Name: Napa Cabbage Salad with Chicken, Apple, Herbs, and Za'atar
Total time: 40 min
Yield: Serves 4 to 6
Ingredients: ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil; ¼ cup lemon juice; 2 tablespoons za'atar; 1 tablespoon honey; 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil; 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger; 1¼ teaspoons table salt; 1 small garlic clove, minced to paste (½ teaspoon); ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes; ½ head napa cabbage, cored, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise (about 5 cups); 1 (2½-pound) rotisserie chicken, skin and bones discarded, meat shredded into bite-size pieces (3 cups); 1 large Honeycrisp apple, cored and cut into matchsticks (2 cups); ¼ cup coarsely chopped fresh mint; ¼ cup coarsely chopped fresh dill; ¼ cup coarsely chopped fresh parsley

Why This Recipe Works

With its crinkly, bright-tasting leaves and crisp ribs, napa cabbage makes a refreshing base for a salad, which we augmented with loads of herbs and crunchy apple. The addition of shredded rotisserie chicken turned it into an easy dinner. We began by making a zesty dressing with lemon juice, sesame oil, honey, fresh ginger, garlic, red pepper flakes, and a generous amount of the Middle Eastern spice mix za’atar. Mincing the garlic to a paste ensured that it distributed evenly and seamlessly throughout the dressing. We tossed the thinly sliced cabbage with the dressing and allowed it to sit for 20 minutes to soften slightly. To finish the salad, we stirred in shredded chicken, apple matchsticks, and ¼ cup each of chopped fresh mint, dill, and parsley.

Before You Begin

You can purchase za’atar in the spice section of many grocery stores or online, or you can make our recipe. A rasp grater makes quick work of turning the garlic into a paste.

Instructions

Whisk together ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil, ¼ cup lemon juice, 2 tablespoons za’atar, 1 tablespoon honey, 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil, 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger, 1¼ teaspoons table salt, 1 small garlic clove minced to paste, and ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes in large bowl. Add 5 cups thinly sliced napa cabbage to dressing and toss to combine. Let sit for 20 minutes.

Stir in 3 cups shredded rotisserie chicken, 2 cups Honeycrisp apple matchsticks, ¼ cup coarsely chopped mint, ¼ cup coarsely chopped dill, and ¼ cup coarsely chopped parsley. Serve.