Crunchy Sesame Lime Cabbage Salad
This Crunchy Sesame Lime Cabbage Salad is everything you want in a comforting, delicious, and satisfying vegan meal. It is crunchy, fresh, colorful, and packed with amazing Asian flavors.
Shredded cabbage, crisp carrots, fresh cucumbers, juicy pomegranate arils, roasted tofu, and crunchy cashews come together in a bold Asian-style sesame ginger lime dressing that instantly takes this salad to the next level.
A touch of salt pulls out excess moisture. This keeps salads crunchy instead of watery.
Table of contents
Making this salad is super simple. All you need to do is some basic prepping like chopping veggies, roasting tofu and cashews, and mixing the sauce, and once all that is done, it takes just 2 minutes to assemble.
As it has lots of tofu and cashews, this cabbage salad recipe works beautifully as a protein-rich vegan salad, a quick vegan lunch bowl, or even a light dinner when you want something nourishing without cooking a full meal.
If you love tofu, Asian flavours, salads in general, or are just looking for an easy Asian-inspired cabbage salad that actually tastes exciting, this one has it all.
About Crunchy Sesame Lime Cabbage Salad
This Asian cabbage salad recipe has a beautiful balance between color, texture, and flavour. The shredded cabbage stays crunchy, the sliced cucumber and julienne carrots add freshness, the roasted tofu makes it satisfying, and the cashews bring nutty richness and bite. Pomegranate arils are added for sweet freshness and juicy pops that pair beautifully with the savory ingredients.
The sesame ginger lime dressing is the heart of this dish. Made with sesame oil, soy sauce, fresh lime juice, grated ginger, minced garlic, maple syrup, and chili oil, it is bold, slightly spicy, and deeply flavorful. This combination of dressing turns a simple cabbage salad into a plant-based protein salad that feels complete and hearty. And making this foolproof vegan salad with tofu & cashews is so easy.
This simple salad recipe is also ideal if you are looking for a no-cook vegan salad where the asian style tofu is prepared in advance, or for vegan salad meal prep.
After testing multiple versions of this easy cabbage salad recipe, this combination of ingredients and dressing stood out for its balance of crunch, freshness, and bold flavor. I often make it as my go-to Crunchy Sesame Lime Cabbage Salad with Tofu & Cashews because it tastes great every time and delivers consistently, whether served fresh or used for meal prep.
Try it once, and you’ll know it for yourself.
Why You’ll Love the Recipe
This Crunchy Sesame Lime Cabbage Salad
✔ is crunchy, fresh, & full of texture
✔ is protein-rich with roasted tofu and cashews
✔ is naturally vegan
✔ is easy to customize
✔ makes a quick vegan salad recipe
✔ can also be served as a lunch bowl
✔ has bold sesame ginger lime flavors
✔ tastes addictive
✔ is perfect for meal prep
✔ can be stored for 3–4 days
Ingredients
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Shredded cabbage: It is the star ingredient of this salad and makes the base for this crunchy cabbage salad. I have used finely shredded cabbage because it absorbs the sesame dressing while staying crisp. You can also chop it with a knife.
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Cucumber & carrot: They add freshness, color, crunch, and balance to the richness of the sesame oil.
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Spring onion greens: They bring mild sharpness, a beautiful green hue, and freshness that enhance the taste of Asian-inspired flavors.
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Pomegranate arils: They add sweet-tangy pops that elevate the entire salad and complement the savory flavours.
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Roasted tofu: I added it as a nourishing and satisfying plant-based component, which makes this a true tofu salad with sesame dressing.
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Roasted cashews: The addition of roasted cashews add crunch, nutty richness, and turn the salad into a deeply satisfying bowl.
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Sesame ginger lime dressing: This is the flavour maker of this salad. It is a very simple dressing made using a bold blend of sesame oil, lime juice, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, maple syrup, sesame seeds, and chili oil that ties everything together.
How to Make Crunchy Sesame Lime Cabbage Salad
Making this salad is as simple as it gets.
- If you haven’t roasted tofu, then roast it in a pan with 1 teaspoon of oil until golden and firm. Also, either use roasted unsalted cashews or toast them in a pan, microwave, oven, or air fryer before adding them to the salad.
- Shred the cabbage and slice the vegetables evenly for the best texture.
- whisk together the sesame ginger salad dressing until well combined.
- Toss the cabbage and vegetables with the dressing first.
- Add the cabbage, veggies, pomegranate, tofu, and cashews to a large mixing bowl.
- Pour the dressing and gently toss the salad with the sesame lime dressing just before serving. This simple method helps keep the salad crunchy and evenly coated.
- Finish with extra sesame seeds, roasted cashews, and pomegranate arils before serving.
Variations
Buddha Bowl
You can turn this salad into a vegan buddha bowl by adding cooked quinoa or noodle soup, or rice noodles.
Other Nuts
You can swap roasted cashews with roasted almonds or roasted peanuts for a different flavour.
Creamier twist
To make this salad creamier, you can add avocado for a creamy contrast. You can also blend the avocado with the dressing.
Spicer Salad
If you prefer a spicier version, then increase the chili oil for a spicy sesame salad version.
Chicken version
For a high-protein meal, you can skip tofu and swap it with roasted chicken pieces for an Asian-inspired cabbage salad with chicken. It can be enjoyed as a side dish or as a meal.
Serving Suggestions
Just like any vegan salad recipe, it is best served as a quick vegan lunch bowl or light dinner.
For a change, you can also pair it with rice paper dumplings or spring rolls for a complete Asian-style meal. Or enjoy it with charred cabbage for a cabbage inspired meal.
If you want it extra crunchy, use chilled veggies and serve it chilled. This salad is ideal for potlucks and gatherings.
Storage Suggestions
For the best freshness, store undressed salad ingredients in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Keep the dressing separate and toss just before serving.
Store roasted tofu separately and add it fresh for the best texture. This method works especially well for vegan salad meal prep.
Assemble the salad right before serving to maintain freshness and texture.
Tips and Tricks to Make the Best Crunchy Sesame Lime Cabbage Salad
- Shred the cabbage finely: Use a mandolin slicer to thinly shred the cabbage, as it absorbs the dressing evenly while staying crisp longer.
- Lightly salt the cabbage: To soften the cabbage slightly, lightly salt it, rest for 5 minutes, then squeeze gently without making it limp.
- Add dressing: Dress the salad just before serving. This is how you master how to keep cabbage salad crunchy.
- Massage dressing into cabbage: For deeper flavor, massage a small amount of dressing into the cabbage first, then add the rest and toss.
- Roasting tofu: For best texture, roast tofu until firm and golden, not just heated through. Also, roast tofu at high heat so it stays firm even after tossing.
- Cooling: If you have freshly roasted the tofu, make sure to cool it completely before adding it to the salad to prevent sogginess.
- Refresh the cashews: Lightly toast cashews, even if pre-roasted, to enhance flavor and crunch.
- Adjust: Feel free to adjust and balance the sweetness of maple syrup and the acidity of lime to suit your taste.
- Heat: Add chili oil gradually and adjust spice to your preference so you can control the heat.
- Finish with chili oil: If you don’t mind heat, finish with chili oil just before serving for a bold sesame ginger salad dressing kick.
- Store for meal prep: For meal prep, keep the dressing separate and toss just before eating to maintain crunch.
Crunchy sesame lime cabbage salad (Step-by-step photo instructions)
How to Make Crunchy Sesame Cabbage Salad
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the sesame oil, soy sauce, lime juice, maple syrup, grated ginger, minced garlic, sesame seeds, red pepper flakes, and chili oil until well combined.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the shredded cabbage, spring onion greens, cucumber, carrot, and pomegranate arils. Add the roasted tofu and roasted cashews.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well to evenly coat. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Garnish with sesame seeds, roasted cashews, and roasted tofu.
- Serve immediately for maximum crunch.
Recipe Card
Crunchy sesame lime cabbage salad [Recipe]
★★★★★
(Rating: 5 from 7 reviews)
| Prep time 🕐 | Cook time 🕐 | Total time 🕐 |
|---|---|---|
| 30 mins | ||
| Category ☶ | Cuisine ♨ | Serves ☺ |
| Salads | Asian | 4 |
| Nutrition Info ⊛ | Serving size ⊚ | |
| 260 calories | 1 |
INGREDIENTS
For Crunchy sesame lime cabbage salad
- 3 cups shredded green cabbage
- 1 cup sliced cucumber
- ½ cup carrot juliennes
- ½ cup spring onion greens, finely chopped
- ½ cup pomegranate arils
- ¾ cup roasted tofu cubes
- ¼ cup roasted cashews, roughly chopped
For the Sesame Lime Dressing
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil regular or toasted
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce or tamari
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- Chili oil, to taste
For Garnishing
- Toasted Sesame seeds
- Roasted cashews
- Roasted tofu
INSTRUCTIONS:
How to Make Crunchy Sesame Cabbage Salad
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the sesame oil, soy sauce, lime juice, maple syrup, grated ginger, minced garlic, sesame seeds, red pepper flakes, and chili oil until well combined.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the shredded cabbage, spring onion greens, cucumber, carrot, and pomegranate arils. Add the roasted tofu and roasted cashews.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well to evenly coat. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Garnish with sesame seeds, roasted cashews, and roasted tofu.
- Serve immediately for maximum crunch.
Watch Full Recipe Video:
NOTES:
- Toss the salad just before serving to keep the cabbage and carrots crisp.
- This salad works well as a light meal or as a crunchy side dish.
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Author: Anupama
Recipe Source Link: https://www.mygingergarlickitchen.com/crunchy-sesame-lime-cabbage-salad/
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