This red cabbage salad with apple, radish and onion is the ultimate light and refreshing side dish perfect for a fall meal. This red cabbage apple slaw boasts a satisfying crunch and an irresistible sweet, tart and tangy flavor thanks to the mix of veggies and the honey apple cider dressing.
In the Veneto region we usually serve Red cabbage braised, with a steaming pork stew. This is a more modern reinterpretation, where the cabbage is thinly sliced and mixed with red apple, red onion, radish and walnut, and dressed with a tangy honey dressing.
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE
- A nutritious raw salad bursting with color and texture.
- Ready in under 20 minutes — perfect for meals or gatherings.
- Pairs beautifully with roasted pork, grilled salmon, or grain bowls.
- Make-ahead friendly: prep ingredients up to 6 hours ahead and dress just before serving.
- Naturally vegetarian, with easy vegan and nut-free swaps.
INGREDIENTS & VARIATIONS
To make this red cabbagee and apple slaw you will need a base, some crunch and a drressing:
BASE:
Cabbage: With its earthy flavor, it is a nutrient-rich vegetable. It is rich in vitamin C and helps reduce inflammation. With all these benefits, you should add it to any of your fall salads. It’s always beneficial to eat more purple vegetables.
Apples: They are in season right now, so you should include them in your salads because they add a sweet crunch.
Radishes: Radishes are a group of root vegetables with bright, crunchy flesh, variable skin color, and a spicy flavor. Radishes are a good source of antioxidants and are high in vitamin C.
Red onions: Onions, along with garlic, leeks, shallots and scallions, belong to the Allium family. They are rich in antioxidants and promote bone and digestive health. Italians typically use onions in soffritto, braised as a base for other vegetables, raw in tomato or bean salads.
Arugula: a touch of peppery arugula can never be missing from an Italian salad. So add a few cups and enjoy the great flavor combination this green offers!
CRUNCH:
Walnuts: They are rich in healthy fats and antioxidants and can easily be added to any salad to give it a little crunch. When you roast walnuts, you improve their flavor and texture. Roasting walnuts (or any other type of nuts) is very easy and can be done on the stove or in the oven. You can also replace the walnuts with hazelnuts, pecans or sunflower seeds.
DRESSING:
Honey Cider Dressing: the dressing is a sweet and sour seasoning blend of extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar and honey, Salt and Black Pepper. For a vegan version, you can substitute agave for the honey.
SUBSTITUTIONS & ADD-INS
- Vegan: Replace honey with agave or maple syrup.
- Nut-Free: Swap walnuts for roasted sunflower seeds.
- Make It a Meal: Add grilled chicken, salmon, tofu, cannellini beans, or lentils.
- Extra Brightness: Add a squeeze of lemon or a spoonful of Dijon.
HOW TO MAKE RED CABBAGE APPLE SLAW
It’s a raw dish that does not need to be cooked. So, you just need to be patient while preparing the vegetables.
- Prep the vegetables: Slice cabbage, apple, onion, and radishes as thinly as possible. A mandoline or sharp chef’s knife works well.
- Combine: Add cabbage, apple, radish, onion, arugula, and chopped walnuts to a large bowl.
- Make the dressing: Whisk olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper in a small jar.
- Toss & serve: Drizzle with dressing and toss just before serving for maximum crunch.
TIPS FOR THE PERFECT CRUNCH
- Shred the cabbage and place it in a colander over a bowl.
- Add a generous amount of salt and mix it in well. Salt draws out excess moisture and enhances flavor and crispness.
- This method creates cabbage slaws with good texture that stay dressed, whether that dressing is creamy or vinegary.
- It fixes the problem of milky, watery liquid rising in the bowl and washing away flavor.
- Use this method for any cabbage slaw recipes if you want to preserve crunchiness.
- (Source: the Kitchn)
FAQs ABOUT RED CABBAGE APPLE SLAW
Can I make this slaw ahead of time?
Yes. Prep all ingredients up to 6 hours ahead and store separately. Toss with dressing just before serving.
What’s the best apple to use?
Crisp, sweet varieties like Gala, Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Pink Lady work beautifully.
How do I make it vegan or nut-free?
Swap honey for agave or maple syrup and walnuts for sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
How do I select red cabbage?
When you select a red cabbage you should consider all these things:
- Weight: It should feel heavy for its size, it means freshness and high water content.
- Firmness: The head should be firm and dense, not soft.
- Color: A vibrant red-purple color symbolizes freshness.
- Leaves: The leaves should be crisp and tightly wrapped around the core. A few outer leaves might be loose, but the majority should be compact.
- Blemishes: No damage, or discoloration, it means the cabbage is not any longer fresh., rot, or discoloration on the outer leaves.
- Smell: A slight earthy scent means the cabbage is good to be used.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 ¾ cup red cabbage sliced thinly
- ¾ cup radish sliced thinly
- ½ cup onion sliced thinly
- 1⅔ cup red apple sliced thinly
- ½ cup walnut chopped
- 2 cup arugula
Dressing
- 3 tbsp olive oil extra virgin
- 1 tsp honey
- 2 tbsp vinegar apple cider
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Slice the cabbage very thinly and rinse in in ice-cold water for 10 minjtes for that extra crunch.
- Slice cabbage, apple, onion, and radishes as thinly as possible.
- Add cabbage,apple, radish, onion, arugula, and chopped walnuts to a large bowl.
- Whisk olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper in a small jar.
- Drizzle with dressing and toss just before serving for maximum crunch.
Nutrition
HOW TO STORE & MAKE AHEAD
- Short-Term Storage: Best consumed immediately. At maximum serve it within 1 hour of tossing. The vinegar will slowly soften the cabbage over time.
- Make-Ahead Prep: Slice and store the vegetables separately up to 6 hours ahead. Store walnuts separately to keep them crisp. Toss with dressing at serving time.
- Leftovers: Good for up to 1 day, though texture will soften and flavor will deepen due to light pickling.
RED CABBAGE APPLE SLAW SERVING SUGGESTIONS
This salad yields 4 portions as a side dish, 2-3 portion as a main meal to prepare a bowl.
As a side dish, serve this winter slaw alongside:
- Roasted pork loin
- Grilled or baked salmon
- Classic Italian Lentils Stew
- Italian meatballs
If instead you are planning to have it as a bowl:
- Add farro, barley wholesome and rich in nutrients. Quinoa, brown rice are also great.
- Add chickpeas, white beans or cannellini beans for a more hearty twist and a vegan option.
- Serve over a bed of leafy greens such as a spring mix or some baby kale.
- Add easy protein, rich in omega 3 such as canned salmon.
- Boiled egg or shredded pork are also a great add on option.
MORE SALAD AND SIDE DISH FOR YOU
If you like salads with a crunch:
WINTER KALE SALAD WITH FARRO, PECORINO & DATES: a crunchy salad with a sweet and salty taste from dates and pecorino.
COLORFUL ORANGE, FENNEL & BEET SALAD: an alegant salad with acrunch from the fennel and pistachios
If you are looking for side dishes with a twist:
ROASTED CARROTS WITH CARROT TOP PESTO: carrot tops is a good way to be sustainable and add a creamy and earthy twist to roasted carrots.
Perfect Roasted Acorn Squash Recipe (With Maple Syrup & Sage): a great dish perfect for the foliday season.
Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts: Brussels sprouts meets lemon in this quick air fryer recipe, ready in minutes and crunchy.
✨ I hope you loved this Red Cabbage and Apple Slaw recipe! I would love to connect with you through my recipe and I will be very appreciative of your comments! If you make this recipe make sure to tag me on Instagram @Italian_kitchen_confessions. To get more ideas follow me on Pinterest.✨
This post has been updated on 10th November 2025.
Raffinato e molto invitante. Si abbina praticamente a TUTTO.