Whenever I buy a head a cabbage, I can usually get 2 to 3 meals from it, making a head of cabbage a very economical little vegetable. Last week’s cabbage was used for Sausage with Cabbage and Onion and two different side salads, one of the salads being this Apple Slaw with Carrots and Pecans and a light dressing seasoned with a curry spice blend. It’s a nice side for a pork or chicken entree or alone as a light lunch. It has just a few ingredients and comes together in less than 20 minutes.
Normally, I would have seasoned this apple slaw with sage and dill. However, the first time I made it we were having a pork dish that had sage and thyme, and I didn’t want to duplicate the seasoning. That’s how it ended up with a curry dressing which turned out to be a great complement to the seasoning in the pork. The curry dressing was delicious on this slaw but I can also see it being used on a variety of other salads. As far as the curry goes, just use your favorite blend. I talk a little more about the curry in the Kitchen Notes.
Apple, Carrot and Pecan Slaw with Curry Dressing
This is one of our favorite slaws. I refer to it as my fusion of American and Asian in a cabbage slaw. Not only is it delicious, it's fast and easy to make. It keeps well also. You can also make it a full meal by adding some smoked ham.
*See Kitchen Notes for more information, substitutions and related links.
- 1 medium apple, cored and julienned
- 2-3 cups thinly shredded green or savoy cabbage
- 1 large carrot, grated
- 1/2 cup pecan, toasted or roasted
- 2 Tbsp. shredded unsweetened coconut*
- ¼ tsp. ground or freshly cracked pepper
- salt to taste
- 3 – 4 Tbsp. mayonnaise or plain yogurt
- 1 -2 Tbsp. rice vinegar*
- 2 Tbsp. canola oil or to taste
- heaping 1/4 – 1/2 tsp. masala curry powder or your favorite curry blend*
- pinch of sea salt
For the curry dressing, add all of the ingredients to a small bowl and whisk to an emulsion.
- Taste and adjust ingredients to personal taste. Set aside.
*Toast the pecans in a skillet over medium heat. Toss and turn several times to keep them from burning. Once toasted, transfer to cutting board and chop coarsely.
- Remove the skillet from the heat, and add the shredded coconut, toss and turn to lightly toast the coconut. Transfer the toasted coconut and toasted, chopped pecans to a salad bowl.
- Add the apple, cabbage and carrot to the salad and toss to combine with the pecans and coconut.
Pour the dressing over the salad. Toss to coat. Taste. Add more seasoning or salt if needed.
Apple – A crispy semi-sweet tart apple works best. I use Fuji and Pink Ladies if I can find them.
Pecans – I haven’t tried this salad with anything but pecans; however, if you don’t have pecans then you could easily substitute almonds or walnuts. If you use walnuts, cut the amount down to ¼ cup. Toasted walnuts can be quite strong and too many would overpower the other flavors in this salad.
Oven Roasted Pecans – If you use a lot of toasted pecans, you might consider roasting them in bulk in the oven.
Shredded Coconut – You can use shredded coconut or flakes. Just be careful toasting them because they do toast fast. It only takes about 30 seconds, so keep an eye on it.
Masala curry powder – The curry powder I used is a blend of “coriander, onion & garlic, spicy red chili pepper, and warming spices like cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and clove”. The cinnamon and clove are very subtle which is how I like my curry powders. However, if you don’t have this particular curry blend, then you can easily substitute any other curry powder, preferably one that does not have cinnamon listed as its first ingredient.
An Added Protein – To make a complete meal, add about 1 cup cubed smoked ham.
Make it a Meal – To make this slaw a full meal add 1 – 2 cups of cubed smoked ham.
If you like this Apple Slaw with Curry Dressing, I’m sure you’ll enjoy these other slaws.
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I love the sound of this wonderful salad MJ! The apple, carrot and coconut would go so well with all the lovely spices. I can think of so many things to serve this with! Thank you for sharing another delicious recipe with the Hearth and Soul hop 🙂
Thanks so much April and thanks for the Hearth and Soul Blog Hop!
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Delicious Mj curry dressing is awesome. Thanks for sharing with Hearth and Soul blog hop.
You are most welcome Swathi! I knew you’d love the curry dressing. ;0
Wow, MJ! What a brilliant combination of ingredients. I would never have thought of curry with apples and pecans but I bet it was absolutely delicious! Great post!
Your recipe reminded me of my mom’s recipe that uses mayo and curry. It’s SO delicious, and how nice to see the combination of apple, carrot and pecan goes well with the mayo/curry dressing!!! I will love this slaw!
Thanks Nami! I love it when someone says “It reminds me of mom’s”. 🙂
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I just adore anything curry and this is a nice twits on the regular slaw. Apples work so well here. Silly comment but switch them for pineapple and it will be a carrot cake slaw 🙂
Thanks Evelyne! Actually, that was an interesting comment. I’ve never heard of a carrot cake slaw, but I do love the idea of the pineapple.
Love the idea of the curry dressing with the apple and carrot…it sounds great.
Thanks Karen! It does make a great combination.
This is a unique slaw that I would really love, I can replace the usual slaw with this anytime. Yum!
Thanks Raymund! I do like this slaw better than the usual one. I never have been much of a fan of “cabbage slaw”, so I’m always looking for new ways to make it. I like a “little bit” of cabbage so this one was perfect for us.
Very interesting in taste and very colorful slaw 🙂
Such a delicious and exotic salad! And your comments in kitchen notes regarding curry are very helpful!
A curry slaw is a wonderfully original idea, MJ. This looks fantastic.
Love slaw! The curry dressing is the winner, MJ.
Thanks Angie! Yep, I do love that dressing! 🙂
Cabbage is one of my fav vegetables, and I agree it’s amazingly economical. Love the colors.
I completely agree, and cabbage is SO compact! By the time you shred it up it just seems to expand and multiply. You can make a huge coleslaw or something with just a quarter head and the cabbage lasts forever and a day. so you don’t need to worry about using it within a week.
Beautiful colourful salad MJ – love the sound of it. I’ve got a real craving for crunchy fresh tasting things like this these days.
Totally agree Charles! One head of cabbage just seems to keep going and going and going. 🙂
Oh, yummy! I love slaw every which way and I just recently made some with apple. This looks fabulous my dear!
Thanks so much Valerie!
Mmmm.. masala curry dressing.. you have my full attention. This slaw looks light and full of wonderful flavors. 🙂
Beautiful salad, MJ! (I mean slaw 😉 ). You know, whenever I buy a cabbage (and I often do) I prepare okonomiyaki (Japanese savoury omelet), usually a double portion at a time and since I buy small cabbages it’s often gone in two meals. I just cannot stop myself from doing it… It’s one of my favourite dishes.
This slaw looks fantastic and since I know how carrots go well with Indian spices, I’m sure I would love it. The coconut’s addition is a great idea too (so clever! I have never thought about doing it in a salad). We are having now quite warm days (they announce today 14°C! which is a typically warm spring temperature), so I’m delighted to learn this new refreshing way to have winter vegetables.
Thanks Sissi! I’m going to have to check out your Japanese omelet. I’ve seen them several times, but have never undertaken the task of making one. They always look so good! This is a great salad for the in between seasons. We’ve been having springlike weather as well, so this salad has been quite nice (since I’ve been eating it all week 🙂 ). The coconut did definitely take it to a whole new level.
What a unique and amazing salad, MJ! This is something I’d love to make a batch of and have it all week long for lunch! That dressing is what makes it so special, and you are right…I can think of so many other ways to use it! : )
Thanks so much Anne! Actually, I made another batch up this past weekend and have been eating it for lunch all week. 🙂 Yes, the dressing is quite special!
Wow I love this recipe. You had me at the curry but then when I read the recipe and saw that it also included coconut I was drooling. Great recipe. I can’t wait to try this. The dressing sounds scrumptious!
Thanks Vicki! Oh yea – the coconut definitely takes it to another level!
such a lovely looking salad…with pecans ,apple & carrot ..wow the combo seems yumm..so lovely dressing…I loved the addition of curry masala..thanks fpr sharing…
Thanks Gloria! I’ve become a huge fan of curry masala!
Am a huge cabbage fan and this combo is already calling my name loudly….good use of Paneer masala..I grind my own at home and use the same in most of my Indian curries.
Thanks Sanjeeta! So very impressing that you grind your own masala! It’s a spice that I don’t use much, but I’m becoming a convert. 🙂
This looks good and healthy…love it. Once again, you’ve created another delicious dish! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much Jodee! We were craving healthy after all of the chocolate last week. 🙂
Since I was going to have pork chops anyway; and since I had all the ingredients on hand anyway (except the coconut of course) I decided to make this for lunch. I had everything chopped up and ready to go and the troops came through and inquired about what we were having. They balked at slaw. So, I got out the wok and sautéed the carrots, cabbage, and apple. At the end I added the toasted pecans and enough dressing to slightly cover everything. THEY LOVED IT! Jim said it tasted like I had used a whole stick of butter and was really surprised when I told him there was no butter in it, just yogurt, curry, vinegar, and a little oil. Whether they like it or not I’m going to make this someday as slaw. Regardless, we know this dish is a winner.
LOVE how you turned a salad into a stirfry. Very creative Sis!! Now you’ve got me wanting to try it. Need to pick up another head of cabbage this week. 🙂 So glad you all liked it hot. I’m sure YOU at least would like it as a slaw. 🙂 Thanks for letting me know and for your wonderful comments as ALWAYS!
I love the addition of curry masala…I am sure it tasted yum!! Thanks for the idea MJ!!
You are most welcome Nisa! Thanks for the comment!
I am finding the dressing very interesting. I am now itching to try the curry dressing next time for the slaw.
Thanks! I’ve used this dressing for a couple of different salads and it has worked both times. Hope you enjoy!
This looks beautifully appetizing MJ. I’m loving the combination of ingredients and textures here. Apple and curry are a match made in heaven, aren’t they? So simple and perfect. Love your studded white bowl — so pretty!
Thanks Kelly! I do love the combination of apple and curry! The bowl was a sale item at World Market. Love that place! 🙂
How cool that I actually know what World Market is now (!!). And there just happens to be one right around the corner from us… haven’t been since December, better head back soon ;-).
I’m sure there are hundreds out there in Ca. 🙂 I love going there and getting prop dishes. Be sure to look for the discount shelf. 🙂
I love the idea of a curry dressing. This slaw would go so well with the pork I’m having for dinner tonight.
Thanks Maureen! Let me know if you do try it. Hope you’re having a great weekend!
Such a tempting spice blend to pair with cabbage and apple! This recipe would pair nicely with roast chicken or pork for a scrumptious winter dinner.
Thanks Deb! We had it with pork again last night and it was scrumptious!
I agree that a cabbage really is one of the most economical vegetables around. And when you cut into them they seem to expand. This is a lovely looking salad and I love the addition of pecans xx
Oh you are so right Charlie! Sometimes I’m chopping a cabbage and think it’s about all chopped and then I see I still have a quarter of it left. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
With carrots, apples, and pecan that make the slaw very hearty. Adding curry must leave a very distinct and unique flavor. You are really creative, MJ. I hope you and Bobby are having a relaxing weekend. 🙂
Thanks so much Ray! I think the secret to creativity is having a big selection of great herbs and spices in the panty. Sometimes I just stand in the pantry and taste. It’s fun! Hope you and your family are having a relaxing weekend as well.
Cabbage really does go a long way, doesn’t it? I love an Asian or curry slaw — and don’t make them nearly enough. I gotta do one, and soon! This looks wonderful — thanks.
When it’s just the two of us, sometimes I feel like that’s all we’re eating that week – cabbage. 🙂 I’m a believer in Asian slaws now. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to go back to an herb slaw this was so good. Thanks for you comments John!
We love a cabbage salad in our house, always with spice. Lovely post x
Thanks Deena! I usually don’t use to much spice in cabbage slaw so I’m really enjoying the change and I love the curry!
I have got to start taking more salads for lunch!!!!!!!!!! I love this take on slaw! Thanks for the recipe, M.J.
Thanks Debra! I had it for lunch again today. It’s so good! It would fit right nice into your new eating plan.