Ginger and Sesame Slaw

A Tangy Revitalizer

Hi folks!

Today, I’m sharing a fresh, vibrant, and restorative slaw perfect for when you’re feeling sluggish and need a pick-me-up. Inspired by Asian flavors, this versatile dish is packed with crunchy veggies and dressed with a zesty take on Vietnamese Nước Chấm (click on word for pronunciation), with a tangy hit of rice wine vinegar. It’s not just a salad—it’s a base for endless possibilities. You can serve it alongside grilled meat, over rice or noodles, or even use it in wraps.

The slaw is punchy and generously dressed, with just the right amount of tangy, ginger-flecked lime juice to flavor anything you pair it with. Whether you’re enjoying it as a side or making it the star of a noodle or rice bowl, it’s adaptable and great for meal variety. You can even prepare everything ahead of time, maybe the day before, and toss it together just before serving for a crisp, fresh bite. It stays delicious the next day—slightly softened but still full of flavor.

Inspired by Andrea Nguyen’s Vietnamese Food Any Day, this Ginger and Sesame Slaw features a version of her vibrant Nước Chấm dressing, capturing fresh, bold flavors.

Slaw sauce plus steak juices equals magic on this plate. So, so good!

Robin Ward

Ginger and Sesame Slaw

Enjoy a vibrant mix of finely chopped red peppers, carrots, and crisp white cabbage, all tossed in a punchy dressing inspired by Vietnamese Nước Chấm. The zesty lime juice and aromatic grated ginger create a refreshing bite, complemented by toasted sesame seeds for a delightful crunch. Drizzled with a touch of olive oil, this slaw offers a bright, ginger-flecked tang that enhances grilled meats or rice noodles. Fresh for maximum texture or savor its deeper flavors the next day.

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Servings: 6

Course: #sidedish, Salad

Cuisine: #Asian-Inspired, #Vietnamese

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

For the dressing:

• ½-1 Tbsp grated ginger (adjust according to your taste)
• 3 cloves garlic, grated
• 3 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
• 1 tsp fish sauce
• juice of 3 limes
• ¾ tsp kosher salt
• ¼-1 tsp granulated sugar (adjust to taste)

For the slaw:

• 3 red bell peppers
• 3 medium carrots
• ½ green or white cabbage
• 1 bunch chives, chopped 1½-inch pieces (a handful, about 1.5 oz.)
• ¼ cup sesame seeds, toasted
• olive oil for drizzling

Method

 

1. Combine all the ingredients for the dressing in a small bowl. It will taste intense and a little over-seasoned on its own.
2. Slice the peppers in half and remove the seeds. Sliver as finely as you can and place in a large bowl. Follow with the carrots and the cabbage. 
3. Place the sesame seeds in a medium frying pan and warm over medium heat, swirling the pan every few minutes to turn the seeds. Cook until they’re fragrant and toasted, about 3 minutes. They get carried away easily, so when they look right, tip them onto a plate to prevent them from burning.
4. Slice your chives into lengths the same as the pepper pieces and set aside.
5. When you’re ready to eat the salad, pour the dressing onto the veg and use your hands to coat everything well. Taste and adjust the salt (I added another pinch, but this is quite personal). Scatter some of the sesame seeds through the salad and toss. Transfer to a serving plate and sprinkle over the remaining sesame seeds and the chives. Drizzle over lots of olive oil (don’t be tempted to use sesame oil, it’s flavor is too strong for the raw veg).
6. Eat with grilled meat or rice noodles (in which case you could benefit from 1.5xing the dressing)

Notes

Pair with grilled meats, shrimp or rice noodles; in which case you would benefit from 1.5 times the amount of dressing. (I  1.5xed the dressing in the video to serve 4 rice noodle bowls, plus extra for standing in front of the fridge snacking on it!)

Store any leftover dressing in the refrigerator; it’s excellent for dishes like a shrimp ramen noodle bowl the next day.

 

Using a large stainless steel, commercial-grade mixing bowl makes it so much easier to assemble this slaw. It’s durable, long-lasting, and perfect for everyday use.

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