Napa cabbage shines as coleslaw star in a versatile salad

No matter what main dish I prepare, coleslaw always has to be. It's a great opportunity to enjoy one of the five recommended daily servings of vegetables. Although the selection in the fall-winter season is smaller, there are some veggies you can always have in the fridge. One of them is napa cabbage.

We mostly appreciate regular, white cabbage. Napa cabbage remains in its shadow, yet it offers numerous health benefits. First and foremost, it has the fewest calories of all cabbage varieties. It contains protein, plenty of carbohydrates, and fibre. It's a good source of vitamin C, beta-carotene, and minerals like calcium, iron, and manganese. It's ideal for coleslaw because it's soft yet remains crunchy, with a refreshing, delicate taste.

What to pair with napa cabbage? Because it has a subtle flavour, it pairs well with practically everything. That's why a coleslaw with it is an economical choice when you have leftover veggies in the fridge. In my opinion, carrots, celery, pickles, greens, and apples work great. To make the coleslaw lighter, it's better to prepare a dressing based on olive oil and lemon juice instead of mayonnaise.

Ingredients:

• Half of a napa cabbage,
• 1-2 pickles,
• 5 tablespoons canned corn,
• 1 carrot,
• 1 apple,
• Half a bell pepper,
• A piece of celery,
• A small piece of leek,
• Your favourite greens.

For the dressing:

• 3 tablespoons olive oil,
• A teaspoon of lemon juice,
• Half a teaspoon of honey,
• 1 clove of garlic,
• Salt and pepper to taste.

Method of preparation:

1. Thoroughly clean the cabbage, removing the outer leaves and core. Then, slice it into thin strips.
2. Peel the carrot, celery, and apple and grate them on a large-hole grater.
3. Prepare the pickles similarly.
4. Dice the bell pepper. Slice the small piece of leek very thinly. Prepare the greens similarly.
5. Combine all the prepared ingredients.
6. Prepare the dressing from the listed ingredients, and press the garlic through a garlic press.
7. Pour the dressing over the salad and mix thoroughly.