic Granny Smiths I used did not brown at all and were just as crisp and delicious in the leftover salad the next day. 

I came up with the dressing with two things in mind: 1. wanting to use up my fresh bottle of sesame seeds before they went stale and rancid, and 2. a friend's mention of wanting a different dressing and one that did not call for Dijon mustard. 

The dressing is versatile. I like a little sugar in the dressing for this or any salad that might have a bit of bitterness to accent with sweetness, but you can reduce it or leave it out altogether for many salads. 

Could this be the "something different" on your Super Bowl party menu this year?


Cabbage and Kale Salad with Creamy Sesame Seed Dressing / www.delightfulrepast.com
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Cabbage and Kale Salad with Creamy Sesame Seed Dressing 


(Makes 16 servings) 

The Cabbage and Kale Salad 

1 small head green cabbage (to make about 2 quarts trimmed and sliced) 
1 bunch kale (to make about 1 quart trimmed and sliced)
2 medium apples, sliced
1 cup fresh mandarin/tangerine segments or orange chunks


*Satsuma, Kishu, Gold Nugget or other seedless mandarin/tangerine

The Creamy Sesame Seed Dressing 

(Makes about 1 1/4 cup) 

2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted 
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil 

1 Remove any ragged outer leaves of cabbage. Cut in half, then cut each half into 4 wedges. Trim the core from each wedge and slice it crosswise. Wash and dry in salad spinner. Transfer to 4-quart bowl. Wash the kale and cut away the large part of the stems. Roll the leaves lengthwise a few at a time and slice thinly. Add to the cabbage in the bowl.


Cabbage and Kale Salad with Creamy Sesame Seed Dressing / www.delightfulrepast.com

2 In small skillet, toast the sesame seeds. It goes more quickly and reduces the chance of burning them if you heat the skillet first. Add the sesame seeds to the hot skillet and they'll toast in just 1 to 2 minutes, lifting the pan and swirling it occasionally. Starting with the cold skillet makes it take just enough longer that my attention wanders and I end up burning them! 

3 In small bowl or 2-cup glass measure, whisk together sugar, salt, pepper, and celery seed. Whisk in cider vinegar to dissolve sugar and salt a bit. Whisk in mayonnaise until smooth; whisk in olive oil and toasted sesame seeds. Add to cabbage and kale; mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 6 hours or until the next day. 

4 Up to 2 hours before serving time, slice the apple(s) and segment the mandarins (tangerines) or slice the oranges. Stir into the salad. Refrigerate; toss just before serving.

63 comments:

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

Your salad looks so healthy and fresh, Jean! I had a kale salad just the other night, with a lemon vinaigrette. Also, you wingless chicken bites, from your previous post, look like a perfect snack for the Super Bowl! Yum!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Kitty. I ate that salad for three days and loved it every time! A friend who hates kale tried it and loved it; she couldn't believe she was eating kale.

Thomas "Sully" Sullivan said...

“Who made the salad!?!” as the old ad used to say. If the answer is Jeani, then my mind is open if not quite my mouth (when is my mouth not open). As it happens, I am marginally receptive to salads – though I generally have to give waitstaff a long list of exclusions, 86-ing things like cucumbers, melons and other soaked vegetable tissues that just taste like weakly flavored dishwater to me. I do make a killer salad of my own, and like you I favor some sweetness in the sauce (surprise, surprise). Not sure my version would qualify in your kitchen since other than some tender green iceberg leaves and maybe clementines, the rest of the recipe wanders into things like cheese and raspberry or sweet mustard vinaigrettes.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Sully, your salad ideas sound fine, as far as they go. But I prefer the added nutrition AND flavor of the darker-leaved greens.

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

Jean this salad looks delicious. The addition of kale is interesting and I'm sure good. What a brilliant idea to heat the skillet first so as not to burn the seeds! Have a lovely day. ♥

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Martha Ellen, thanks so much! Yes, that little trick really helps me. I always get too many irons in the fire and so can't stand there patiently when toasting seeds!

Angie's Recipes said...

Such a lovely winter salad, Jean. I have been eating lots of cabbages of late and I love your pairing with creamy sesame dressing, definitely a must try for me.

Empty Nester said...

I've just been looking through some of your recipes and I think I want to try them ALL!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Angie, thank you so much! I can see you eating this salad -- you are the queen of healthful and tasty combinations!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Empty Nester Pam, thank you. I hope you will! And do let me know how they turn out for you.

Jeanie said...

I haven't been able to warm up to kale yet, try as I may. Maybe raw is the answer. The dressing sounds wonderful!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Jeanie, thank you. And I do think you might like kale this way. Just remember to cut out the tough stems, cut it finely and never ever buy a bag of chopped kale at the store! It will be dry and tough. Also, you might look for baby kale. But my friend the kale-hater tried my salad and finished every bite!

Cranberry Morning said...

That sounds so good, Jean! I'm going to get the ingredients asap! And I did remember to pin it! (although I'm so bad about ever pinning anything and actually rarely use Pinterest.) But now I know that I can go to Pinterest and find this recipe on my 'Gluten Free Recipes' board.

Jo said...

Ah Jeanie! The no Dijon mustard on kale salad recipe! I like it.
I especially like that it is quick,and healthy.:)

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Judy, thank you. AND thank you for Pinning! I hope you like it as much as we do.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Joanne! Quick and healthy and NO Dijon mustard! That's not too much to ask.

Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond said...

Hi Jean this is a great healthy recipe which I will be sharing with my Fab Fitters at my #couchpotatotofabfit FB group. Linking up through Blogging Grandmothers Link Up and have a great day. Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Sue, thank you so much! I can't tell you how much I appreciate your support (especially since I'm not on FB myself).

candy said...

Since my family loves cabbage and kale and I keep all these ingredients on hand all the time, this will be easy to add to the meal planning. Thanks for linking up with Blogging Grandmothers.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Candace, thank you. I hope your family will like it.

Dee | GrammysGrid.com said...

I use kale in my NutriBullet juice drinks, never tasted it in a salad, always heard it was bitter. Will have to try it. Thank you for sharing at #BloggingGrandmothers #LinkUp #BlogParty. I shared on social media.

Unknown said...

This salad looks really yummy, as well as being healthy. I think I will try it. We have a dinner party coming up in a couple of weeks. This looks like it might be good for the first course. Visiting from Blogging Grandmothers.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Grammy Dee. I think if you try it in salad, you're going to be pleasantly surprised!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Carol, that's wonderful. I hope you'll come back and let me know how you liked it.

Emily Bresin said...

Looks delicious! I'm always looking for new ways to make a salad. #DreamTeam

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Then come on back -- I invent a new one every once in a while! Thanks, Emily.

Nickie and Jim said...

Yes, I believe this delightful salad just might make a TERRIFIC addition to Super Bowl Sunday. Thanks for posting.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks so much, Nickie Jim!

Jas @ All that's Jas said...

Sounds so refreshing! I love adding apples to my cabbage salad.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Jas. Yep, apples are a good addition to all kinds of salads.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Marilyn, thank you so much. Pins and Yums much appreciated as well!

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Yum! Jean, this looks so good! I do love a good salad and I love greens with fruit. I enjoy a dressing with a little sweetness too. {I couldn't help but admire your fork.} Thanks for the recipe and your visit. Happy February!

Blessings,
Sandi

Cocoa and Lavender said...

Well, this would be on my SuperBowl menu... IF I watched the SuperBowl! Love the heartiness of this, Jean!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, Sandi! (And thanks for noticing my fork!)

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

You and me both, David! We don't watch it either.

ReRe said...

I love kale and I love cabbage. I sautee both and I use kale in my green smoothies. However, I have never had them combined and I have never had them in a salad. I like to take my lunch to work and this will be a great addition to my weekly lunch menu. It's not difficult to make and it looks yummy. Thank you for sharing with #blogginggrandmothers. I have shared on my social media.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

ReRe, thank you, and thank you for sharing on your social media. I hope you enjoy the salad as much as we do!

krishna said...

Delicious healthy recipe!! one plateful of this salad is good for a lunch...

Please visit: http://from-a-girls-mind.blogspot.com

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, krishna. Or a good side with your salmon!

TONY said...

Hi Jean! Cabbage and kale. Full of vitamins and minerals.They are good for you. I always think of cabbage and kale in terms of cabbage soup, which I wrongly attach to the Irish. It was more of a 1980s dietry fad. Unfortunately, it had certain side affects. Peg manufacturers did an ,"explosive," trade shall we say!! I like the salad idea indeed, Jean. Ha! Ha!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Tony. I like cooked vegetables, too, but there are so many vegetables that are just better raw, I think. Like cabbage, kale, broccoli, carrots. I even make salad out of Brussels sprouts.

TONY said...

"......cabbage, kale, broccoli, carrots. I even make salad out of Brussels sprouts."

Carrots, or rather grated carrot , make a regular appearance in our salads too Jean. However we generally go for lighter flavoured and textured lettuces and large leafed herbs. Do cabbage, kale, broccoli and sprouts create a much stronger taste, smell and texture to a salad, Jean? Have a great day, Tony

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Tony, I wouldn't say they give a salad a stronger smell, but that they add more flavor and texture. You might want to ease into it by adding some to your usual salads and working your way up from there. Or just jump in with both feet and make one of my non-lettuce salad recipes such as this one.

Unknown said...

This look so good! I'm a huge salad lover and this looks like something different. You can't beat healthy and delicious. I'll have to give this a try!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you, WMDiva. I hope you'll like it as much as we do!

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

Sounds delicious and I particularly like the salad dressing. Pinned and shared.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Carol, thank you so much! Pins and shares are soooo appreciated.

Jaki said...

I can't bare cabbage so I'm afraid I couldn't go for this. I like kale though. #dreamteam

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Jaki, that's one of the great things about salads. If you don't like a certain ingredient, leave it out! Since you like kale, just use all kale!

Karen (Back Road Journal) said...

The salad and its creamy dressing sounds very good. I keep my sesame seeds in the freezer so that they don't go rancid. They are so small that they quickly thaw and warm to room temperature for use in recipes.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Karen, thanks. And thanks for the tip! I keep my sunflower seeds in the freezer; so why have I never thought to put my sesame seeds in the freezer?! (slaps self on forehead)

April J Harris said...

This is a lovely, healthy salad, Jean, with lots of flavour and crunch! The dressing sounds delicious too. Thank you for sharing it with us at Hearth and Soul!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

April, thanks so much. Love Hearth and Soul!

Cheryl said...

I am late to get around to blogs these days, but I am not too late to make this salad . . . soon! (I didn't watch the game anyway, so I haven't missed my opportunity at all!) :)

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Cheryl! (I didn't watch it either! Not my thing.)

Linda said...

Hi Jean,

I have kale in my garden and this sounds wonderful! I know I'll be trying it soon.

Linda
BestofLongIslandandCentralFlorida

P.S. Now following you!

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Linda, thank you so much! I'm going to have to plant some kale; it's been too long.

Annette, 3 Little Buttons said...

These look like really interesting flavours and textures. It not something I have seen before and I am very intrigued! Thank you for sharing with the #DreamTeam xx

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thanks, Annette! I hope you'll give it a try!

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

I love kale salads! Your toasted sesame recipe sounds wonderful, in fact I have some sesames I need to use too! Thanks for this excellent recipe, I have scrolled through your site, and you have a wonderful collection of recipes, and lovely pictures too! Happy to have met you :)

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Thank you so much, Marilyn! Too kind! I made this salad yesterday and when I woke up this morning I wanted to have it for breakfast. I tend to eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner whenever I make it.

Nickie and Jim said...

This really was delicious. When I told my husband I was making a "kale/cabbage" salad, he replied, "I don't want any kale in my salad." I made it anyway, and he loved it. Wants me to make it again and again. Men! :-)

Nickie

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

LOL, Nickie! Too funny! You are sooooo right about "Men!" Thank you so much. You just made my day.