Napa Cabbage Salad Recipe {Asian Ramen Noodle Salad} (2024)

By: Author Kelly Wildenhaus

Posted on - Last updated:

Categories Recipes, Salads, Side Dishes

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Asian ramen noodle salad, crunchy chopped napa cabbage with toasted ramen noodles and nuts in a sweet soy dressing.The best version of that slaw recipe with the ramen noodles you'll ever have ~ fresh, flavorful and a hit at gatherings.

Do you guys remember (or still make) Oriental cole slaw? I don't think that's PC anymore, maybe it's called Asian slaw now. Anyway, it had the ramen noodles from the soup packets crushed up in the salad. For some reason, I think that's strange. And then years ago, in Minnesota, a friend made asalad for a party and I had to know how he made it, it was so good. Over the recent Fourth holiday, I dusted off Timm's Napa Cabbage Salad andmade it for a BBQ. It's still so good.

Napa Cabbage Salad Recipe {Asian Ramen Noodle Salad} (2)

When I say dusted off, I really mean I had to figure out how I made it as the recipe card Timm gave me is mostly illegible. As I do with most recipes, I have them on the counter as I'm cooking and they tend to get a little beat up, this one especially so, as it looks like the ink smeared with all the water and wet hands landing on it. See what I mean?

Napa Cabbage Salad Recipe {Asian Ramen Noodle Salad} (3)

It came back to me though, I'm pretty sure I was able to decipher and remember how to make this. It does use those ramen noodles (not the seasoning packets!) but they're browned in butter with almonds and sunflower nuts. I had to keep swatting Meathead's hand away as the mixture was cooling on paper towels. He thought it wasgranola or something and said, "This is great!" as another handful wentinto his mouth. Jeez.

Napa Cabbage Salad Recipe {Asian Ramen Noodle Salad} (4)

The cabbage is shredded and mixed with red bell pepper and scallions and in a large ziplock it goes to refrigerate over night. The ramen noodles, slivered almonds and sunflower nuts are browned in butter and they go into another plastic bag and into the fridge. Then, a couple hours before serving you mix both bags together in your serving dish, and right before serving, you dress it (with a really good dressing you already made in a jar). It's perfect for a crowd and doesn't tie you up when you're trying to get everything together, heck, you could even turn over the reigns on this salad to someone else, someone who asks how they can help!?

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I'm going to have to send this post to Timm and see if he remembers giving me this recipe, I bet he will. I'm not sure how other salads like this stack up, I've only ever had it this way. I willventure to say this is probably one of the better ones, Timm is pretty gourmet and a top shelf kind of guy. I think he'd be tickled I'm still making his Napa Cabbage Salad. Try it, you'll like it. Best, Kelly

Napa Cabbage Salad Recipe {Asian Ramen Noodle Salad} (6)

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Napa Cabbage Salad Recipe {Asian Ramen Noodle Salad} (7)

Napa Cabbage Salad

The best version of that slaw recipe with the ramen noodles you'll ever have ~ fresh, flavorful and a hit at gatherings.

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Salad

Cuisine: Asian American

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Prep and refrigerate ingredients overnight: 12 hours hours

Total Time: 12 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 servings

Calories: 546kcal

Author: Kelly Wildenhaus

Ingredients

  • 1 large head napa cabbage, shredded
  • 6 green onions, sliced
  • ½ red bell pepper, diced
  • 2 (4-ounce) packages ramen noodles, seasoning packets discarded, crushed in the package (I use a rolling pin and pound away, but not too much, you want small pieces, not crumbs!)
  • 4 ounces slivered almonds
  • 4 ounces sunflowers nuts
  • 1 stick (8 tbsp) salted butter, or unsalted if you prefer
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ½ cup tarragon vinegar (I used apple cider vinegar)
  • 1 cup saffron or sunflower oil (uh, yeah, I used canola oil)

Instructions

  • Combine cabbage, green onion and red pepper and put in a large plastic zip bag. Refrigerate overnight.

  • In a large skillet, melt stick of butter over medium heat. Add crushed ramen noodles and nuts and brown. Stir frequently and be careful not to burn. Remove to paper towels to drain and cool completely. Place in another plastic zip bag and refrigerate.

  • Two hours before serving, mix the cabbage mixture with the noodle/nut mixture. Set aside, back in refrigerator. Make the dressing: in a jar with a lid, combine soy sauce, sugar, vinegar and oil, shake well to dissolve sugar, set aside.

  • Just before serving, dress the salad. Re-shake dressing and add as much as necessary to toss and coat evenly.

Recipe Notes

Recipe from my friend, Timm, in Minnesota

Nutrition

Calories: 546kcal Carbohydrates: 29g Protein: 8g Fat: 46g Saturated Fat: 10g Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g Monounsaturated Fat: 23g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 24mg Sodium: 631mg Potassium: 444mg Fiber: 4g Sugar: 13g Vitamin A: 834IU Vitamin C: 33mg Calcium: 123mg Iron: 2mg

Did you make this recipe? Please comment, rate it and share! And mention me on Instagram @thehungrybluebird or tag #thehungrybluebird so I can see!

Napa Cabbage Salad Recipe {Asian Ramen Noodle Salad} (2024)

FAQs

Can you eat lettuce with ramen? ›

Key ingredients for this Crunchy Ramen and Sesame Salad.

The lettuce- You can use whatever you want or have on hand. For the greens, I used a mix of lettuce for the texture. Super crunchy romaine and softer spring mix is a good balance.

How do you use Napa cabbage? ›

It's commonly used in dishes like kimchi, soups, or as a stuffing for dumplings, but there's a world of other ways to eat napa cabbage. Try it shredded into a slaw, tossed with noodles, or stuffed in a hearty wrap. You're sure to learn new ways to enjoy this veggie with our 15 napa cabbage recipes.

Do you eat the white part of napa cabbage? ›

Absolutely all of it, but most people just eat the inside whiter leaves more tender, they also cut out the stem part, but again it is all still edible.

What is the most unhealthy part of ramen? ›

Ramen is not inherently unhealthy, but the flavor packet provided in instant ramen does contain high amounts of sodium. Diets high in sodium are associated with an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, a leading cause of stroke and heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

What are the best leafy greens for ramen noodles? ›

For this recipe, the chef also explains that it is preferable to avoid using overly leafy green vegetables like lettuce, which tend to become soggy in the broth. It is better to use spinach, cabbage (ideally Chinese), or, better still, komatsura, Japanese mustard spinach.

What vegetables are good in ramen? ›

Let's face it: Ramen ain't health food. But it's pretty simple to add a bit of roughage to your starch. Quick-cooking vegetables like baby spinach, romaine lettuce, bean sprouts, thinly sliced cabbage, watercress, and scallions (amongst others) can be stirred into the soup right before serving.

How do you cut napa cabbage for salad? ›

Halve the whole head of napa cabbage lengthwise. Then quarter the head of napa cabbage. For each quarter, further cut it in half. Slice each eighth of the cabbage into bite-sized pieces.

Does napa cabbage go bad? ›

Slicing amps up flavor and possibly nutrients, but the vitamin content diminishes when cabbage is stored after cutting, so stay away from the pre-cut packaged stuff. A whole head of Napa cabbage will keep for a week or longer when stored unwashed in the fridge and sealed in plastic.

How long does napa cabbage last once cut? ›

How to Store a Partial Head of Cabbage. If you find yourself left with a partial head of cabbage, think twice before you toss it. While it won't last as long as a whole head, a partial head can still last up to three days after use.

Is it OK to eat napa cabbage raw? ›

Do you eat napa cabbage raw or cooked? You can enjoy crunchy napa cabbage raw in salads, as a sandwich topping and as healthy wraps. The leafy vegetable is also a mainstay in stir-fries, soups, stews and casseroles. Napa is a great choice for pickling too.

Do I need to wash napa cabbage? ›

Cleaning and cooking.

Bok choy can be washed whole, but depending on the preparation, napa cabbage leaves should be separated and rinsed if meant to be kept whole, or split the head in half and run it under the faucet as you would a leek to clean.

What can I do with too much napa cabbage? ›

Dumplings, Gyoza and More

In many Asian cuisines, cabbage is used as a filling for dumplings, including Japanese gyoza, Chinese potstickers, Shanghai-style spring rolls, Vietnamese spring rolls and more. Indian dumplings, including kofta and muthias, can also be made using cabbage.

How do you shred napa cabbage in a food processor? ›

Turn on the food processor and add cabbage, one chunk at a time, to the feed tube. Press cabbage toward the blade, and repeat until all cabbage is shredded. That's it! Once you use a food processor, you'll never go back to the old way of chopping cabbage.

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