Crunch Asian Cabbage & Edamame Salad

Crunchy Asian Cabbage & Edamame Salad

Makes about 4 servings

Salad

• 3 cups shredded green cabbage
• 3 cups shredded red cabbage
• 1 cup grated or matchstick carrots
• 1 cup shelled edamame
• ½–1 cup thinly sliced cucumber or sugar snap peas
• ¼ cup toasted peanuts, roughly chopped
• Optional: a little chopped parsley
• Optional bell pepper if you’re feeling unusually charitable toward bell peppers. 

🥜 Peanut-Lime Dressing

• ¼ cup natural creamy peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger — optional
• 3–5 tablespoons water, as needed

For the sweetness, choose ONE:

• 1 teaspoon maple syrup, or
• 1 teaspoon date syrup

Start with only 1 teaspoon. After mixing, taste it. If the lime/soy flavor needs a little more balance, add another ½–1 teaspoon of whichever sweetener you’re using.

I used date syrup

👨‍🍳 Make it

1. Make the dressing.

Whisk or blend the peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, maple or date syrup, garlic and ginger. Add water a tablespoon at a time until it’s creamy but easily pourable.  I ended up adding more water than I thought I would need.

2. Build the Crunch Department.

Combine both cabbages, carrots, edamame and cucumber/snap peas.  I used snap peas. (you don't cook this, but cut the ends off and chop into bite sized pieces).

3. DON’T DRESS THE WHOLE THING. 😑

This is important for because I want tomorrow’s leftovers to CRUNCH. Store the vegetables and dressing separately.

When you’re ready to eat, scoop out your portion of vegetables, add just enough dressing to lightly coat them and toss.

4. Add the peanuts last.

That preserves their crunch too.

Turn it into a bigger meal

If you want more substance another time, add:

• Cooked chicken
• Shrimp
• Extra-firm tofu

🔒 Don’t Change This — And Here’s Why: Keep the cabbage, edamame, peanut butter, lime and some peanuts. That’s what gives this dish its combination of chew + crunch + creaminess + protein/fiber + acidity. 

🎨 Make It Yours: Once you’ve tasted it this way, cucumber ↔ snap peas ↔ water chestnuts; parsley or no herbs; chicken/shrimp/tofu; maple ↔ date syrup.

Remember my garden motto:

No forbidden fruit. And apparently no forbidden syrup either.  Honestly, no forbidden food, just choices.