Warm Cabbage and Apple Salad for Cold January Nights
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Photos: Adam and Joanne Gallagher, Inspired Taste
This salad goes great with chicken or pork, and it can stand alone as its own course, too. You'll love the tartness, sweetness and crunch.
Start by lightly toasting a handful of nuts; we had pecan halves on hand. We like buying nuts in bulk and in raw form (if you have a Trader Joe’s near you, they have great selection and prices for raw, unsalted nuts). Place a skillet over medium-low heat and throw in the nuts. Toss the pan a few times, and after about 5 minutes, you should start to smell the nuts. Just watch so they don’t burn!
Next, get the salad ingredients ready. Mince some garlic and finely slice red cabbage, apples and celery.
Add the celery to a skillet over medium heat, cook 2 minutes or until the celery begins to brown. Add the cabbage and garlic, then cook another minute.
Now, toss in the sliced apples and cook for 1-2 minutes.
Add a healthy pinch of salt, stir and remove from the heat. The cabbage should be slightly wilted.
To make the dressing, combine Dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar and a drizzle of olive oil.
Add the salad and toss. Then, add crumbled feta cheese, dried cherries or cranberries and the toasted nuts from earlier.
Serve warm or at room temperature. When cooking, watch that the cabbage and apples do not overcook -- try to maintain some of their texture and crunch.
Warm Cabbage and Apple Salad Recipe
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Yield: serves 4
Ingredients
• 2 tablespoons light oil (canola, vegetable or olive oil)
• 1 cup thinly sliced celery hearts (3-4 stalks)
• 4 cups thinly sliced red cabbage (about 1 small head)
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 apple, cored and sliced into 1/4 inch matchsticks
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1/4 cup dried fruit (suggestion: cherries, apricots, cranberries or raisins)
• 1/4 cup toasted nuts (suggestion: pecan halves, walnuts, pistachios)
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
• salt
Method
1. Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat; add 2 tablespoons oil.
2. Add celery and cook for 2 minutes until the begin to brown.
3. Add cabbage and garlic, cook for 1 minute.
4. Add apple, cook for 1 minute.
5. Add a 1/4 teaspoon of salt and stir then cook until the cabbage just begins to wilt, about 2 minutes.
6. In the meantime, make the dressing by combining the mustard, apple cider vinegar, olive oil and honey.
7. Add the cabbage and apple mixture to the dressing and toss to coat. Taste for seasoning and add salt to taste.
8. Add dried fruit, nuts and feta cheese. Serve warm or at room temperature.
