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Best Ensalada de Repollo Recipe [Spanish Cabbage Salad]

Try our easy-to-make repollo salad recipe for a tasty Spanish salad!

Do you want to enjoy an explosion of Mediterranean flavors? Discover one of the best Spanish salad recipes that will transport you to the sunny lands of Andalusia.

From the first bites, this ensalada de repollo española will become your new favorite, so don’t waste more time and get to work.

In this article, we will tell you how to prepare these Spanish cabbage recipes, giving you some tips to serve and store this dish.

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Background of the Dish

ensalada de repollo in a bowl with a slices cabbage next it and paprika.

The Arab influence on the Iberian Peninsula left a deep mark on Andalusian gastronomy, and ensalada de repollo is one of the best examples.

Coleslaw in Spanish is typically called ensalada de col or ensalada de repollo in English.

The paprika and the Spanish dressing make it different from the regular coleslaw you may be used to eating, but without a doubt, it is a combination that doesn’t fail.

This cabbage ensalada has existed for hundreds of years, and today, it is still enjoyed by families in Andalusia and from all over Spain.

Things You’ll Need for Ensalada de Repollo

a close up of cutting a cabbage on a cutting board

To make the ensalada de repollo you need repollo cabbage, olive oil, garlic cloves, paprika, and vinegar.

Ingredients

  • 1 cabbage
  • 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
  • 6 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 pinch of salt

How to Make Ensalada de Repollo – Step by Step Guide

fresh shredded cabbage on a wooden board and a bowl and a whole cabbage on the side
  1. To start making the ensalada de repollo recipe you have to remove the greener outer leaves from the cabbage and discard them or use them for another recipe. Then cut the cabbage in half and remove the central stem.
  1. Now cut the cabbage in julienne style, put it in a large bowl or colander, and wash it with lots of cold water. When the water starts to run clear, and there is no dirt left, drain it and dry it well.
  1. After that, take the vegetable to the bowl or fountain where you are going to serve the simple cabbage salad and leave it in the fridge for a couple of minutes.
  1. In the meantime, put a saucepan with the olive oil to heat. Mince the garlic and put it in the pan with oil over medium heat.
  1. Then, cook for 5 minutes until they take on a little color, and add the paprika. Stir to fully incorporate.
  1. Now, once the paprika is dissolved, remove the pan from the heat, add the vinegar, and mix.
  1. For the final step, take the bowl with the cabbage, put the dressing on top, and mix everything well. Leave the salad in the fridge for 15 to 30 minutes, and then you can serve the summer cabbage salad.

To make this coleslaw recipe in Spanish, you can translate this page to a specific language.

Substitution of Ingredients

ensalada de repollo, cabbage salad from Spain in a wooden bowl.

Cabbage salad in Spanish is ensalada de repollo. It doesn’t call for too many ingredients, still, there are some changes that you can make.

If you want the ensalada de repollo to be creamier you can add mayonnaise to the dressing, though in that case, it wouldn’t be a keto cabbage salad.

If you don’t have time to prepare the vegetable, you can buy chopped coleslaw at the store and then just prepare the Spanish-style dressing.

You can also turn it into a healthy red cabbage slaw, or one of those famous purple cabbage salad recipes, just use your favorite type of cabbage.

Other easy salad recipes that you must try are the Spanish green salad recipe, with lettuce and onion, and the ensalada de remolacha, Spanish beet salad with feta and walnuts.

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Tips on Serving Ensalada de Repollo

closeup with ensalada de repollo with paprika

The ensalada de repollo is super easy to serve, and you can enjoy it at any time of the day.

This Spanish-style salad is the perfect side dish for any type of protein, like grilled cod, Spanish chicken skewers, or roasted suckling pig.

The ensalada repollo is known as the Spanish coleslaw, but if you want it to taste like regular Mexican coleslaw, just replace the Spanish dressing with mayonnaise and vinegar.

It is important to keep it in the fridge for a bit before serving so the Spanish summer salad cools down, but if it is winter, you can serve it right away.

If you have guests over, you can make a salad bar with other Spanish salad tapas, like the ensalada de espinacas, the Spanish potato salad with beets, and the Spanish potato salad with tuna.

Try the ensalada de aguacate, a simple Spanish avocado salad with tomatoes and onion.

How to Store Ensalada de Repollo

A photo with different products like fruits and vegetables in a fridge

Once you finish making the Spanish coleslaw recipe, you can store it in the fridge for up to 24 hours, but you have to add the dressing afterward.

The traditional Spanish salad dressing is always added a few minutes before serving because otherwise, the vegetables get a soggy texture and a bitter taste.

Unfortunately, you can’t freeze the Spanish cabbage salad, but some Spanish salad recipes that can be frozen are the Spanish lentil salad, the Spanish chickpea salad, and the Spanish macaroni salad.

Recipe Card: Ensalada de Repollo

Yield: 5

Best Ensalada de Repollo Recipe

ensalada de repollo in a bowl with a slices cabbage next it and paprika.

Do you want to enjoy an explosion of Mediterranean flavors? Discover one of the best Spanish salad recipes that will transport you to the sunny lands of Andalusia.

From the first bites, this ensalada de repollo española will become your new favorite, so don't waste more time and get to work.

In this article, we will tell you how to prepare the salad, giving you some tips to serve and store this dish.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cabbage
  • 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
  • 6 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 pinch of salt

Instructions

  1. Remove the greener outer leaves from the cabbage. Cut it in half and remove the central stem.
  2. Cut it in julienne style, put it in a large bowl or colander, and wash it with lots of cold water. When the water starts to run clear and there is no dirt left, drain it and dry it well.
  3. Take it to the bowl or fountain where you are going to serve the white cabbage salad and leave it in the fridge for a couple of minutes.
  4. In the meantime, put a saucepan with the olive oil to heat. Mince the garlic and put it in the pan with oil over medium heat.
  5. Cook for 5 minutes until they take on a little color and add the paprika. Stir to fully incorporate.
  6. When the paprika is dissolved, remove it from the heat, add the vinegar, and mix.
  7. Take the bowl with the cabbage, put the dressing on top, and mix everything well. Leave the salad in the fridge for 15 to 30 minutes and the Spanish salad will be ready to serve.

Notes

There is no need to add pepper to this ensalada de repollo because the paprika already adds spiciness.

If you remove the paprika from this Spanish cabbage recipe then add some pepper or chili flakes.

To make it more of a Spanish slaw add some mayonnaise to dress the salad (once it is cold).

Nutrition Information

Yield

5

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 196Total Fat 17.2gSaturated Fat 2.5gCholesterol 0mgSodium 65mgCarbohydrates 11.7gFiber 5.1gSugar 6gProtein 3g

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FAQs on Ensalada de col recipe

What is repollo?

Repollo is the Spanish word for cabbage, a leafy green or purple vegetable commonly used in salads, slaws, and cooked dishes.

What is the best ensalada de repollo recipe?

The best Spanish slaw recipe combines shredded cabbage, grated carrots, thinly sliced onions, and cilantro, dressed with lime juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper for a fresh, tangy slaw.

How to make repollo?

To make repollo, thinly slice fresh cabbage and season it with ingredients like salt, vinegar, olive oil, and optional spices or vegetables such as carrots, depending on the desired style (raw, pickled, or cooked).



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