Napa Cabbage Salad Recipe {Asian Ramen Noodle Salad} (2024)

By: Author Kelly Wildenhaus

Posted on - Last updated:

Categories Recipes, Salads, Side Dishes

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Asian ramen noodle salad, crunchy chopped napa cabbage with toasted ramen noodles and nuts in a sweet soy dressing.The best version of that slaw recipe with the ramen noodles you'll ever have ~ fresh, flavorful and a hit at gatherings.

Do you guys remember (or still make) Oriental cole slaw? I don't think that's PC anymore, maybe it's called Asian slaw now. Anyway, it had the ramen noodles from the soup packets crushed up in the salad. For some reason, I think that's strange. And then years ago, in Minnesota, a friend made asalad for a party and I had to know how he made it, it was so good. Over the recent Fourth holiday, I dusted off Timm's Napa Cabbage Salad andmade it for a BBQ. It's still so good.

Napa Cabbage Salad Recipe {Asian Ramen Noodle Salad} (2)

When I say dusted off, I really mean I had to figure out how I made it as the recipe card Timm gave me is mostly illegible. As I do with most recipes, I have them on the counter as I'm cooking and they tend to get a little beat up, this one especially so, as it looks like the ink smeared with all the water and wet hands landing on it. See what I mean?

Napa Cabbage Salad Recipe {Asian Ramen Noodle Salad} (3)

It came back to me though, I'm pretty sure I was able to decipher and remember how to make this. It does use those ramen noodles (not the seasoning packets!) but they're browned in butter with almonds and sunflower nuts. I had to keep swatting Meathead's hand away as the mixture was cooling on paper towels. He thought it wasgranola or something and said, "This is great!" as another handful wentinto his mouth. Jeez.

Napa Cabbage Salad Recipe {Asian Ramen Noodle Salad} (4)

The cabbage is shredded and mixed with red bell pepper and scallions and in a large ziplock it goes to refrigerate over night. The ramen noodles, slivered almonds and sunflower nuts are browned in butter and they go into another plastic bag and into the fridge. Then, a couple hours before serving you mix both bags together in your serving dish, and right before serving, you dress it (with a really good dressing you already made in a jar). It's perfect for a crowd and doesn't tie you up when you're trying to get everything together, heck, you could even turn over the reigns on this salad to someone else, someone who asks how they can help!?

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I'm going to have to send this post to Timm and see if he remembers giving me this recipe, I bet he will. I'm not sure how other salads like this stack up, I've only ever had it this way. I willventure to say this is probably one of the better ones, Timm is pretty gourmet and a top shelf kind of guy. I think he'd be tickled I'm still making his Napa Cabbage Salad. Try it, you'll like it. Best, Kelly

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Napa Cabbage Salad Recipe {Asian Ramen Noodle Salad} (7)

Napa Cabbage Salad

The best version of that slaw recipe with the ramen noodles you'll ever have ~ fresh, flavorful and a hit at gatherings.

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Salad

Cuisine: Asian American

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Prep and refrigerate ingredients overnight: 12 hours hours

Total Time: 12 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 servings

Calories: 546kcal

Author: Kelly Wildenhaus

Ingredients

  • 1 large head napa cabbage, shredded
  • 6 green onions, sliced
  • ½ red bell pepper, diced
  • 2 (4-ounce) packages ramen noodles, seasoning packets discarded, crushed in the package (I use a rolling pin and pound away, but not too much, you want small pieces, not crumbs!)
  • 4 ounces slivered almonds
  • 4 ounces sunflowers nuts
  • 1 stick (8 tbsp) salted butter, or unsalted if you prefer
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ cup tarragon vinegar (I used apple cider vinegar)
  • 1 cup saffron or sunflower oil (uh, yeah, I used canola oil)

Instructions

  • Combine cabbage, green onion and red pepper and put in a large plastic zip bag. Refrigerate overnight.

  • In a large skillet, melt stick of butter over medium heat. Add crushed ramen noodles and nuts and brown. Stir frequently and be careful not to burn. Remove to paper towels to drain and cool completely. Place in another plastic zip bag and refrigerate.

  • Two hours before serving, mix the cabbage mixture with the noodle/nut mixture. Set aside, back in refrigerator. Make the dressing: in a jar with a lid, combine soy sauce, sugar, vinegar and oil, shake well to dissolve sugar, set aside.

  • Just before serving, dress the salad. Re-shake dressing and add as much as necessary to toss and coat evenly.

Recipe Notes

Recipe from my friend, Timm, in Minnesota

Nutrition

Calories: 546kcal Carbohydrates: 29g Protein: 8g Fat: 46g Saturated Fat: 10g Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g Monounsaturated Fat: 23g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 24mg Sodium: 631mg Potassium: 444mg Fiber: 4g Sugar: 13g Vitamin A: 834IU Vitamin C: 33mg Calcium: 123mg Iron: 2mg

Did you make this recipe? Please comment, rate it and share! And mention me on Instagram @thehungrybluebird or tag #thehungrybluebird so I can see!

Napa Cabbage Salad Recipe {Asian Ramen Noodle Salad} (2024)

FAQs

Can you use napa cabbage raw? ›

Do you eat napa cabbage raw or cooked? You can enjoy crunchy napa cabbage raw in salads, as a sandwich topping and as healthy wraps. The leafy vegetable is also a mainstay in stir-fries, soups, stews and casseroles. Napa is a great choice for pickling too.

Can you eat lettuce with ramen? ›

Key ingredients for this Crunchy Ramen and Sesame Salad.

For the greens, I used a mix of lettuce for the texture. Super crunchy romaine and softer spring mix is a good balance. Avacado- This salad is all about texture. The perfect mix of creaminess from the avocado and the crunch from the ramen.

Do you cook Napa cabbage the same as regular cabbage? ›

Both work well in salads and slaws, but it's not a good idea to substitute one for the other in cooked dishes. For example, napa's texture and flavor make it an ideal choice for quick stir-fries. Regular cabbage isn't as delicate as napa, so it's a better choice for slow-cooked recipes.

Do you eat the white part of Napa cabbage? ›

Raw napa cabbage has a mild and more delicate flavor than regular cabbages, and once cooked it has an outstandingly sweet flavor. While the leaves are lighter in texture, the white stems are quite crisp and juicy.

What is the best way to cut napa cabbage? ›

Separate the napa cabbage leaves by only tearing off the ones you plan to cook with. Cut off the green parts and slice them into large bite-sized pieces. When cutting the white part, tilt your knife to 45 degrees and slice the stem into irregular bite-sized pieces.

How long does napa cabbage last once cut? ›

How to Store a Partial Head of Cabbage. If you find yourself left with a partial head of cabbage, think twice before you toss it. While it won't last as long as a whole head, a partial head can still last up to three days after use.

How long does chopped napa cabbage last? ›

TIP: Don't wash or cut cabbage until you're ready to use it. Once it's cut, use cabbage within three days, or cook and freeze it for use later.

Can you eat too much napa cabbage? ›

Consuming cabbage in excess can result in abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea and flatulence. It can also result in ingesting toxic chemicals like goitrin, thiocyanates and benzyl cyanide.

Can you eat cabbage raw in salad? ›

In addition to its long shelf life, cabbage is high in fiber, antioxidants, and Vitamin-C. When treated properly, cabbage is also delicious! It's the crunch at the heart of this healthy Asian cabbage salad with almonds. If you've never tried a raw cabbage salad before, this recipe is an excellent gateway.

Is napa cabbage healthier than lettuce? ›

Both cabbage and iceberg lettuce are good sources of nutrients. However, cabbage contains significantly more vitamins and minerals than iceberg lettuce, including vitamins C and K, folate, and potassium ( 1 , 2 ). In particular, green cabbage is packed with antioxidants, including polyphenol compounds and vitamin C.

What is the most unhealthy part of ramen? ›

Is there a healthy type of ramen? The biggest drawbacks of instant ramen are its high sodium content and lack of micronutrients.

What tastes best with ramen? ›

10 Ingredients to Spice Up Your Ramen
  • Peanut Butter. ...
  • Dried Seaweed. ...
  • Furikake. ...
  • Kimchi. ...
  • Miso Paste. ...
  • Soy Sauce. Did you know soy sauce doesn't have to be refrigerated? ...
  • Eggs. A common ramen bowl staple is a soft-boiled egg. ...
  • American Cheese. Finally, the last on this list of ramen hacks, slices of American cheese.
May 4, 2022

What vegetables taste good in ramen? ›

Quick-cooking vegetables like baby spinach, romaine lettuce, bean sprouts, thinly sliced cabbage, watercress, and scallions (amongst others) can be stirred into the soup right before serving. They should wilt in a matter of seconds.

How do you cut cabbage for noodles? ›

Cabbage Noodles
  1. Remove the tough outer leaves of the cabbage.
  2. Use a serrated knife to cut the cabbage – this is important. ...
  3. Place the cabbage half cut-side-down and start slicing lengthwise to create thinnish strips of cabbage.
  4. When you reach the core, start cutting on the other side. ...
  5. Repeat with the other half.

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