Crunchy Asian Slaw with Sesame Dressing (Paleo, Vegan)
DAIRY FREE II GLUTEN FREE II VEGAN II PALEO II EGG FREE II SHELLFISH FREE II FISH FREE
This Asian slaw is a stunning and healthy dish with a mix of sweet, spicy, and crunchy flavours. Packed with rainbow-coloured veggies, it's a great source of daily nutrients. The ginger and raw honey dressing is anti-inflammatory and provides many health benefits.
It has such a captivating flavour profile with a harmonious fusion and balance of flavours. With a warm and slightly spicy kick, ginger brings a refreshing and invigorating taste to the dressing. It adds a pleasant zing, complementing the other ingredients and lending a distinctly Asian twist.
Add fish or chicken for protein and enjoy a balanced meal.
Notes on ingredients
Vermicelli brown rice noodles
When cooking Thai or Indian food, I visit my local Indian shop for supplies, including brown rice vermicelli noodles, which I use. It’s gluten-free. However, you can also buy from well easy. Take a look here. (It’s a discounted online health food shop.) Omit this ingredient if you like as this is not strictly paleo.
Soy sauce/Tamari
Tamari is a popular and versatile gluten-free soy sauce. It is a derivative of soy sauce, but unlike traditional soy sauce, tamari is fermented without any wheat. This makes tamari an excellent alternative for individuals with gluten allergies or sensitivities.
Tamari has a rich and savoury flavour with a hint of sweetness and a slightly thicker consistency than regular soy sauce. It is often used as a marinade, a dipping sauce, or a flavorful addition to stir-fries, soups, and dressings. Buy from most supermarkets. Use coconut aminos if you cannot have soy.
Toasted sesame oil
Sesame oil is a highly versatile and aromatic cooking oil widely popular in many cultures worldwide. With its distinct nutty flavour and rich golden colour, sesame oil adds a delightful depth to various dishes. Whether used in stir-fries, dressings, or marinades, sesame oil elevates the flavours of any dish and leaves a lingering, delightful fragrance that will awaken your taste buds. Buy from most supermarkets. This oil adds depth and richness to the overall taste, making it a key component.
Ingredients
Tips
I used a mandoline, a julienne cutter, and a sharp knife to chop the vegetables for the slaw. If you have a fancy food processor and haven’t lost all the cutting blades, like I have, then use your processor to chop up the veggies instead.
Here is a quick video on how to cut vegetables into julienne ( thin strips.) It took me around 15 minutes to chop up everything I needed. If you use a mandoline and are a newbie, please use the guard with the kit. I have sliced off the tops of my fingers many times, so please be careful.
The dressing will keep in the fridge for 2 weeks. However, the salad needs to be eaten in 2/3 days.
30 minutes prep time - feeds 4
Step by step
Recipe
Slaw
250 g red cabbage - sliced using a sharp knife or a mandoline
1 carrot - cut using a mandoline or julienne cutter ( see notes)
1 red onion sliced thinly
1/2 each red, yellow & orange pepper, cut in julienne ( thin slices)
1 courgette
2 sticks celery sliced thinly ( optional )
1/4 cucumber deseeded and thinly sliced
30 g coriander chopped
125 g cooked vermicelli noodles ( optional)
Dressing
70 ml olive oil
80 ml sesame oil
50ml soy sauce/ tamari/ coconut aminos
50ml honey/agave
35 g ginger
1/4 tsp Chinese 5 spice
2 cloves garlic
2 chillies ( less if you like it mild)
1/4 juiced lime
Method
Start by cooking the noodles; the vermicelli variety takes 2/3 minutes at the most to cook.
Wash and cut up your vegetables toss them together in a bowl and add the noodles.
To make the dressing, pop everything into a Nutri Bullet or similar and whizz up ( this can be left in the fridge for two weeks)
Add the dressing just before you serve as it makes everything soggy if you add the dressing too early.
Finish off with a garnish of chopped coriander and a wedge of lime.
Food shopping tips
Are you looking to save money on your FREE FROM ingredients without shopping in several places just to save a buck? Take a look at well easy they have made it well easy to shop for healthy free from allergy-specific ingredients. Find everything you need all in 1 place with over 50 filters. You will be sure to find food for your dietary restrictions that are healthy too!
And it’s cheaper than the health stores or supermarkets, don’t believe me? Take a look for yourself here. Check out my curated shopping list of all my recommended healthier ingredients that I love to cook with. Here’s the link. Use my code KAM10 for £10 off your first order ( £50 minimum order for the first shop).
I have also mentioned in the recipe that the tamari and sesame oil can be bought from your local supermarket.
Buy brown rice vermicelli noodles from your local Asian or Indian store.
This blog contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using the links. I have personally vetted and used all the products that I recommend.
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