traditional cabbage salad / lahanosalata

Lahanosalata is a traditional, classic winter salad in Greece.  Both the cabbage and fennel are harvested in fall and used throughout the winter months.  Crunchy, fresh and so full of flavor, cabbage salad easily stands alone with a piece of crusty bread or pair lahanosalata with chickpea fritters or falafel for an extraordinary meal.

I guarantee you will never want regular coleslaw again once you’ve tasted this dish. Vegan or non-vegan, the flavors and textures of this simple, so quick to prepare recipe will knock your socks off.  Its enjoyed all over Greece and a must-ask-for if you’re a vegan or vegetable lover traveling in Greece.

Remove the outer leaves and the core from your cabbage, then cut the cabbage as thinly as possible.  Break up cabbage with your fingers so that all the thinly sliced pieces are separate.

chopped cabbage

Fennel bulb brings a delicious, light licorice flavor to the cabbage salad.  For this recipe, core the fennel bulb and remove the stalks and fronds.  Save those to use in another recipe. Slice just the fennel bulb thinly and break up the slices to separate the pieces.

fennel bulb

So many authentic Greek spices help to make this salad of ordinary ingredients something so very special.  Make sure to grind them all together to distribute the flavors evenly. Fennel seed, coriander and mustard powder along with fresh thyme blend with the red wine vinegar and lemon juice to give you a light, flavor packed dressing that will have your tastebuds singing!

fennel seed, coriander, mustard powder

Pour dressing over your cabbage and fennel and toss to dress the salad evenly.  You can serve the salad immediately after dressing or keep refrigerated and covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.  The salad will wilt slightly but is still just as delectable, I promise!

dressed cabbage salad

Ingredients

• 1 medium (2 to 2-1/2 pound) head of cabbage
• 1 medium fennel bulb (no stems or fronds)
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 2 tbsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup fresh thyme leaves (fresh, if not leave out)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
• 2 tsp mustard powder
• 2 tsp fennel seed
• 2 tsp coriander seed

Instructions

Slice cored cabbage head and fennel bulb into fine, thin strips. Set aside in large bowl.

Grind spices together to combine well in mortar and pestle or spice grinder.  In a small bowl, add spices to vinegar and stir to combine.  Add oil and whisk together completely with a fork.

Pour dressing over cabbage and fennel, add fresh thyme leaves and toss well to coat evenly. Serve immediately or refrigerate, covered, until ready to serve.