Crunchy Refrigerator Salad
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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
Bought the veggies for this today thinking I had a packet of Italian dressing mix in the pantry. I do not 🙁 I do have a packet of ranch dressing mix, do you think that would work? We live a distance away from the store and don’t want to make a trip just for that. Was really looking forward to giving this a try, I love cold veggie salads.
Sure it will! Let us know how you like it. Yours may be our new favorite recipe!
Thank You! Just whipped it right up and it tastes great! The ranch packets are a bit bigger so its very flavorful. I used baby carrots that we had on hand and chopped the broccoli into smaller pieces. My 3 year old daughter was helping in the kitchen and saw the big bag of broccoli and asked if I was making her that for dinner. So instead of the whole bag, I used half and cut them into small pieces. That way I can use the other half for dinner tonight – she LOVES broccoli!
I will still have to give it a try with the Italian dressing packet, but for now it is amazing! I will try to send a pic of it to your facebook page so you can see. Thank You so much!!!
I LOVE your recipes, your blog and your great sense of humor! However, please delete or do something with the videos that play over and over on your page. Very distracting and honestly, a bit irritating. There’s no way to turn them off! 🙂
Hey Diane! Where are they located? It may be an ad that I have to look into it perhaps one of my videos with a player issue. I’m happy to look into it!
***my last post was messed up due auto texting grr.. should have read…*(nothing like being thankful your blessed lil house. …:)
This is my Go To Glad To Be Home Comfort Food. Sigh…..nuttiness like beingb Ty thankful for your lil blessed house even if the laundry ain’t done 🙂 Thanks so much Christy for a super easy, yet delicious side dish recipe…We luv ya bunches up here in West Virginny. Please Come stay a spell n visit anytime!!!
Thank you so much for the invite Mandy!!! I agree, nothing like being home no matter how much laundry there is!!
Christy, I love your sweet spirit and enjoy trying your recipes. This is the first one that I didn’t like. 🙁 I love all the ingredients, so I was excited to try it and be able to have it for up to a week. It was too sweet (to me), and I really didn’t like the taste the Italian dressing gave it. I am used to making all dressings from scratch with fresh ingredients, so that could have been the problem. I found it NEEDED seasoning of some sort, and I thought it might have benefited from some added oil. Nothing I tried redeemed it.
Can’t wait to make this when I get home tomorrow. Love the vinegar dressing! Sound’s so yummy!! Thank you Christy.
I hope you enjoy it Brenda!!!
Can’t wait to try this crunchy salad recipe. It sounds great. Feel better fast.
I hope you enjoy it Mary!!