A fresh and crunch napa salad that is topped with golden and buttery toppings and a simple homemade dressing. Grandma knows her stuff!


My mom submitted the recipe in the now famous country parish cookbook all those years ago, so it is easy for me to pull out and make. Usually I make it as a side dish at gatherings, but this time I decided to add some chicken and make it an entree. It was really good that way as well!

I love how simple this recipe is to throw together. You can toast the goodies ahead of time if you are making it for a gathering. The napa chops up easily enough and the dressing just requires stirring together a few simple ingredients. Of course that can be done even a day or two ahead.
My husband and I eat this with chicken as a meal at least a few times every summer. But I think it is also a really versatile side salad. I've brought it to potlucks to rave reviews. I've served it along grilled meats, with a ham and even with a roast chicken.

If you aren't familiar with napa, it is a really mild kind of cabbage. You will likely find it near the bok choy in the grocery store. The leaves are tender and the ribs are edible too, so I just leave it all together and chop it up. I do try to chop the larger parts of the rib a little finer, but we eat the whole thing.
Have you ever tried napa cabbage in other recipes? What are your favorite ways to use it?
napa salad
salad, dinner, easy recipe, family favorites
Asian, American
Yield: 6-8 Servings

Grandma's Napa Salad
A fresh and crunch napa salad that is topped with golden and buttery toppings and a simple homemade dressing. Grandma knows her stuff!
prep time: 10 minscook time: 10 minstotal time: 20 mins
ingredients:
Salad
- 1 head Napa cabbage
- 1/2 cup green onions, sliced
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1 package Ramen noodles
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- Optional: Chicken Breasts
Dressing
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 vegetable oil (or your favorite neutral flavored oil)
instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Place butter on a rimmed baking sheet and place in oven until melted.
- Break up ramen noodles into small pieces. Toss them, the sunflower seeds and almonds in butter on pan and place back in oven until toasted. Mine took about 10 minutes and I stirred them after every couple minutes. Set aside to cool.
- Cut Napa cabbage in thin slices. Toss with green onions.
- Mix together dressing ingredients and drizzle to your taste over the cabbage, tossing to coat.
- Sprinkle with roasted ramen and nuts. Serve immediately.
Copyright: Cooking With Carlee 2018
Created using The Recipes Generator
Now I wish I had this salad waiting for me for lunch today!! Yum!! I love a cabbage salad!! Such a flavorful mix!
ReplyDeleteMe too, Andrea!
DeleteHi Carlee,
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a salad that me and my family would love. I love making different kinds of salads to go with dinner. Thanks for sharing this recipe. Wishing you a wonderful week and a Happy Valentines Day.
Julie xo
Thank you, Julie! We don't eat as much salad as we probably should, but I almost always order salads when we go out to eat. I really should make more at home as I really do love them. Thanks for stopping by and have a great Valentine's Day!
DeleteJeez,this looks tasty and makes me want to actually put down the pizza and eat a salad. Pinned!
ReplyDeleteThat is really saying something! We really love it, I hope you do too!
DeleteThis Napa salad looks fresh and tasty. I like the fresh combination of simple yet tasty ingredients. It sounds great with the Napa cabbage, almonds, sunflower seeds. Thanks so much for sharing, Carlee.
ReplyDeleteIt is one of my favorite salads and it is so simple to make. Thank you!
DeleteI love this salad, it is always delicious! Hope you have a very special Valentine Day and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
ReplyDeleteCome Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Isn't is so good? I hope you have a great Valentine's Day as well!
DeleteThis looks so good!
ReplyDeleteThis salad and spinach salad are my favorite make at home salads!
DeleteThis sounds wonderful. What a great weeknight dinner idea. And healthy too! Pinning!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It is one of my go-to's if I feel the need for a salad at home!
DeleteYum! Thanks for sharing at Funtastic Friday!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteOne of my most favorite salads!
ReplyDeleteMine too!
DeleteI love a ramen noodle salad. Or anything Asian influenced. And I've never tried to use Napa in a salad as the base. Definitely going to try this one. Thanks for the recipe. Love hearing the family favorite recipes.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it would be fine with cole slaw or something, but I love it with the Napa. You should definitely give it a try!
DeleteI have to stop reading your posts while I am hungry Carlee, looks delish! Thank you for sharing on #overthemoon
ReplyDeleteI know, it's terrible isn't it? Thank you!
DeleteYummy! This salad sounds so good. I have been hooked on salad lately and this is very different from what I've been eating. Can't wait to try it! Thanks for sharing at Inspiration Thursday!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorite make at home salads. I love salads out, but don't love them nearly as much at home for whatever reason. This is one of the few exceptions!
DeleteWhat a great salad!! I love the oriental touches!! I'm trying to eat better...this is on my list!! Thanks for sharing on My 2 Favorite Things on Thursday! Hope to see you again tomorrow! Pinned!
ReplyDeleteI hope you love it as much as we do!
DeleteLoving how this recipe's for napa! I see it and want to buy it frequently, but then I'm never really sure what to do with it. This salad sounds like a wonderful idea. :)
ReplyDeleteI love napa! It is a really mild cabbage, so great for quick salads like this. I hope you give it a try soon!
DeleteHi Carlee, have you tried to toast Ramen noodles and the seeds and nuts without the butter? I imagine that should be no problem, right? Does butter affect the taste dramatically? I am going to add this salad to my menu next week. I have ALL the ingredients, when does that happen?:)
ReplyDeleteIsn't it fun when you don't have to go out to the store! I haven't tried it that way, but I don't see why it wouldn't work. You'll have to let me know how it goes, otherwise I'll try it myself next time I get a hankering for some napa salad!
DeleteThis looks delicious Carlee! I am definitely going to have to pin this and try it sometime! I love a good Asian salad especially if it has a sweet dressing or vinaigrette on it! Thank you for linking up with us at the Tips and Tricks Link Party! Cannot wait until I see what you have for us next week!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I love sweet Asian style salads too, so this was an instant hit with me. I hope you love it!
DeleteThis sounds so delicious! I've pinned it! YUM!
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Thank you, it is always a favorite!
DeleteLove the combo of toasted ramen, sunflower seeds and almonds, sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing at What'd You Do This Weekend?!
ReplyDeleteIt is the perfect crunchy topping! Thanks for hosting!
DeleteI haven't tried napa cabbage! Definitely need to pick some up!
ReplyDeleteYou definitely should! Even my cabbage adverse husband likes this salad!
DeleteI love adding chicken to what are usually side salads. Good call on this one. It looks delicious and I love sunflower seeds in salads too.
ReplyDeleteIt really is a perfect summer supper!
DeleteLove the sound of the dressing and all the crunch going on there.
ReplyDeleteIt is so simple and so good!
DeleteI love napa cabbage and use it often. That dressing and those toppings sound simply wonderful.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm curious how you use it!
DeleteI love the idea of toasted ramen. Bookmarking this to try this summer
ReplyDeleteIt makes the perfect crunchy salad topping!
DeleteWhat a great use for Napa cabbage...love it!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is soooo good! Thanks!
DeleteIt is hard for me to turn down any salad this time of year. I love Summer and salads. I do like cabbage and it is fun to have a cabbage salad every now and then, rather than lettuce all of the time. Thank you for sharing this recipe.
ReplyDeleteI am just sure you'll love this one then!
DeleteI am craving this salad. I bet it's so crunchy and delish! I made it a feature at this week's Whimsical Wednesdays Link Party. Thanks so much for sharing it with us!
ReplyDeleteIt's so good! Thank you so much!
Delete