The perfect bite of crunchy, crispy, fresh, and gingery Chinese Cabbage Salad. Toss yourself into this epic salad (meal), with the sweet, spiced seduction of our surprise ingredient, shredded roast duck. This is a salad for all seasons and one the whole family will love!
Asian Cabbage Salad on a green plate on a table with a green glass.

This recipe is sponsored by Luv-A-Duck. Luv-A-Duck has a great range of both pre-cooked duck and fresh duck products. Based in Australia, Luv-A-Duck products can be found in Coles, Woolworths, Costco and some independent grocery stores.

Chinese Cabbage Salad

A Chinese Napa Cabbage Salad is fresh, simple, healthy and most of all delicious!

There are no hard and fast rules with this crunchy Asian salad recipe. I have added delicious shredded duck legs and a million-dollar Asian ginger dressing to this one. Everybody needs a good duck salad in their life, and this is on the money!

Related Duck Recipes: Easy Duck Stir Fry / Easy Sous Vide Duck Breast

The Ingredients

JUMP to recipe card for the quantity of each ingredient used in our Asian cabbage salad recipe.

Chinese Cabbage Salad ingredients all labelled on a tiled backdrop.

Ingredient Notes

1. Vegetables

  • Cabbage – I use a combination of savoy cabbage and Chinese Napa cabbage, also known as Wombok. You can use red shredded cabbage as well if you like. Remove the core and any hard ribs before shredding.
  • Cherries – when cherries aren’t in season use pomegranate, or even dried cranberries for something a little sweet.
  • Fresh herbs – I use cilantro / coriander and mint leaves. Use garlic chives, Vietnamese mint, or continental parsley.
  • Nuts – swap hazelnuts for almonds. Use seeds like hemp seeds, pepitas or extra sesame seeds if you need a nut-free salad.

Asian Ginger Dressing

The Chinese cabbage salad dressing is mostly ginger, garlic, and shallot. The rest is just pantry items most of us have on hand.

2. Asian Dressing

  • Sweetener – for a keto diet I use gold sweetener, but you can use sugar, honey or any sweetener you prefer.
  • Soy Sauce – I use gluten-free soy sauce. Use tamari, coconut aminos or a teaspoon of Vegemite as a substitute.
  • Lime Juice – use lemon juice or rice wine vinegar if you need to.

3. Duck – I used the Luv-A-Duck A L’Orange Duck Legs.

Use any duck meat you prefer. Pan-fried or roasted duck, try my sous vide duck breast, and Peking Duck Breasts or duck leg salad would be awesome too.

How to Make It

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Step 1. Preheat oven to 190°C. Line a baking tray with parchment. Place duck legs onto the tray skin-side up. Top with the sauce. Bake for 15 minutes or until the skin is golden and crispy. Leave to rest for 5 minutes before shredding.

Step 2. Place julienned carrot, cucumber, green onions, coriander, and mint into a large bowl of iced water and set aside or chill for 10 minutes.

Step 3. Pound ginger, garlic, sweetener, and chilli flakes in a mortar and pestle to a coarse paste. If you don’t have a mortar and pestle this can be done by chopping the ingredients with a sharp knife and mixing in a small jar or bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix to combine. Adjust seasoning to taste. Set aside.

Step 4. Drain vegetables from the iced water. Combine with remaining salad ingredients, except the garnishes.

Step 5. When ready to serve, shred the duck and fold it into the salad. Pour over the dressing. Toss to combine. Garnish with shallots, cherries and hazelnuts.

Serving Suggestions

A close up of a duck salad with cherries in a wood bowl.

This keto cabbage salad goes well with anything Chinese. This crispy crunchy slaw is a great match with:

Frequently Asked Questions

Are cherries keto?

Cherries can be enjoyed in moderation. With only 1.1g net carbs per cherry, they are pretty much the same as blueberries or strawberries per portion.

Can this Chinese cabbage salad recipe be made ahead of time?

Yes, you can. Add the dressing only when ready to serve. If making it a meal with the crispy duck; add the duck and dressing when ready to serve.

Next Recipes To Try

If you are not an Asian duck salad fan then try it with Lebanese Beef Kafta, Keto Salmon Patties, or pair it with Peri Peri Chicken. For more salad recipes try out Keto Chicken Caesar Salad or Taboule Salad for something just as yum!

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Chinese Cabbage Salad with crispy duck on a green plate with chopsticks.

Chinese Cabbage Salad

The perfect bite of crunchy, crispy, fresh, and gingery Chinese Cabbage Salad. Toss yourself into this epic salad (meal), with the sweet, spiced seduction of our surprise ingredient, shredded roast duck. This is a salad for all seasons and one the whole family will love!
5 from 46 votes!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Course: Lunch and Dinner
Cuisine: Chinese
Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free
Recipe Category: Low Carb
Calories: 356kcal
Author: Megan Ellam
Servings: 4 people
Tap or hover over number to scale ingredients
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Ingredients 

  • 1 large (1 large ) carrot julienned
  • 1 small (1 small) Lebanese cucumber deseeded, julienned (120g)
  • 2 (2) green onions julienned
  • 1/2 cup (½ cup) coriander / cilantro leaves
  • 1/2 cup (½ cup) mint leaves
  • 2 cups (2 cups) Savoy cabbage or Napa cabbage shredded (Wombok)
  • 1 long (1 long ) red chilli seeded, thinly sliced
  • Asian fried shallots pitted cherries, roasted hazelnuts to garnish (optional)

SMASHED GINGER DRESSING

  • 1 tablespoon (1 tablespoon) 15g freshly grated ginger
  • 1/2 clove (1/2 clove ) garlic grated
  • 1/2 teaspoon (½ teaspoon) chilli flakes
  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) sweetener of choice
  • 2 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) olive oil 30g
  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) sesame oil
  • 2 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) soy sauce 30g
  • 2 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) lime juice or rice wine vinegar 30g
  • 1/2 (1/2) red shallot finely chopped
  • Salt flakes and black pepper

MAKE IT A MEAL – CHINESE DUCK

  • 2 cups (2 cups) cooked duck shredded, I use Luv-A-Duck, A L’Orange, (380g) see notes

Instructions

CONVENTIONAL METHOD

  • Place the julienned carrot, cucumber, green onions, coriander, and mint into a large bowl of iced water and set aside or chill for 10 minutes.
  • Pound ginger, garlic, sweetener, and chilli flakes in a mortar and pestle to a coarse paste. Add remaining ingredients and mix to combine. Adjust seasoning to taste. Set aside.
  • Drain the vegetables from the iced water. Combine with remaining salad ingredients, except the garnishes.
  • Fold in shredded duck if using and pour over dressing. Toss to combine.
  • Garnish with shallots, cherries and hazelnuts.

THERMAL METHOD

  • Place the julienned carrot, cucumber, green onions, coriander, and mint into a large bowl of iced water and set aside or chill for 10 minutes.
  • Add ginger, garlic, sweetener, and chilli flakes to mixer; chop 4 sec/speed 7. Scrape and repeat if needed. Add remaining ingredients; mix 6 sec/speed 5. Adjust seasoning to taste. Set aside.
  • Drain the vegetables from the iced water. Combine with remaining salad ingredients, except the garnishes.
  • Fold in shredded duck if using and pour over dressing. Toss to combine.
  • Garnish with shallots, cherries and hazelnuts.

Video

YouTube video

Notes

SUBSTITUTIONS
  • Cabbage – savoy cabbage, red cabbage, Chinese Napa cabbage (Wombok) or just plain old drumhead cabbage is fine.
  • Cherries – when cherries aren’t in season use pomegranate, or even dried cranberries for something a little sweet.
  • Fresh herbs – also suitable garlic chives, Vietnamese mint, or continental parsley.
  • Nuts – also try hemp seeds, pepitas or extra sesame seeds.
  • Duck – use any pre-cooked (or cook your own) duck meat. Chicken, pork, tinned salmon, or tuna are all great options too.
Any vegetables can be added to the slaw. Swap carrots to julienned broccoli tender stems, or leek for more crunch to the salad or snow peas, beans or winter radishes-used in authentic Chinese salads.
The dressing can be made ahead of time and kept in the fridge to use as needed.
Any Luv-A-Duck product can be used in this salad. Precooked Peking breast or leg would be equally amazing or shred a whole roasted duck adding the crispy skin as the ultimate garnish when ready to serve. My Sous Vide Duck is also perfect for this easy cabbage salad.
CRISPY DUCK
To crisp up the duck legs follow the below steps.
  1. Preheat oven to 190°C. Line a baking tray with parchment.
  2. Place the duck onto the tray skin-side up. Top with the sauce. Bake 15 minutes or until the skin is golden and crispy. Leave to rest for 5 minutes before shredding.
STORAGE
Fridge – Store the undressed salad in an airtight jar for up to 3 days in the fridge.
Freezer – You can freeze leftovers for an easy stir fry (to serve warm).
Defrost – in the fridge overnight before using.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS
Serve as a side or sauce for any protein. It is also perfect for a Chinese New Year feast. Or check our serving suggestions above.

Your Own Notes

Nutrition

Serving: 1serve | Calories: 356kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 135mg | Sodium: 655mg | Potassium: 244mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 3291IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 3mg | Magnesium: 17mg | Net Carbs: 4g
Tried this recipe?Mention @meganellam or tag #madcreations!

Share This Recipe

26 responses to “The Best Chinese Cabbage Salad”

  1. Dee

    5 stars
    Yum. I just bought some cabbage to make something totally different but I think going to switch it up to this! It looks so good!

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      I hope you love it!

  2. Giangi Townsend

    5 stars
    This looks amazing and schedule it for this weekend dinner.
    Thank you for the recipe

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      You are very welcome Giangi. I hope you love it.

  3. Sarah

    5 stars
    Can’t go wrong with a delicious crunchy Asian salad that’s packed with flavor! I love the addition of Luv a duck for and easy dinner, yum!

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Thanks Sarah! I hope you love it!

  4. Elizabeth

    5 stars
    I’m so intrigued to make this. I’ll have to look out for a Lebanese cucumber as I’ve not seen one before!

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Any cucumber will do the trick. Enjoy it!

  5. Helen

    5 stars
    This really is the best Chinese cabbage salad!! The cherries add a sweetness that balances the heat. Amazing!

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Yay! I am so glad you enjoyed it.

  6. Lynda

    5 stars
    This crunchy Chinese cabbage salad certainly delivers on flavour. I added the dressing when serving it up and I used chicken through the salad. The smashed ginger dressing goes so well with it and the fresh cherries were a delicious inclusion. I can’t wait to try it with the luv a duck Peking duck breast.
    I am making this deliciously, quick and easy salad again for an Australia Day get together with our family.
    Definitely recommend making this one 😍😍

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Thanks for being putting the recipe through its paces and trying it out. Enjoy Australia Day tomorrow xxx

  7. V

    5 stars
    Love every combination to this healthy salad. Perfect for Dinner. I love the berry and nutty addition. Thanks for all the tips too.

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      You are very welcome.

  8. Toni

    5 stars
    Oh, I love how flavorful this is!! Such an amazing lunch for me!

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      yay! Thanks Toni!

  9. Andrew

    5 stars
    This is absolutely delicious, duck salad is amazing. Extremely well balanced dressing and the Peking luvaduck just sets it off for a complete meal. Best duck salad I’ve ever had

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Thanks for testing this one out for me Andrew and sharing the empty bowl pictures. cheers.

  10. Tavo

    5 stars
    What’s not to love about this recipe? I made it without the duck since we are vegan, and it was fantastic.

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      I am so happy to hear you adapted it to your tastes tavo. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.

  11. Katherine

    5 stars
    The bold flavors in the dressing is so perfect with the crunchy salad!

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      They sure are Katherine.

  12. Stephanie

    5 stars
    This Asian dressing is so delicious! I can imagine all sorts of things I could use this on.

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      So true!

  13. Kristy W

    5 stars
    Thanks Megs I was wondering what to make this weekend for our Chinese New Year party. I will do this with the Luvaduck Peking duck breast because I want lots of red on the table 🤣 My mum is going to love this! Will share some pic on the FB group. xx

    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      You are very welcome Kristy. x

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