Russian Cabbage Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb green cabbage thinly sliced
- 2-3 carrots coarsely grated
- 1 tsp sugar
- salt
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- 1 small cucumber sliced into circles and then into thin sticks
- oil Russians usually use sunflower oil
- fresh dill
Instructions
- Mix the cabbage, carrots, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Squeeze and stir the mixture with your hands to help the cabbage release some juice.
- Add the vinegar, cucumber, oil, and lots of fresh dill.
- Add more salt or vinegar to taste.
Notes
This cabbage salad is the most common salad in classic Russian cuisine. It's name in Russian is literally "Vitamin Salad." I've given you the base recipe, after this you are only limited by your imagination! Here are some common variations:
Variation 1. Omit the cucumber. Add in finely chopped sweet red pepper and finely chopped sweet red (or sweet yellow) onion.
Variation 2. Omit the cucumber. Add in apple and sweet onion, thinly sliced into "sticks."
Variation 3. Omit the carrot. Increase the amount of cucumber and other greens (green onion, dill, parsley). I like this salad with the pretty shades of green.
Variation 4. Omit the cucumber.
This is a fresh, healthy salad that is an excellent replacement for coleslaw in your summer menus. It makes a nice side dish with pork, beef, or other heavier main dishes.