Napa Cabbage Ramen Noodle Salad
This simple chilled Cabbage Ramen Noodle Salad with carrots, scallions and toasted almonds is made with crunchy uncooked ramen noodles, Napa cabbage and an easy Asian-inspired soy sesame dressing. It takes less than 30 minutes to make and is the ideal recipe to serve at potlucks, picnics and cookouts!
Table of contents
Why We Love This Recipe For Cabbage Ramen Salad
This recipe has been a long time coming. It all started a decade ago when I shared the first of my Asian-inspired coleslaws: Napa Cabbage and Cucumber Noodle Coleslaw, and a few years later I followed it up with this Asian Sesame Coleslaw. Well, today I’m completing the trifecta of Asian-inspired coleslaw recipes with this classic summer favorite!
This Napa Cabbage Ramen Salad is my go-to for summer picnics and barbecue parties because it “sits” so well. Meaning that it doesn’t need to be eaten the minute it is tossed and it doesn’t wilt. In my opinion, it is even better about 20 minutes after it is tossed with the dressing. The crunchy raw ramen noodles soften ever so slightly in the sweet and nutty soy dressing. They soak up the dressing a bit in the most delicious way.
This flavor pairing is perfection! I love the crunchy cabbage and carrot, sweet peppers and toasted almonds all mixed together. Whenever I serve this Napa Cabbage Noodle Salad, I always have people asking me for the recipe!
For a weeknight meal, simply top it off with grilled marinated chicken or serve it alongside burgers.
Ingredients for The Salad
Cabbage
Napa cabbage is a variety of Chinese cabbage. It should be available in your local supermarket all year round. It’s a great vegetable to use as they have a tender and less dense texture than regular green cabbage.
Napa cabbage heads vary in size, so if you have a very large head one and use any leftover napa cabbage in this easy Napa Cabbage Recipe. You can also ask your grocer to cut the head of cabbage in half. Then just chop the cabbage finely.
Feel free to use green cabbage in place of the Napa cabbage if you cannot find it or want an even crunchier slaw. We also used red cabbage for color and crunchy texture.
Uncooked Ramen Noodles
The key to this salad is broken-up uncooked ramen noodles. Purchase any flavor, and discard the seasoning packet. I like to break the brick apart by hitting the bag with a rolling pin or meat mallet.
Toasted Almonds
Toasted almonds have been sliced and toasted on a stovetop. Toasting almonds brings out their nutty flavor so you can get away with using slightly less.
Chopped Veggies
In addition to the cabbages, I also added in chopped carrots, radishes and scallions for more texture, color and flavor.
Ingredients For The Dressing
- avocado oil
- soy sauce
- rice vinegar
- orange juice
- sesame oil
- maple syrup
- garlic powder
Step By Step Instructions To Make This Recipe
Step 1: Combine Salad Ingredients
Place Napa in a large salad bowl. Top with broken noodles, red cabbage, scallions, carrot, bell pepper, radishes, and almonds.
Step 2: Make Dressing
Combine avocado oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, orange juice, sesame oil, maple syrup, and garlic powder in a jar. Shake well to combine.
Step 3: Toss Salad
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. After that, let it sit for 10 minutes, tossing occasionally to soften the ramen.
FAQs and Expert Tips
For thinly sliced or shredded napa cabbage cut the cabbage into long quarters, then remove the triangular shaped core. From there hold each section together and slice finely. Have a look at my detailed guide for preparing cabbage. Alternatively, you can use the leaves whole, so once the bottom has been removed, just peel the leaves off the body of the cabbage.
You can cook Napa cabbage just like any other vegetable. You can use it in soups, with noodles, or as a side dish.
You can eat Napa cabbage raw or cooked. In a salad it is more tender than green cabbage with a texture more akin to romaine lettuce. Try it in Napa Cabbage Caesar Salad and you’ll see just what we mean!
Napa cabbage salad is best enjoyed on the same day you make it. You can store leftovers in an airtight container or covered in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for the next day, though the seeds and noodles may lose their crunchy texture overnight.
Make-Ahead Tips
This salad can be assembled but not tossed 1 day ahead. Keep the dressing separately in the jar and refrigerate both. Once it is tossed, enjoy within an hour or so as the cabbage will start to let off too much water.
Additional Recipes To Try
- Broiled flank steak marinated with chili and garlic, served with minty napa cabbage slaw is so delicious for special occasions!
- This Healthy Classic Coleslaw is great for BBQs in the summer!
- One of my favorite potluck sides is my Kohlrabi Slaw, made with a super flavorful kohlrabi cabbage.
- Additionally, Mexican Coleslaw is great for gatherings and has a citrus kick to it from fresh lime as well as a sweet note by using honey!
- Plant-based Kale Slaw with Raspberries and Almonds is a great recipe for the holidays.
- Ready in 20 minutes, this Easy Coleslaw with Apple and Pomegranate is perfect for a Christmas feast!
- Creamy Blue Cheese and Walnut Coleslaw is low carb and gluten-free, made with dill and delicious peppery radishes!
Thanks so much for reading! If you are new here, you may want to sign up for my email newsletter to get a free weekly menu plan and the latest recipes right to your inbox. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought!
Happy Cooking! ~Katie
PrintNapa Cabbage Ramen Noodle Salad
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 12 Cups 1x
Description
This simple chilled cabbage ramen noodle salad with carrots, scallions and toasted almonds is made with crunchy uncooked ramen noodles, Napa cabbage and an easy Asian-inspired soy sesame dressing. It takes less than a half hour to make and is the ideal recipe to serve at potlucks, picnics and cookouts.
Ingredients
6 cups shredded Napa cabbage
1 brick of ramen noodle soup, seasoning packet discarded, noodles broken up
2 cups finely sliced red cabbage
1 cup sliced scallions
1 carrot, finely chopped
1 red bell pepper, cut into matchsticks
½ cup thinly sliced radishes or watermelon radishes
½ cup toasted sliced almonds
¼ cup avocado oil
¼ cup soy sauce or tamari
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
3 tablespoons orange juice
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon maple syrup
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Place Napa in a large salad bowl. Top with broken noodles, red cabbage, scallions, carrot, bell pepper, radishes, and almonds.
- Combine avocado oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, orange juice, sesame oil, maple syrup, and garlic powder in a jar. Shake well to combine.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Let sit for 10 minutes, tossing occasionally to soften the ramen.
Notes
Ingredient Note:
You can substitute green cabbage for Napa cabbage if you can’t source Napa cabbage. You could also use whole toasted almonds rather than sliced.
Make-Ahead:
This salad can be assembled but not tossed 1 day ahead. Keep the dressing separately in the jar and refrigerate both.
- Prep Time: 25
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 Cups
- Calories: 249
- Sugar: 7 g
- Fat: 13 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 7 g
Keywords: no cook ramen noodle salad,cabbage and noodle salad,cabbage salad ramen noodles almonds,Napa Cabbage Ramen Noodle Salad,Cabbage Ramen Noodle Salad,asian cabbage salad with ramen noodles
Love how much more colorful yours is than ones I’m used to seeing. Going to save your recipe and bring this salad to my next picnic. Thanks!
★★★★★
Awesome and thank you for the compliment! Let me know how it goes, Jill!
The ramen noodles look so colorful, and delicious. Loved the recipe.
I am thrilled to hear that you enjoyed it, Savita! I appreciate the kind words.
Such an amazing cabbage ramen noodle salad recipe! Thank you!!
★★★★★
Thank you, Kali, for trying my dish!
I love all the big flavors in this noodle salad! And ready in half an hour is a huge plus. Thanks!
★★★★★
You are so welcome, Katherine!
When I was in college, my roommates and I would have a weekly Ramen noodle cookoff – we made some epic creations but never anything as scrumptious as this! My daughter is home from college next week and we are going to be enjoying this!
★★★★★
What a lovely tradition, Shashi! Thank you for sharing.
This salad is perfect for bbqs! I love how easy it is to put together and such a hit at gatherings!
★★★★★
Thank you, Holley! I appreciate the kind words.