Angel Hair Cabbage Salad with Roasted Pears & Creamy Lemon Dressing

With all the hearty comfort food we eat in the winter, sometimes it’s nice to balance it out with a salad that is light in flavor and texture.

This refreshing winter slaw is just that salad.  Crunchy finely shaved cabbage, fennel & shallots are covered in a creamy light and lemony dressing, sprinkled with beautiful pomegranate arils and sweet honey walnuts and topped with comforting roasted Seckel pears.  The perfect balance!

I like to use those cute little Seckel pears for this salad.  They are a perfect size when you cut them in half.  But if you can’t find them, use your favorite pears cut in quarters instead.  Simply roasted with olive oil, thyme and cracked pink peppercorns.

This dressing is sooooo luscious.  Not your typical coleslaw dressing.  This is made bright and fresh with the addition of lemon juice and lemon zest.  For a creamy dressing, it’s so light and refreshing!  I love making it as a dressing for fish and veggies, too!

You know what I love about this salad?  While we think of most slaws as a casual salad, this pretty winter slaw can really dress up a holiday table!

I love all the flavors and textures of this salad.  Cool crunchy cabbage and fennel, tangy shallots, creamy lemony dressing, sweet honey walnuts, tart pomegranate seeds and warm sweet pepper & thyme pears.

Slaws are a pretty flexible salad.  So here’s how you can MAKE IT YOUR OWN:

• I used green cabbage.  But you can use white or purple or a combination of several cabbages.  Short on time?  You can certainly use your favorite prepackaged slaw mix.
• You don’t have to make this a slaw at all.  Simply toss all the ingredients with your favorite greens, top with pears.
• Can’t find Seckel pears?  Use regular pears, cut into quarters.  Apples would work, too!
• Add a chewy element by swapping the pomegranate seeds for dried cranberries.
• Any nut will work in this salad.  How about pecans, cashews or pumpkin seeds?
• I used fennel and shallots to break up the monotony of the cabbage.  Try spring onions, purple onions, celery or carrots.
• I LOVE this lemony dressing and I think you will, too.  But a regular slaw dressing would do the trick.  Or try adding herbs like dill or rosemary.
• I sprinkled the pears with cracked pink peppercorns and thyme.  But here again, other herbs and spices would be fine.  Use your favorites!

Sometimes it’s okay if the only thing you did today was breathe.