Greek cabbage salad recipe (Lahanosalata) (2024)

Published: Dec 9, 2019 · Modified: Oct 4, 2021 by Makos

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Learn how to make a delicious, healthy Greek Lahanosalata -shredded raw cabbage salad. Grated carrots and a Mediterranean dressing add flavor and some extra color. This is one of the healthiest Mediterranean winter recipes!

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Greek salad (Horiatiki) is always present on my table during summer, while this Lahanosalata is never missing from my dinner table during the winter.

Green and red shredded cabbage, some grated carrots and an easy dressing with olive oil and wine vinegar (or lemon juice), are the basic ingredients for a healthy, crunchy salad that satisfies me and helps me feel full.

My favorite thing about this salad is that I can add some cooked chicken (or two hard boiled eggs) and it’s instantly transformed into a light and filling lunch.

If you like Greek salads, then you'll love this Traditional Greek Dakos salad which is made with barley rusks and this creamy Greek pasta salad with a healthy yogurt dressing.

How do you make this Greek cabbage salad?

The basic ingredients are:

Shredded Green and red cabbage. (Green is also called white and red is also called purple)
Grated carrots
Olive oil
Red wine vinegar (or white)
salt and black pepper

Optionally you can add:

Walnuts
Raisins
Grape syrup (or maple syrup or honey)

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The Ratios of the vegetables and the dressing

For my personal taste, the best proportions of the main ingredients are 2 parts shredded green cabbage, 1 part shredded red cabbage and 1 part grated carrots.

The dressing is a lot similar to the dressing for this arugula, strawberry and chicken salad. To make it I just mix 2 parts of olive oil, 1 part red wine vinegar and 1 part grape syrup.

However, l always recommend to taste and adjust it to your liking. Greeks are very forgiving so if you like Lahanosalata with more red cabbage or without any carrots, or with hazelnuts instead of walnuts, then just do as you please, no one will be upset!

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How do you shred the cabbage for this salad?

Using a sharp knife
Using a mandolin
Using some kind of gadget (I usually see those online)

How thin should you shred it? Traditionally, it should be very thin, so a mandolin is probably the best tool for this job. For the carrots, a box grater is ideal.

How do you keep cabbage crisp?

Because I want to preserve as many nutrients as possible I like to store the cabbage in the fridge whole and cut the quantity I need each time I need it. But I have also found that cabbage can be preserved shredded inside a zip lock bag for at least 2-3 days (after that it can start to develop dark spots). If you don’t add any salt or dressing it will remain crisp and crunchy. Add the dressing just before serving.

Another way to enjoy this healthy salad is to leave it in the fridge with the dressing for one day or overnight, so that the cabbage has some time to wilt and the salad to transform into something even more delicious because all of the flavors blend together harmonically.

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Is cabbage salad healthy?

I once read that cabbage is like the soap that cleanses our body from the inside. Cabbage belongs to the cruciferous vegetables which are full of beneficial nutrients. Its diuretic properties help our body to get rid of excess liquid, carrying toxins along with it.

Like other cruciferous veggies, cabbage is also sulfur-rich, helping your liver break down those bad toxins (so they can be more easily expelled). It's also full of fiber, rich in Vitamin K and C, it has anticancer properties and it help you lower your cholesterol levels (protecting your heart).

Another healthy salad full of probiotics (which are especially good for your digestive system and strengthen the immune system) is this creamy cucumber salad with yogurt-miso dressing.

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