Quick, Healthy Purple Cabbage Salad — Crunchy Honey-Lime Slaw

Bright, crunchy, and honestly easy — this purple cabbage salad is the kind of recipe you make when you want color, texture, and real flavor with almost no fuss. It comes together in minutes, plays well with weeknight proteins, and keeps in the fridge so you can grab it for lunches or a quick side. Think crisp cabbage, a little sweet-tart dressing, and a pop of herbs and nuts for texture. Perfect for cooks who want something healthy, versatile, and reliably delicious.

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Recipe

Servings: 4

Calories per serving: ~180 kcal

Total time: 25 minutes (Active: 10 minutes — chopping & mixing; Inactive: 15 minutes — resting to mellow flavors)

Quick, Healthy Purple Cabbage Salad — Crunchy Honey-Lime Slaw

Ingredients

• 4 cups shredded purple cabbage (about ½ small head)

• 1 large carrot, peeled and shredded or julienned

• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced

• 2 green onions, thinly sliced (white and green parts)

• ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped (swap mint or parsley if preferred)

• ¼ cup roasted peanuts or sliced almonds (optional — for crunch; omit for nut-free)

Dressing

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (or avocado oil)

• 1½ tablespoons honey (or 1½ tbsp maple syrup for vegan)

• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)

• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

• 1 small garlic clove, finely grated or minced

• Salt and black pepper, to taste (start with ¼ tsp salt)

Instructions

1. Place the shredded cabbage, carrot, bell pepper, green onions, and cilantro in a large mixing bowl.

2. In a small jar or bowl, whisk the olive oil, honey (or maple), lime juice, Dijon, and garlic until the dressing is emulsified. Season with a pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper; taste and adjust (more lime for brightness, more honey for sweetness).

3. Pour the dressing over the vegetables and toss thoroughly so everything is coated.

4. Let the salad rest for 10–15 minutes at room temperature to soften the cabbage slightly and let flavors meld. Toss again before serving.

5. Scatter roasted peanuts or almonds on top just before serving for extra crunch (or keep them separate if you’re packing lunches to maintain crunch).

Variations & tips

• To make it a meal: add shredded rotisserie chicken, grilled tofu, or canned chickpeas.

• For a creamier dressing: fold 3 tbsp plain Greek yogurt or dairy-free yogurt into the dressing (stir in at step 2).

• Make it vegan: use maple syrup instead of honey.

• Spice it up: add ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes or 1 thinly sliced jalapeño.

Nutrition (approximate per serving)

• Calories: ~180 kcal

• Protein: ~3 g

• Total Carbohydrates: ~15 g

  • Dietary Fiber: ~4 g

  • Sugars (natural + added): ~9 g

• Total Fat: ~12 g

  • Saturated Fat: ~1.5 g

• Sodium: variable (depends on added salt; ~150 mg estimated at ¼ tsp salt)

Key micronutrients (approximate & food-sourced)

• Vitamin C: High — purple cabbage, bell pepper, and lime supply a strong boost for immune support and collagen synthesis.

• Vitamin K: Good — cabbage provides vitamin K, important for bone health and blood clotting.

• Folate: Moderate — cabbage and cilantro contribute folate for cell function.

• Potassium: Present — vegetables contribute to electrolyte balance and heart health.

• Vitamin A / Beta-carotene: From carrot — supports vision and skin health.

• Manganese & Copper: Trace minerals from nuts/seeds and cabbage, supporting antioxidant enzymes.

Health benefits: This salad is fiber-rich and low in calories while packing antioxidants and vitamin C from purple cabbage and bell pepper. Healthy fats from olive or avocado oil aid absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and help keep you full. It’s naturally gluten-free and can be made vegan — a flexible, nutrient-forward side or light meal that fits many dietary preferences.

Toss veggies

Prep dressing

Mix everything

Enjoy!

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Prompt

Here's how I used ChatGPT to create this "Quick, Healthy Purple Cabbage Salad — Crunchy Honey-Lime Slaw" recipe:

This one was pretty straightforward. I asked:

Delicious purple cabbage salad recipe?

Nailed it at first attempt.

Scroll to the top or click below for the final recipe.

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