Meet the 3-Ingredient, 5-Minute Salad That’s Fresh, Sweet, and Packed With Vitamins
As the mercury soars, a crisp, juicy, refreshingly cool standout takes center stage — the go-to bite for sweltering days.
Hot day, zero energy, but you still want something crunchy and bright. This cabbage salad with apple and prunes checks every box: crisp, juicy, a little sweet, a little tart. It is loaded with fiber and vitamins C and K, and it plays just as nicely next to roasted chicken or fish as it does as a light solo dinner.
What you need
- White cabbage - 300 g
- Tart-sweet apple - 1 medium (about 150 g)
- Pitted prunes - 80 g
- Carrot - 1 small (about 80 g)
- Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
- Olive oil - 2 tbsp
How to make it
Start with the cabbage. Slice it as thin as you can manage; the thinner the shreds, the more delicate the salad feels. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt if you like, then massage the cabbage for a minute to soften it and draw out a little juice.
Peel the carrot and grate it on the coarse side of a box grater. Rinse the apple, core it, and cut it into thin matchsticks. Toss the apple with the lemon juice so it stays bright and crisp. Rinse the prunes; if they feel a bit leathery, soak them in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes, pat dry, and chop into small bites.
In a large bowl, combine the cabbage, grated carrot, apple, and prunes. Fold everything together gently so the apple sticks and prune pieces keep their shape.
Whisk the olive oil with any lemon juice left in the bowl from the apples, then drizzle it over the salad and toss again until lightly coated.
Let the salad sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes. That brief rest softens the cabbage just enough and helps the flavors mingle. If you want to dress it up, add a few sprigs of fresh parsley or mint right before serving.
Serving notes
Chilled is best here. A quick 30 minutes in the fridge makes it extra refreshing. It is a natural side for roasted chicken, fish, or even simply boiled beef. Or keep it as a clean, light dinner when the heat says: keep the stove off.