Copycat Sunflower Crunch Kale Cabbage Salad Recipe
This Copycat Sunflower Crunch Kale Cabbage Salad is a vibrant and crunchy salad featuring a mix of cabbage, kale, carrots, and sunflower seeds, tossed in a tangy apple cider and mayonnaise dressing. Perfect for a refreshing side or light meal, this salad combines textures and flavors with a hint of sweetness from dried cranberries and a smoky touch from bacon bits.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Nuts
- 1 small head green cabbage, chopped into a small dice
- ½ head purple cabbage, chopped into a small dice
- 2 medium carrots, peeled and chopped into a small dice
- 2 cups kale, ribs removed and chopped into a small dice
- 1 cup sunflower seeds
Add-ins
- ½ cup bacon bits
- ½ cup dried cranberries
Seasonings
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup apple cider (or apple juice)
- 1½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons sugar
Instructions
- Prepare the vegetables: In a large bowl, combine the chopped green cabbage, purple cabbage, carrots, and kale. Ensure all vegetables are diced finely to create a consistent texture throughout the salad.
- Add the seasoning and mix-ins: To the bowl, add salt, pepper, bacon bits, minced garlic, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries. Stir thoroughly so all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Make the dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, apple cider, apple cider vinegar, and sugar until smooth and well combined.
- Combine salad and dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the cabbage mixture. Stir well to ensure every ingredient is coated with the tangy and sweet dressing.
- Chill and serve: Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 4 hours to enhance the flavors. Serve chilled, optionally garnished with extra dried cranberries and sunflower seeds for additional crunch and sweetness.
Notes
- Use apple juice as an alternative to apple cider if unavailable.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the bacon bits or substitute with smoked tempeh or coconut bacon.
- To make it vegan, replace mayonnaise with a vegan mayo alternative and omit bacon bits.
- Chilling the salad allows flavors to meld and improves the taste significantly.
- Adjust the sugar amount if you prefer a less sweet dressing.
- Additional toppings like chopped fresh herbs can be added for a fresh twist.
Keywords: kale salad, cabbage salad, sunflower seeds salad, crunchy salad, copycat recipe, healthy salad, make-ahead salad
