Crunchy Refrigerator Salad
Crunchy Refrigerator Salad
I love cold vinegar salads like my Fire and Ice Salad. I could honestly dive into a vat of that stuff, but that salad really needs to be eaten within a few days and I was looking for something that would last longer in the fridge so I could always have it on hand. So I developed this Crunchy Refrigerator Salad as a spinoff salad using veggies that will stay crunchy longer, with a light coating of a dressing based on the same principle – but with a little added kick .
Let’s get mixing!
You’ll need: Matchstick carrots (or diced, or baby, or crinkle cut), an onion, coleslaw mix, and some broccoli and cauliflower florets.
AND…
Some sugar, white vinegar, Italian dressing mix (dry), and a little water.
Now for anyone who has never had a salad like this Crunchy Refrigerator Salad before, you might think that the sugar will make it sweet but it doesn’t. The sugar is just there to offset the vinegar slightly. It is still a good vinegar taste to it, but with this amount of sugar, it keeps your face from puckering 🙂
Chop your onion.
I had to do this when my husband was home, know why? Because I can’t reach the plates!
I keep asking him to put one of each type of dish on the counter before he goes to work but with all he is juggling right now, he often forgets.
This is not the best time to be married to me 🙂
Remind me, if I ever build a home to make a wheelchair accessible butler’s pantry.
Dump all of your veggies into a large bowl along with onion. Mix that up pretty good.
Mix together water, vinegar, sugar, and Italian dressing mix.
Pour your dressing over the salad.
Stir until well coated.
This isn’t going to seem like enough dressing but as it sits, the veggies will create more water and we will stir it every now and then until it is ready to eat. You’ll be surprised!
However, if you want to add more, add an extra 1/4 cup of water, 1/4 cup vinegar, and 1/4 cup sugar.
Note though, that I do not do this because my goal is to just have a light coating on the veggies.
Cover that and let it sit out for an hour.
Stir really well and then refrigerate all day or overnight.
Eat this Crunchy Refrigerator Salad whenever you like!
This will keep for up to a week and makes a great snack, side dish for supper, or quick lunch!
I’m eating some right now 🙂
Ingredients
- 14 ounces coleslaw mix
- 12 ounces broccoli and cauliflower florets
- 10 ounces matchstick carrots or 1 cup and 1/2 of diced carrots
- 1 onion chopped
Dressing
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- .7 ounce package of dry Italian Dressing Mix enough to make 8 ounces of dressing
Instructions
- In very large bowl, combine all vegetables.
- In 2 cup measuring cup, pour water, vinegar, sugar, and dressing mix. Stir for a few minutes until well combined and sugar begins to dissolve (it won't dissolve completely at this point).
- Pour dressing over vegetables and stir well to coat. Cover and let sit at room temp for one hour. After one hour, stir again, cover and place in the fridge for several hours or overnight.
- Before serving, stir well. Will keep in fridge for up to a week. It actually gets better as the week goes on!
Nutrition
You may also enjoy these summer salad recipes:
Tomato Onion and Cucumber Salad
Cucumber Salad Creamy and Delicious
Low Carb Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation . . .I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
~Philippians 4: 12-13
This looks fabulous. I am going to make it Weight Watchers friendlly by leaving out the sugar and using Splenda. I love all the recipes. I wish I could use more of them but until I get to goal, I will have to settle for only the recipes I can covert to point friendly. Please post morfe tasty but healthy recipes for us girls who are trying to get back in our skinny jeans.
Oh I’ve got all kinds of them! I posted several sugar free pies over the summer and a sugar free whipped salad dessert last week and there are oodles of fresh veggie recipes and such on Southern Plate. It’s so easy to eat yummy food and lose weight, I find, as long as you stock up on plenty of good options so it’s handy 🙂
Wishing you the best in your endeavor, you can do it!
Gratefully,
Christy
Wow, Christy! All from your wheelchair! You are a super, duper awesomely amazing woman! Keep those recipes, smiles, and giggles coming!
Aw thank you Chris!
Looks delicious….can’t wait to try!
Thank you so much, Bonita! Such a beautiful name! literally 🙂
Gratefully,
Christy
I see in the list of ingredients, along with the veggies, you have dry Italian Dressing listed as well as in the actual dressing mixture….is this right?
Oh Helen I’m so glad you told me!! That was a mistake and I just went back and fixed it. Thanks so much for letting me know!
Gratefully,
Christy
Same question, sprinkle one Italian mix on vegs, and another in dressing or only one mix in dressing? Need to know, going to make this tonite.
You must have been typing your comment as I was answering Helens! I’m so sorry and I’m grateful y’all pointed that out! I fixed the error now.
I may fix this for church Sunday. I hope that you are getting better.
Every day gets easier, Deweese, thank you so much! I wish I was at your church this Sunday! Even if you don’t bring food, they are a blessed congregation to have you in it!
I like those Bowls too.
Maralee gave me those! They came from Crate and Barrel, I think. You know it would be beautiful if it came from Maralee!
We had big family reunions on our farm in Missouri. It would rotate every year to a different family. My mother had 9 sisters and they were all pro’s in the Kitchen. Everyone would bring a “dish” or two and we would have a feast on a Sunday afternoon. Chicken, catfish, ham, potato salad, pickled beats and onions, deviled eggs, pinto beans, corn on the Cobb watermelon and pies and cakes that were heavenly. One of my Mom’s sisters specialties was cornbread salad. I forgot all about it until I saw this today. It was so good, and now I have the recipe. Boy I miss those days, I’m 70 now and have lived my entire adult life in big cities, but I’m still a country boy when it comes to food. Hope you receive this, I don’t Facebook , twitter,etc. but I love your articles, hope you get well soon.
Oh WOW!! What a spread y’all had! I read every comment Bill, and am so glad you decided to leave this one, it made my heart smile picturing your memories!
Looks great! I need to make this very soon! Thanks Christy!