Kimchi salad with sesame beef and spiralized apples and cucumber! This Asian inspired apple salad recipe makes a quick and healthy kimchi substitute. Cucumber and Apple noodles tossed in a spicy kimchi style salad dressing are served with sesame beef. A light nourishing meal that’s ready in 30 minutes. Paleo with Whole 30 option.
Just letting you know this spiralized apple kimchi salad recipe was originally published in Early 2016. I retested, rephotographed, updated content and URL. Now I am republishing it for you today! I hope you enjoy. Thank you for following Cotter Crunch Y’all!.
I come to you today with a bowl of spiralized apple kimchi salad goodness. Kimchi as in “kimchi” style. As in you don’t really have to make real kimchi, it’s my quick version. But it TOTALLY has that kimchi style tang and spicy goodness, ya feel me?
What is kimchi?
Kimchi is a prebiotic rich fermented Korean slaw/cabbage. It’s one UNREAL HEALTHY food ya’ll!
Kimchi is made with a mix of garlic, salt, vinegar, chili peppers or sauce, and then either Daikon or Napa cabbage.
Of course, other fruit/vegetable FUSIONS are welcome, too. Traditional Kimchi is rich in vitamins and indigestible fibers (prebotics) that ferment and then feed our healthy bacteria (called lactobacilli).
This sesame beef spiralized apple salad does not actually use traditional fermented kimchi.
It’s basically a tangy QUICK version of kimchi.
Sesame beef pairs so great with spicy salads! The cucumber and apple salad is tossed in an Asian kimchi flavor dressing. And that flavoring is what totally MAKES this a POWER SALAD.
Spicy, tangy, sweet, good for the gut, paleo, rich in iron, and protein packed! Like whoa!
What are the benefits of eating kimchi salad?
Okay yes, my cheater’s “Kimchi” salad with spiralized apple may not be as powerful of prebiotic as the real deal, but it is still superfood nourishing.
- Apples are loaded with quercetin. Remember I talked about quercetin in that grape smoothie post? Go check it!
- Quercetin helps the body fight Free Radicals and prevent inflammation in the body. You know, the free radical and inflammation caused by eating too much junk food, over training, high sun exposure, drinking too wine, stressing, not sleeping, travel, etc. Oh ya, those free radicals. #guilty
- Cucumbers also contain an anti-inflammatory flavonol called fisetin. Fisetin is an plays a key role in supporting our brain health.
- Overall, both apples and cucumber earn some major superfood points!
You know where I’m going with this, don’t you?
It’s time to Beef up that Kimchi Salad and get your EAT on!
Print
Spiralized Apple Kimchi Salad with Garlic Beef
- Total Time: 30
- Yield: 2 1x
Description
Quick apple kimchi salad with sesame beef! This Asian inspired spiralized apple salad recipe makes a quick and healthy kimchi substitute. A light nourishing meal that’s ready in 30 minutes. Paleo with Whole 30 options.
Ingredients
Spiralized Apple Kimchi Salad:
- 2 green or red apples (see notes)
- 1 small seedless cucumber
- 1 green onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 Tablespoon hot mustard (Asian) or Dijon mustard
- 1 Tablespoon chili sauce/paste or sriracha
- 1 Tablespoon rice wine vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 to 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger or ¼ to ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- Crushed black pepper, to taste
Garlic Sesame Beef:
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon tamari sauce or gluten free soy sauce
- 1 to 2 Tablespoons sesame seeds, divided
- 1 Tablespoon avocado oil + more for frying
- 6 to 8 ounces organic lean beef steak
- Sea salt and pepper, to taste
Salad Garnish
- leafy greens
- sprouts
- ½ cup sliced radish
- crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- fresh cilantro (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the quick apple kimchi salad by spiralizing or julienne slice the apples and cucumber (see notes). Place in a large bowl and press out any excess water with a paper towel. Set aside.
- Chop the onion, mince the garlic and place both in a small mixing bowl
- Stir in the mustard, chili sauce, vinegar, paprika, salt and ginger.
- Place salad in the fridge to marinate while cooking beef.
Cook Beef
- Whisk together sesame oil, garlic, tamari and 2 teaspoons sesame seed in a small bowl and pour over the meat. Marinate for 10 to 20 minutes or skip if in a hurry.
- Heat the skillet on medium-high heat and add 1 Tablespoon avocado oil.
- Place the marinated steak in the pan and sear for 7 to 10 minutes or until beef is cooked to 140F and browned. Turn meat once.
- Remove steak from the heat, strain excess fat/grease, if desired. Slice thinly and sprinkle with extra sesame seeds.
Make the Bowl
- Divide the apple kimchi salad into two bowls.
- Place sliced radish, sprouts, and/or green leaf on one side of the bowl.
- Divide the beef strips between the two bowls.
- Top beef with extra red pepper flakes and sesame seed, if desired.
- Drizzle any extra sauce on top of salad and garnish with cilantro.
Notes
Cooking Tip – It’s best to use a green and red apple to even out tartness with taste. But any apple or combo will work.
Substitute – Shred the apple and cucumber if not spiralizing. Keep the peel on for more crunch. Use chicken, smoked salmon, or tempeh in place of the steak.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Category: Main
- Cuisine: asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 305
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 23 g
Now, if you’re looking for the real deal kimchi, you can always buy it are your grocer or make your own. In fact, i do have an EASY kimchi recipe you could add chopped apple or cucumber to.. just sayin..
Kimchi lovers, have you made apple kimchi or a kimchi salad before??
Sorry, my lack of grammar skills are going strong today. Haha, just nod and then take your focus off the grammar and onto the recipe. Mmm k? Thanks.
[Tweet “An EASY #Paleo power meal ready in 30 minutes! Spiralized Apple kimchi salad with Beef! #salad #healthy #recipe”]
Mwah!
Gonna try this out because it sounds super tasty, but after looking at the recipe I really don’t understand why you keep calling it Kimchi. There are no kimchi related ingredients. Also kimchi is not made with vinegar.
Love, a Korean mama
Haha you are right. It is “kimchi style or kimchi inspired.” I just needed to shorten the title. Let me know if you try it! <3
Great..!! My kids refuse to eat vegetables. I always look for vegetables for the children. May my child enjoy this dish. i will share this information.
wow, this dish looks delicious, i will try it for my family to eat, thank you for sharing the way
My kids refuse to eat vegetables. I always look for vegetables for the children. May my child enjoy this dish.
Great Information,it has lot for stuff which is informative.I will share the post with my friends.
This sounds SO flavorful!! I need to try it stat.
LOVING this flavor combo!
Oh, Beautiful one and I think It looks like a diet plan plate. But whatever I will try to make it once and then I will tell you about my new experience,,, I really like you as the appreciable works you have done here… Again thanks for the new recipe… And your last one was fab I make at home and enjoyed to eat…
Thanks friend!
GORGEOUS!!!
How have I never spiralized apples before?! Needs to happen!
You must try!
looks good can use any other meat too right? just want to try an see..anyway thank you for sharing this
sure! it’s great with all kinds of meats or seafood
Just stop once dear I wanna say you, You are fabulous… And I love your work,….
I like all the recipes which you shared with us and just fabulous, keep working like this….
Thank you so much friend!
Oh my gosh, SO much flavor AND healthy things going on here!
You’d love this friend!
What a lovely, fresh idea!
So great that you can use almost any protein you want for this dish! Beautiful balance.
This sounds like SUCH a tasty combo!!
This sounds delicious, but I have a child with a sensitivity to mustard. Any substitutions recommended? I was considering horseradish?
Horseradish might work. Just a little though. Or maybe you can not include mustard. Keep me posted.
Interesting recipe that includes fermented kemchi that is great for your gut. I am definitly going to try this. Always looking for recipes that are helpful in healing my gut. (https://www.drlam.com/blog/microbiome-gut-flora/23823/)
After reading this informative and effective post. I have good knowledge now to fix this issue and to explain this issue to others.
I am extremely impressed along with your writing abilities and also with the format in your blog. Stay up to the excellent high quality writing, it’s rare to find a nice weblog like this one these days.
I learned a lot from reading through some of your earlier posts as well and decided to drop a comment on this one!
Good advice. I’ll take it into account.
Kimchi….and apples?! Like WHUUUUUT??? :O
I love this recipe! And I’d call apple noodles appasta 😉
haha I love that term!
Balance in Life!!!!!
for sure!
I love how your bowls have so much flavor and texture. That’s totally my kind of meal! Plus, the combo of savory and sweet in one dish is an added bonus. Makes a meal totally satisfying! That garlicky beef…Mmmmm!
Have a great weekend, Lindsay!
You know it!!! ?? happy weekend friend
An apple based salad?! SIGN ME UP! This is so perfect for fall!
Come visit!!
This tickles me #strangebutgood fancy. Ok, I can’t even type that without laughing… 😉
I love fruit done in a savory way. Pairing it with beef or pork makes it that much better. Or fish. Anything, really. When are we having a dinner party?!
hehe now i am laughing
This recipe looks crazy good! I’m obsessed with my spiralizer. 🙂
Thank you for linking to my Apple, Beet, and Carrot Salad!
and thank you for you recipe friend!
Aw, that would be fun!!!! Mine is from Pampered Chef….works for things like zucchini really well but not so much apples or “harder” foods. Boo.
I seriously tried to spiralize my apples the other day and had no such luck. I think I need to invest in the type of spiralizer you have! This dish looks awesome, btw. Pinned and sharing 🙂
really? which spiralizer do you have? Gah, wish I could share mine with you. Spiralizer party!
Definitely going to try spiralizing apples, why have I not done that?! Looks so delicious and love the flavor combo!
you haven’t? I so thought you had! you’re the apple queen! hehe.
KIM CHI.
Favorite.
Love the idea of doing it with apples! tis the season, as well.
Also, speaking of updates–send me an email at suzlyfe (gmail) and let me know how the heck you are!
I’ve sent you 2 emails to that address. LOL! your email hates me
I tried spiralizing apples for the first a few weeks ago and they’re not as pretty as Zoodles raw but cooked I could get down with!
not as pretty, but still tasty! for sure!
Totally swooning over these apple noodles! They are SO underrated!! Pinned this delicious dinner 🙂