Parmesan and Lemon Slaw
I had an almost perfect week. Summer has really started around here. Camping with Bethany and Chris at Deception Pass, staying on a gorgeous Whidbey Island beach with my parents, sister, niece, and nephew. We encrusted all our earthly possessions with sand, dirt, and campfire smoke, and consumed at least 1,000 more calories per day than usual.
I love how filthy the kids get in the summer. Neither Wyatt or Loretta has even a small bit of squeamishness or fastidiousness where dirt and grime are concerned. I have determined never to quit buying baby wipes. They are indispensable for marshmallow-covered faces and righting the wrong of offering Cheetos on a car trip. (What mothers do that?! They must be crazy.)
One of my favorite hours was the one spent doing laps on Chris' Korean bike. Chris picked up a "camping bike," as he calls it, a three-seater which an adult pedals while schlepping two smaller people. It even FOLDS. I must have done a dozen laps around the campground with Loretta and Pippa, who kept saying "One more! One more!" Every camper we passed smiled, waved, or commented on the bike, and I felt so happy to be part of our threesome, taking delight in repetition, in their small hands around my waist.
Speaking of repetition (and ungainly segues), I've made this salad a million times since last summer when I saw it on Orangette. It was the first thing gone at our family BBQ this week. Even Wyatt was shoveling it. I think lots of folks expect coleslaw to to be heavy, creamy, maybe even downright unappetizing. Of course, you and I know better. We know about the unsung virtues of cabbage--how it stays crisp and pairs with a surprising amount of flavors, how it's full of fiber and keeps forEVER in the fridge. I often bring this as a side dish to summer potlucks--I can often make it without a trip to the store, which is priceless.
P.S. I can't believe my niece HannahMae will be in kindergarten this fall. Watch out, world. She'll rock it.
Parmesan and Lemon Slaw
This serves six as a side dish--double it for a crowd. Thinly slice 1/2 head of green cabbage--as thin as you can get it with a knife, but not shaved. In a medium bowl, toss the cabbage with 1/2 c. finely grated parmesan, the juice and finely grated zest of one lemon, salt, pepper, a big glug of good olive oil, and finely chopped lemon thyme. Best not to let this sit around a super long time before eating it.
July 16, 2010
Reader Comments (18)
I think my dad would be a fan of this recipe -- how refreshing. He loves himself some cabbage!
Oh, THANK YOU, Sarah! I can add this one to my list of "last minute and no notice" cabbage salads, which have served us deliciously time and time again. Happy summer!
i am still filled with warmth when i think about the hours and hours we got to spend with each other and our families. really, wouldn't we make great neighbors?! Thank you for so many years and years of memories and the many more to come. we love you guys more and more and more......
This was scrumdiddlyumptious, gone before I could have seconds
First, I'm so glad you had a wonderful vacation. I saw your mom the day before they left & you could see the giddy factor times 10 in her eyes (so sweet). Another thing to add to summer+kids+dirt & grime is how lacking I've been in the bath department. Last week my girls played in the water everyday, I kind of forgot that they needed to have it mixed with soap. Does any other mom do that?
The salad looks yummy. Love me some cabbage and love that it is so sturdy against the elements of moisture.
love this flavor combo. i will be making this soon to stuff in a pita with all kinds of goodies. yes!
confession: i'm teary. oh dear. can't wait to squeeze you and savor your potluck goodies.
Looks like fun, Sarah!
What kind of bike is that? Looks like it would fit in the car and be great to take on a road trip.
ellem
Randy loves cole slaw but always gets sick from it because he really can't digest all that mayo. I'm totally going to make this for him and watch him eat it to his heart's content. Glad you had a wonderful week!
Ahhh - Hannah Mae is so beautiful. Happy that you had a great vacation with your friends and then your family. Such a treat! Looking forward to trying the cabbage this week - have a good week and enjoy the dirt.
Welcome Home, Sarah! We all missed you. While you were away, I made a Swiss Chard/goat cheese galette. Wonderful and inspired by YOU!
How the HECK did I miss this on Orangette the first time? I owe you, for pointing it out (esp as I have 1/2 head green cabbage, 3 lemons, and a hunk of good parm to inhale by Tuesday, midnight.)
And I'm forever grateful for the cheetos bit. Makes me feel so much better about feeding my kiddos ice cream today. Three times. Ahem.
Welcome home. Sounds like the best of times.
Ok Mrs Leftoverist, I was dying to try and make this again after our vacation. It made it just like you said, EXCEPT, I used a mandoline to slice the cabbage. It turned out a watery mess.
Could it be the madoline brought out too much water from the cabbage? I didn't salt it either until it was a watery mess so it wasn't the salt. I used the exact parmesan we used on the trip.
I was so dissappointed, being is all we were having with it was a barbecued sausage.
I was craving the light, lemony, crisp, combo, I must try again, cuz I know it's GOOD
P.S. that is a darn cute picture of Hannah Mae!!!! not to mention those big and little hunks, showing off on the Korean bike.
That's a bummer, Mom. Yes, I think it's to do with cutting the cabbage too thinly. Like I mentioned in the recipe, I use a knife so it's thinly sliced but not shaved. A mandoline would shave it, so you'd miss out on the crunch. xo
love this dish, great recipe, thanks
Sarah,
Love your recipes and pics of the kids. My favorite recipe using kale is the kale, yam salad that pcc sells. Its really pretty simple since its all roasted in the oven.
Wyatt, it sounds like you're having a FANTASTIC summer. Do I hear a poem coming about city farming? I have a new challenge for you... let's see if we can turn some of your writings into raps. You already have it going, just put some verses in and connect your thoughts and feeings. Enjoy the rest of the summer. It's going by too quickly. Ms. Kaneko
Hi Ms. Kaneko! How wonderful to see your name on here. Your rap idea is a great one. I'll show your comment to Wyatt and see what he thinks. I am having so much fun with him this summer. I can really see how much he's matured (under your wonderful leadership!) this last year.