Crisp, creamy slaw is a delicious dish that fills multiple culinary roles. It can serve as a classic side, a satisfying entree or even a crunchy garnish. Almost every cultural cuisine embraces a version of this ageless cabbage salad.
Some of the best slaw recipes start with premium napa cabbage. The very best slaw recipes are the ones you fine-tune with a custom touch in your own kitchen.
Let's graze through a buffet of everything you need to know about making napa cabbage slaw.
What Makes Napa Cabbage Great for Slaws?
When you buy fresh napa cabbage at the grocery store, you're bringing home a vegetable packed with nutritional benefits. The pale green, oblong head also serves up these appetizing assets.
Napa cabbage gives a subtle sweetness to homemade slaw.
Its crispy texture is slightly more tender than regular cabbage.
A long refrigerator shelf life keeps menu planning flexible.
Most napa slaw recipes are ready for the table in just half an hour.
Leftover slaw makes a great garnish for tacos, burgers and sandwiches.
Essential Slaw Ingredients
Traditional recipes vary, but slaw is a simple dish, assembled with a few essential ingredients. That makes it a chef-friendly menu choice for recipe innovation.
Craft a slaw recipe you can call your own by building on these five key components.
Mayonnaise
Vinegar
Sugar
Salt and pepper
Variations on the basics come in all flavors, limited only by your culinary creativity. For example, you might prefer to use white wine instead of vinegar or yogurt instead of mayonnaise.
Read on for recipe inspiration that's sure to stir up fresh slaw ideas.
Napa Cabbage Slaw: 9 Inspiring Recipes
Flavorful Asian Fusions
1. Asian Napa Cabbage Slaw
One head of napa combined with classic Asian ingredients yields an irresistible take on traditional slaw. Sliced almonds and sugar snap peas add a special texture to this mix of shredded cabbage, green onions and radishes.
Creative Options – Brighten up the dressing with the sweet-tart flavor of white balsamic vinegar.
2. Crunchy Thai Fusion Slaw
Purple cabbage and napa are perfect partners for an extra-crispy Thai slaw. Shredded carrots and zucchini ramp up the color and taste, making the dish a must-have addition to your recipe files.
Creative Options – The chili orange ginger dressing can also double as a dipping sauce for Asian wraps.
3. Napa Cabbage and Radicchio Slaw
Shredded napa and radicchio transform this beautiful salad into a brightly-hued slaw. Bathing it with a peanut butter and sriracha dressing completes the Asian flavor profile.
From prep to table, it's ready to serve in just 20 minutes.
Creative Options – Romaine hearts work very well as a crisp substitute for the radicchio.
Spicy Ensaladas de Repollo
4. Classic Mexican Slaw
Mexican slaw starts with the basics but turns up the heat with classic components, including jalapenos, red onion and charred corn. The easy recipe is an open invitation to play with different ingredients and heat levels.
Creative Options – Free up your time and the stove top by roasting the corn in a hot oven.
5. Honey and Lime Slaw
The taste profile of this spicy napa slaw perfectly balances sweet, tart and hot.
Credit goes to the vinaigrette dressing made with olive oil, fresh lime juice and honey. Red pepper flakes add a finishing touch to the delicious blend of ingredients.
Creative Options – Reimagine soft tacos as yummy wraps by filling fresh corn tortillas with honey and lime slaw.
6. Fiery Hot Creamy Slaw
Toss shredded napa with seeded jalapenos, sliced red onions and chopped cilantro. Drench the Latin American flavors with a creamy lime dressing, and enjoy firing up appetites with a sensational slaw.
Creative Options – Kick up the dressing's heat with a few teaspoons of smoky chipotle powder.
Must-Try Napa Slaws
7. Chicken and Napa Slaw
This napa slaw easily transitions from an inviting salad to a satisfying entree.
Just shred the napa and purple cabbage, toss with thinly sliced chicken breast, and finish with a medley of fresh vegetables. Segments of mandarin orange and a fresh ginger vinaigrette give the dish a sweet tang.
Creative Options – For additional flavor depth, garnish the slaw with poppy seeds, almonds or cranberries.
8. Healthy Avocado Slaw
Napa cabbage always stands out as a healthy ingredient. It stars in a low-cal avocado slaw made with high nutritional value and a low calorie count.
A yogurt and lemon juice dressing rounds out the tasty slaw's diet-friendly profile.
Creative Options – Try substituting cubes of silken tofu for the mashed avocado.
9. Red Barbecue Slaw
Crispy slaw is a beloved staple in Southern cuisine. This Carolina version is called red barbecue slaw for good reason.
A ketchup and apple cider vinegar dressing gives it a unique color and deep savory flavor. Make it with slightly sweet napa cabbage, and you have a must-try recipe for your next cookout.
Creative Options – Add a personal touch to Southern-style slaw with homemade barbecue seasoning.
Keep Napa Cabbage at the Top of Your List
We all appreciate healthy vegetables that work in a variety of recipes. That's just one of the reasons napa cabbage stays on our list of favorite leafy greens. It's available year-round, easy to prep and the perfect ingredient for making your best slaw even better.
Here at Hitchcock Farms, our families grow and ship premium napa cabbage to foodservice operations across the country. We know you want the freshest vegetables available. That's what we supply to your nearest produce aisle.
From our fields to your table, you always have our very best.
FAQS
How do you shred napa cabbage for coleslaw?
Slice the head in half, lay flat side down on a cutting board, and cut into thin ribbons. You can also shred the flat side with a box grater or prep cabbage wedges in a food processor using the shredding blade attachment.
Is it OK to eat napa cabbage raw?
Yes. Slaw is an excellent example of how well raw cabbage works as an ingredient. Tender napa leaves add a subtle sweetness to salads and wraps, and you can use them as a substitute for lettuce on burgers and sandwiches.
What’s the difference between slaw and coleslaw?
While both terms are often used for the same dish, there is a difference. Slaw refers to a mix of shredded vegetables that can include cabbage. Recipes that use only shredded cabbage are called coleslaw.
Can you eat the core of napa cabbage?
Yes. When you shred nutritious napa cabbage for slaw, the raw core is included in the mix. You can also pickle the core, add it to soups or stews and even puree it for healthy smoothies
How do you keep Napa cabbage fresh?
Start by bringing home premium napa cabbage supplied by established growers, like Hitchcock Farms. Secure the head in plastic wrap, store in the refrigerator crisper drawer, and only wash when you're ready to use it. Properly wrapped and chilled, the cabbage stays fresh for several weeks.
