Spicy Orange-Peanut Rainbow Slaw

April 9, 2013

There are soooo many different mantras or guidelines when it comes to eating healthy. I feel like I am always coming to you and saying how I am trying to eat healthier. Honestly, it is a constant struggle. With all this diet lingo, I never know which one is right.

Eat the rainbow. That’s a thing, right?

I guess that is a pretty basic guideline for those of us striving to eat healthier. If you follow that little mantra, you immediately rule out chocolate, hamburgers, French fries, and most carbs, and if you are like me you are saying, “Just kill me now!”

Then, there are those other people who tell you to control your portions. My Mom plates her dinner on a small salad plate instead of a regular dinner plate. She puts smaller portions of our meal on her plate. The plate still looks full and “tricks” her into thinking she is having just as much as the rest of us fatties. She has been doing this for years. To me, that seems like a lost cause. I will just go back for seconds and we are just right back at square one!

Oh, and of course, who could forget all things in moderation? When I see a Victoria’s Secret model saying how she eats everything in moderation, I want to laugh. Is she eating a dime-sized chocolate chip cookie and a thimble of ice cream and calling that an indulgence? There is no way. Plus I tell myself they have professional trainers that kick their butts on a daily basis so they look that good. Anyway, the whole moderation is a slippery slope for me.

No carbs, paleo, gluten-free, vegan, all protein…. Jeez, I give up. What is a person to do, given all these choices?

Fear not my friends! I have a salad to end all your worries. It has almost every color (except for blue) in it. You can serve it as a side or in a lettuce wrap, so there is your portion control. And if you are worried about staunchly practicing moderation when it comes to food, don’t worry, if you go a little overboard with this slaw.

Problems solved!

Spicy Orange-Peanut Rainbow Slaw

Course Salad/Side
Prep Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 6 -8
Author Sarcastic Cooking

Ingredients

  • For the Dressing:
  • 1 Tablespoon Smooth Peanut Butter
  • 1 Tablespoon Agave
  • 4 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 2-3 Dashes of Fish Sauce
  • 1-2 Teaspoons Sriracha Sauce
  • 2 Tablespoons Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice
  • 1 Tablespoon Orange Zest
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt
  • ½ Teaspoon Pepper
  • For the Slaw:
  • ½ Head Cabbage
  • ½ Head Red Cabbage
  • 4-6 Raw Asparagus
  • 1 Large Carrot peeled
  • 2 Serrano Peppers thinly sliced
  • 2 Green Onions thinly sliced on a bias
  • ½ Red Onion thinly sliced
  • ½ Large Cucumber seeds removed and then cut into long matchstick-sized pieces
  • 1 Green Apple core removed and then cut into large matchstick-sized pieces
  • 4-6 Radishes cut into small matchstick-sized pieces
  • 1 Jicama Bulb peeled and cut into large matchstick-size pieces
  • 2 Tablespoons Fresh Chopped Cilantro

Instructions

  1. Add the peanut butter to a large mixing bowl. Microwave for thirty to sixty seconds until the peanut butter is melted. Whisk in the agave, vinegar, fish sauce, sriracha, and orange juice. When well combined, stir in the zest, salt, and pepper.
  2. Shred both halves of cabbage using a mandolin on the second thinnest setting. Or use a box grater if you don’t have a mandolin. Add the cabbage to the bowl with the dressing.
  3. Using a vegetable peeler, peel the asparagus into long thin strips. Trim the tops and add them to the salad. Cut the carrot into quarters and use the peeler to peel off long thin strips. Add the carrot strips to the bowl.
  4. Add the sliced Serrano peppers, green onions, red onions, cucumber, green apple, radishes, jicama, and cilantro to the large bowl. Give it a good mix to make sure the dressing coats all the ingredients.

PS Sorry for ranting!

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  • Ashley Bee (Quarter Life Crisis Cuisine)
    April 10, 2013 at 10:16 am

    Paired with some flank steak this is all of the yum.

  • Kristin @ Dizzy Busy and Hungry
    April 9, 2013 at 7:56 pm

    This looks so fresh! It is a perfect dish for upcoming summer days! I am with you on the eating healthy thing…sometimes I am successful with it, and sometimes not so much, but I will just keep at it!

  • Sarah
    April 9, 2013 at 7:53 pm

    I love to eat a rainbow! And the sound of a spicy orange dressing with peanut butter (!?) in it, sounds amazing! This on a wrap with some chicken? YUM

  • Julia
    April 9, 2013 at 3:33 pm

    I follow the everything in moderation rule (most of the time). I feel like diets just never worked for me…why deprive yourself of something delicious that you love. No way! This salad looks so healthy and delicious–love the peanut dressing.

  • Anita at Hungry Couple
    April 9, 2013 at 10:56 am

    I’m a big believer in eating the rainbow and the look of your slaw alone is totally tempting me. Of course, chocolate brown is also a color and I like to feature that color in my desserts. 😉

  • Stephie @ Eat Your Heart Out
    April 9, 2013 at 10:53 am

    Amen, sista!

    (As an aside, your “fear not! I have a salad to end all your worries” sounded a little infomercial-y…have you been watching a lot of late-night TV?) 😉

    Pretty, pretty salad!

  • Susan
    April 9, 2013 at 10:17 am

    I’m all about eating the rainbow! That’s eating healthy to me. If you have natural color in your food than you are doing something good, more color on your plate, than it doesn’t matter as much the portion size – just make sure that color isn’t from m&m’s!

  • Amanda @ Once Upon a Recipe
    April 9, 2013 at 10:16 am

    No diet that I’ve ever tried has been sustainable (I just love carbs and chocolate TOO much), so I’m done with diets. I do use the “everything in moderation” rule, although I clearly believe that one can indulge much more often than one of those Victoria Secret models might suggest! To me, life is for living, and living means eating things that I want to eat. However, I do have to amp up my exercise to compensate. With that said, I’m never going to look like a Victoria Secret model, so I may as well give up trying!
    This slaw looks fantastic and I love how you’ve served it in cabbage leaves! So pretty!

  • Sylvia @ reelflavor.com
    April 9, 2013 at 10:04 am

    Hi there! This looks so healthy and delicious. I actually just recently heard the expression “eat the rainbow” in terms of making sure you eat healthy. No one is perfect at eating right (I for sure struggle with this), but if we try most days to eat the rainbow I think we can stop obsessing over the details!

  • Karla @ Foodologie
    April 9, 2013 at 9:51 am

    I am completely in love with this salad! I’m making it asap, because crunchy is the new diet fad?

    In all seriousness, I do actually believe moderation is the best way to go. A few weeks ago I tried to do a 30 Day Paleo Challenge (I documented it on my blog) and found that Paleo was TOTALLY NOT for me. I think ultimately we all have to find what works for us in terms of personal health and wellness.

  • Terree
    April 9, 2013 at 9:08 am

    Making this tonight! Oh my gosh looks divine! Love your photos, love the post! thank you!