What is Crunchy Asian Coleslaw?
Asian Coleslaw is a classic cold salad made with crunchy cabbage, toasted almonds, and crushed ramen noodles tossed in a sweet sesame dressing. It’s perfect for meal prep because the flavor gets better as it sits! It’s also total crowd-pleaser for potlucks, BBQs, or weeknight dinners, so make sure to bookmark this one.
This is a recipe one of my friend’s parents would bring to our potluck/picnics we would have when I was younger. I always loved seeing it on the table and would pile it on my plate. I forgot about it as I got older though, until now!
I went on a search for a recipe that was similar to what I remembered from when I was younger, because I never knew the recipe, I really should have just asked my friend for it….. but I didn’t think about that. So, needless to say I use a few recipes from the internet here and there to get it to taste just like I remembered so I can pass it on to you!
Be ready to make this as a side dish for all of your future barbecues, potlucks, or picnics that you have for this summer! It is delicious and so many flavors and textures to work with and savor. It honestly gets better with time too, so make it today and enjoy it all week!
Why You’ll Love Crunchy Asian Coleslaw
This is the easiest salad on the planet to prepare. You can definitely have this done in 20 minutes or less if you want to. Using prepackaged coleslaw mix is certainly a way to do this. It will even have the pretty purple cabbage in it already to really add some pizzazz to your meal prep or side dish.
If you want to chop your own cabbage you can definitely do that too. I usually do this because its way cheaper and the cabbages at my store don’t have plastic wrap on them so I feel a little better about that. However, I don’t usually buy a purple one so it is less pretty, but more cost effective for me.
Crunchy Asian Coleslaw is one of the most budget-friendly recipes you can make. It uses cabbage which is super cheap per pound and Ramen noodles also super cheap per package. You will also most likely already have everything for the dressing in your cupboard too.
Who doesn’t love crunchy, sweetness, and a dash of savoriness? No one that I know! You are going to be asked to bring this to all your future get togethers if you try this one, so just be prepared.
Tips for the Best Crunchy Asian Coleslaw
I think this salad gets better with age, but it will change the textures. If you want to have optimal crunch keep the dressing separate from the noodles until you are ready to eat it. If you want optimal flavor (in my opinion) it is better to let it sit for a day or so.
Break the noodles up the best you can but try to leave them a little larger. They will break up as they sit in the dressing and soften. Just give the salad a little stir before serving.
Meal Prep and Storage Tips for Crunchy Asian Coleslaw
This salad will stay great for up to 4 days making it a great choice for meal prep. Just make sure to store it in an airtight container to keep all the goodness in.
The noodles will soften as the days pass so if you are wanting to meal prep this for a meal or gathering keep the dressing separate. Although it does taste better when all the flavors combine, really you will just have to decide how you want to have your textures and experiment with it.
To make it a protein filled meal you can easily add some air fried chicken breast or some edamame. Season it with your favorite Asian flavors and you are good to go! Check out this recipe from Skinny Taste for Asian Grilled Chicken for some inspiration.
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Ingredients
Method
- Break the Ramen noodles into small bites while in the package using your hands.
- Open the package and dump the contents into a mixing bowl, remove the seasoning packets.
- Pour the coleslaw mix into the bowl.
- Add the sunflower seeds, slivered almonds, and sliced green onions to the bowl.
- Mix the dressing ingredients together (oil, sesame seed oil, sugar, vinegar, and spices) into another bowl.
- Drizzle over the salad mixture and toss.