What is Red Cabbage Slaw?
Red cabbage slaw is made from finely shredded or thinly sliced red cabbage, which gives it its distinctive deep purple color. To prepare this slaw, other vegetables like carrots and red onions are often added for a colorful and flavorful mix. These vegetables are typically sliced or grated to create a pleasing texture. The slaw is dressed with a flavorful vinaigrette or creamy dressing, which can include ingredients like olive oil, vinegar (such as apple cider or red wine vinegar), sugar or honey for sweetness, Dijon mustard for a tangy kick, and seasonings like salt, pepper, and sometimes herbs or spices. This dressing adds a zesty and slightly tangy flavor that complements the natural sweetness of the vegetables. The red cabbage slaw is then tossed together until all the ingredients are well coated with the dressing. It's often allowed to sit for a short time to let the flavors meld and the vegetables soften slightly. However, it maintains its crispness and crunch, providing a refreshing contrast to other dishes.
What does Red Cabbage Slaw Taste Like?
Salty is one of the five main tastes. It has a satisfying and addictive quality with hints of sourness. Salty foods include cheeses, cured meats, chips, and olives. It is used in almost every dish and prepared food. Salt is added to enhance flavor and offer a distinctly salty taste.
Umami is one of five main tastes. It is savory with a depth of flavor. Umami is a taste in many foods, including meat, seafood, beans, and nuts. It is both naturally occurring and created through the specific use of ingredients to create a satisfying taste. Umami is characteristic of proteins and savory dishes.
Ingredients
Red cabbage is a vibrant, cruciferous vegetable known for its deep purple-red color and crisp texture. It has a slightly peppery, sweet flavor that becomes milder when cooked. Raw red cabbage is rich in vitamins C and K, fiber, and antioxidants, making it a nutritious addition to salads, slaws, and wraps. Its crunchy texture and bold color also make it a visually appealing ingredient in various dishes. Red cabbage can be enjoyed raw, pickled, or cooked, and its flavor and nutrients make it a versatile and healthy choice in a variety of culinary applications.
Mayonnaise is a cream colored condiment and thick sauce, or spread. Mayonnaise is made by slowly adding oil to a mixture of raw egg, vinegar and seasonings, until it thickens. This is done by continuously whisking. The flavor is mild, tangy and a bit salty with a comforting quality from the creamy texture. Mayonnaise is a multi-use ingredient for sauces, cold meat salads, sandwiches and more.
The red onion is a type of onion and a bulb vegetable, meaning its bulb and not its leaves are eaten. Onions come in many varieties, including white, yellow and red. The onion is usually round and has a thin dry skin around its juicy layers. The skin is a purple/red tone as is the flesh. The body of the onion is made of multiple round layers, that get smaller towards the center. The flavor of onions are sharp and sweet when raw, with an astringent taste. When cooked, these flavors mellow and the sweetness emerges. Onion are a very common flavoring and ingredient for many savory dishes.
Sugar comes from sugar cane and sugar beets. The sugar is extracted from the juice of both plants and refined into the granulated substance known as sugar. Sucrose, the sweet substance of sugar is a combination of glucose and fructose. White sugar is composed of tiny white, dry granules. The flavor is sweet and neutral. Brown sugar is brown and has more moisture, with a richer flavor that hints at molasses. Sugar is used in both sweet and savory foods.
Fresh dill is a a fringed green herb, with slender stalks. The fringe of the dill is dried using mild heat or air, and is gently ground into tiny, short, thread-width pieces. The color is a muted green when dried and has delicate flavor of fennel and anise with a hint of bitterness. Dried dill is commonly used in egg dishes, savory herbed baked goods and with fish.
Celery seeds come from the celery plant, and the tiny seeds are used either whole or ground as a seasoning. They have strong bitter taste. Celery seeds are used as pickling spices, and in soups, salads, and cured meats such as sausages.
Salt and pepper is a seasoning mix composed of these two ingredients. Black pepper has a cool and mildly spicy flavor. Salt brings out the flavor in food. This combination is a mix of grey/black and white granules. It is used on many savory dishes to boost the flavor.
