This Asian-inspired slaw is filled with cashews and pear, then tossed in a simple ginger dressing. Serve it as a side dish or on top of teriyaki chicken.
I'm not kidding when I say that I could eat this salad all day long. Not only is it dressed with a vinaigrette made of some of my favorite flavors, ginger and sesame, but it is healthy and refreshing, which is a nice contrast to some of the heavier stews and soups that are passing across my stovetop. While cabbage, cashews and pear may seem like a mismatched team, the sweet and nutty flavors work as well as football players on Dancing with the Stars. Seriously, who knew those big guys could be so light on their feet?
After our bout of snow, we have been spoiled by a gorgeous October, with temperatures in the mid-sixties and abundant sun warming us to our core. I've actually been wearing shorts on my daily runs, though I don't claim it's been pretty (faded suntan makes for glowing white legs). As though sensing that our mild days are numbered, the boys spent most of the weekend outside, playing on the swings, kicking the soccer ball around and making "nature stew" in their dumptruck. What is nature stew, you ask? Soft tomatoes from the vine, sage and mint leaves, grass and the odd weed. I'm sure some little garden creature will have a feast.
My husband and I are pulling the remaining pears off of our little-tree-that-could, which provided plenty of fruit this season for Crockpot Pear & Ginger Applesauce. As much as we enjoy eating them straight or in applesauce, the pears add a natural sweetness to salads such as this Asian slaw. This salad is the last hurrah before the cold weather hits this week and I am savoring every last bite of it.
The recipe:
In a large bowl, combine Napa cabbage, red cabbage, pear, cashews and cilantro. Toss to combine.
For the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, sesame oil, canola oil, lime juice and grated ginger.
Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss gently to coat. Serve.
Other slaw recipes:
Cookin' Canuck's Spicy Asian Slaw with Napa Cabbage, Carrots & Ginger Dressing
Smitten Kitchen's Mango Slaw with Cashews & Mint
David Lebovitz's Cole Slaw with Wasabi Dressing
Guilty Kitchen's Apple Fennel Slaw
TasteFood's Kale Slaw
Printable Recipe
Asian Slaw with Cashews, Pear & Ginger Dressing
Ingredients
- ½ medium Nappa Cabbage thinly sliced crosswise
- ¼ medium red cabbage thinly sliced
- 1 Bartlett pear cut into ¾-inch pieces
- ½ cup raw cashews toasted
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
Dressing:
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine Napa cabbage, red cabbage, pear, cashews and cilantro. Toss to combine.
- For the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together rice vinegar, sesame oil, canola oil, lime juice and grated ginger.
- Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss gently to coat. Serve.
Nutrition
Tickled Red
I just love all of the different flavor combos that you have in this slaw. I have a couple of nifty ideas bouncing around in my head for this recipe 🙂 Mmm, mmm.
Nancy@acommunaltable
This slaw looks wonderful and I love the combination of flavors. With all the heavier fall foods, this is a nice change!!
HeatherChristo
Dara- this looks so fresh and delicious! I just love the flavor and texture combinations!
kathy
Looks super yummy! I love slaws.
claire @ the realistic nutritionist
Such a great use of pears!!!
Barbara | Creative Culinary
All things I love in a salad...and I mean love. Why don't I use cashews for salads I wonder? Will now!
Heather | Farmgirl Gourmet
YUM! Sounds fantastic Dara! I love cabbage slaws. I bookmarked this one!!! Yum.
xoxo
Heather
Curt
You're right, that does sound like a mismatched team. I've never had nuts in a slaw before, but man, that sounds really good!
KalynsKitchen
Oh yes please. This sounds amazing.
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen
That just sounds perfectly refreshing and you make the best dressings!
angela@spinachtiger
I am slaw crazy and add cashews and I'll sit down and eat the whole bowl.
Bonnie Banters
This salad sounds heavenly! What a unique touch with the pears! Thanks!
Sally
The pears are a great idea - this would be a perfect light dinner with some chicken on top. I am definitely bookmarking this one!
Rachel @ Not Rachael Ray
We love Asian slow--I like that you added pear, sounds delicious!
Katrina
This sounds wonderful! I love the sound of the dressing especially 🙂
Baker Street
Cashews, pear and ginger. Mmm. I can almost taste it! Love this fusion dara!
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen
Sounds like a great crunchy fresh combination, I love Asian vinaigrettes.
Donna
Oh MY! The flavors and textures look and sound amazing!
Drick
I do not find it strange one bit that you have young chefs cooking stew in dump trucks... Dara, the flavors sound incredible, and you are right, I would not have thought of 'em.. glad you did, the vinaigrette is so refreshingly pure summer and sounds like it matches perfectly with the cabbages, like the use of the sweet pear here too... good vibes on this taste sensation
www.citronlimette.com
Great salad. Full of flavor. Thanks