Warm & Spicy Red Cabbage Salad

This easy red cabbage salad is a perfect warm & spicy side dish for fall and winter. The flavors of garam masala, tahini, and the sweetness of raisins make this a quick salad recipe for weeknights & special occasions.

We still have a few cabbages in our vegetable patch at the end of fall. We had so many snails that many cabbages didn’t make it.

The ones that survived will be made into sauerkraut, cooked with stewed apples, and made into salads.

NOTE: This salad is not warm as in “temperature warm”, it refers to the flavor.

Why you’ll love this warm & spicy salad recipe

I love cabbages because they’re so compact and yield so much once you start shredding them! For this red cabbage salad recipe, you’ll only need a very small head of red cabbage or about 1/4 of a regular head of red cabbage.

Raisins and cabbage are the perfect, warm fall & winter companions. In this easy red cabbage salad, they pair so well. The raisins add a subtle touch of sweetness to this make-ahead salad.

The warm spices of the garam masala make this red cabbage slaw the perfect simple side dish for and quick weeknight dinner. Or, even for a cozy Christmas dinner.

With its simple ingredients, this quick and easy salad is one of those meal-prep salads you’ll want to include in your “simple side dish” section in your recipe book. The red cabbage salad stores well in the fridge and can be made in advance.

Tahini dressing

This warm & spicy cabbage salad is drizzled with a tahini dressing. Tahini adds a slightly nutty, rich, toasty & creamy taste to the red cabbage salad.

Tahini is a paste made from roasted or raw sesame seeds. I love to eat it for lunch on a slice of sourdough bread, add it to hummus and, to make tahini salad dressing!

How to make this recipe in 5 minutes

Before you start, grab all your ingredients to make this red cabbage salad a true Quick & Easy salad.

Tools:

• Large bowl for mixing the red cabbage salad ingredients
• Knife
• Chopping Board
• Small bowl for the tahini dressing

Ingredients:

• 1/4 head of red cabbage
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/8 cup of toasted sesame seeds
• Figs for topping (optional)

Ingredients for tahini dressing:

• 1-2 tbsp tahini
• 1 tsp garam masala
• 1/2 tsp olive oil/ cold pressed walnut oil
• pinch of salt
• juice of 1/2 organic lemon

Instructions for red cabbage salad

• Chop the red cabbage very finely
• In a large bowl add raisins &chopped cabbage

For the tahini dressing:

• In a small bowl add all ingredients for the tahini dressing and whisk.
• Add the tahini dressing to the red cabbage & raisins and toss.
• Sprinkle the toasted sesame seeds on top and add an optional extra drizzle of tahini to the red cabbage salad.
• If you’re using figs sprinkle them over the red cabbage salad.

TIP: For some seasonal variations, use cranberries instead of raisins and add toasted walnuts for some extra crunch.

How to store red cabbage salad

This quick & easy red cabbage salad stores well in the fridge. The flavors get some extra time to infuse and bring out all those comfy warm & spicy flavors.
Cover the bowl and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.

For optimal crunch and freshness, eat the salad within 3 days.

If you plan on making this easy red cabbage salad ahead, don’t add the toasted sesame seeds until just before serving.