Cabbage Carrots and Peppers Salad

This cabbage and carrot salad combines fresh and tangy flavors and perfect textures for a vibrant, refreshing side dish that's as easy to make as it is delicious. The combination of the crunchy cabbage and carrots with the tangy marinade is simply irresistible and will have you coming back for seconds.

Cabbage and carrot salad is not only a cinch to make, but it also pairs perfectly with most main dishes. Its fresh and tangy flavor provides a lovely contrast to the richness of meats, makes a great side for sandwiches, and can even elevate a simple lunch of bread and cheese.

If you enjoy this salad, you might also like my Korean carrot salad, a dish that shares the same tangy appeal but with a hint of spice. Or, for a different take on a cabbage salad, my red cabbage salad is a must-try, offering a beautiful color and a deliciously crunchy texture.

Table of Contents

• Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• Key Ingredients
• How to Make Cabbage and Carrot Salad
• Tips for Making the Best Cabbage and Carrot Salad
• Serving Suggestions 
• Recipe Variation Ideas 
• Frequently Asked Questions
• How to Store Leftovers
• Similar Recipes You'll Love
• Recipe Card
• Marinated Cabbage and Carrot Salad Recipe
• Comments

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Quick and Easy: This cabbage and carrot salad is super easy to prepare. With just a few steps, you'll have a delicious side dish ready in no time.
• Tasty: The combination of fresh cabbage, sweet carrots, and tangy marinade is incredibly flavorful. This salad is a guaranteed hit at any meal.
• Family Favorite: This salad is loved by both kids and adults alike. It's a great way to get the family to eat their veggies without any complaints!
• Classic Flavors: This recipe brings together the classic combination of cabbage and carrots, enhanced by the tangy marinade. It's a timeless favorite.
• Versatile: This salad is incredibly versatile. It pairs well with a wide range of main dishes, making it a perfect side for any meal.

Key Ingredients

All you need are some simple pantry staple ingredients to make this easy cabbage and carrot salad recipe at home. Let's look at them in more detail:

• Cabbage: The star of our salad, cabbage brings a satisfying crunch and a host of nutrients to the table. It's a great source of vitamin K, vitamin C, and fiber, and adds a beautiful color to our dish.
• Carrots: These vibrant orange veggies add a sweet, crunchy texture to our salad. They're rich in beta-carotene, an antioxidant that's great for eye health, making our salad not only delicious but also nutritious.
• Red and Yellow Bell Peppers: These peppers add a pop of color and a sweet, crunchy flavor to our salad. They're packed with vitamin C, adding to the health benefits of our dish.

• Vinegar: The tangy flavor of vinegar helps to brighten up the salad, balancing the sweetness of the sugar and the richness of the oil. It also acts as a natural preservative, helping to keep our salad fresh.
• Peppercorns: These little spices add a subtle heat to our salad, complement the other flavors, and add a nice, unexpected crunch.

For a full list of ingredients and quantities, please check the recipe card at the end of this post.

How to Make Cabbage and Carrot Salad

Making this incredible cabbage and carrot salad is easier than you think. Here's how to make them at home step by step:

Prepare the Vegetables: Start by shredding the cabbage, cutting the peppers into half-inch strips, and peeling and grating the carrots. Place all these vegetables into a large bowl. Using a bowl with a cap is preferable as it will help keep the salad and marinade hot for longer. Set this bowl aside while you prepare the salad marinade.

Make the Salad Marinade:  In a medium pot, combine 4 cups of water, vinegar, salt, sugar, oil, peppercorns, and bay leaves. Bring this mixture to a boil, stirring constantly, until the sugar and salt have completely dissolved.

Pour the Marinade: Once the marinade is ready, pour it hot and boiling over the prepared salad. Mix the vegetables and then close the bowl with its lid. Let the salad marinate for 12 hours at room temperature.

Chill the Salad: After the initial 12 hours, you'll notice that the salad has decreased in volume. At this point, place the salad in the fridge and let it marinate for an additional 12 hours.

Serve: The marinated salad can be kept in the bowl for up to a week. Before serving, remember to remove the whole black pepper and bay leaves. 

For a full list of ingredients and instructions, see the recipe card below.

Tips for Making the Best Cabbage and Carrot Salad

• Choose the right cabbage: For this recipe, a medium-sized organic cabbage head works best. The crisp texture and mild flavor of the cabbage will complement the other ingredients in the salad.
• Marinate for flavor infusion: Let the salad marinate for a total of 24 hours. This may seem like a long time, but it's crucial for the flavors to fully develop and for the vegetables to soak up the marinade, resulting in a delicious and refreshing salad.
• Use a mandoline for perfect cuts: To achieve the perfect, uniform cuts of cabbage and carrots, use a mandoline. It will make the shredding and grating process much easier and quicker.
• Remove whole spices before serving: Before serving the salad, make sure to remove the bay leaves and whole peppercorns. These spices have done their job in flavor infusing the salad, and biting into them can be a bit overpowering. 

Serving Suggestions 

This cabbage and carrot salad is a versatile dish that pairs well with a variety of main courses. Here are a few serving suggestions to try:

• Side Dish: This cabbage and carrot salad makes a great side dish for a barbecue. Its crisp, fresh flavors complement the rich, smoky flavors of grilled meats.
• Pasta Salad: For a refreshing twist, try adding this salad to a pasta salad. The crunchy texture of the vegetables adds a nice contrast to the soft pasta, and the tangy marinade brings out the flavors of the other ingredients.
• Meatball Sub: Use this cabbage and carrot salad as a topping for a meatball sub. The cool, crunchy slaw is the perfect counterpoint to the warm, savory meatballs. 

Recipe Variation Ideas 

This delicious cabbage and carrot salad recipe is absolutely perfect as is, but if you're looking to change things up, here are a few variation ideas you can try:

• Spicy: For those who enjoy a bit of heat, add a teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the marinade. This will give the salad a nice kick without overpowering the fresh flavors of the vegetables.
• Herby: If you're a fan of fresh herbs, this variation is for you. Mix in a handful of chopped fresh parsley, dill, and cilantro before serving. The herbs will add a refreshing aroma and a burst of green color to the salad.
• Protein-Packed: Turn this salad into a complete meal by adding a cup of chickpeas. The chickpeas will add a dose of protein and make this salad a satisfying and healthy lunch option.
• Extra Crunchy: For those who love extra crunch, add a half cup of toasted almonds or sunflower seeds to the salad. The nuts will add a satisfying crunch and a nutty flavor to the salad, making it even more enjoyable.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Store Leftovers

• Refrigerating: After enjoying this delicious cabbage and carrot salad, you can store any leftovers in the refrigerator. Simply place the salad in an airtight container and it will stay fresh for up to a week.
• Freezing: This salad is not suitable for freezing as the texture of the vegetables can become mushy once thaw and the flavors may not be as fresh.

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• Korean Carrot Salad Recipe (Authentic Morkovcha Salad)
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Recipe Card

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This recipe was originally posted on October 13, 2014 (original picture below), and updated for a better user experience. The post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.