Simple, colorful, and full of late summer flavor.
As summer winds down, it’s the perfect time to enjoy meals that are fresh, nourishing, and easy to prepare. This Late Summer Salad is a crisp mix of cabbage, red cabbage, fennel, and carrots, topped with apple slices, pumpkin seeds, and goat cheese. It’s fresh from the garden, full of color, and just right for the season of transition — when summer produce is still plentiful and autumn coziness is just around the corner.
At Hygge Homestead, we believe in slowing down and appreciating simple, wholesome meals. This salad is a reminder that healthy food doesn’t need to be complicated — just fresh ingredients, a drizzle of good olive oil, and mindful eating at the table.
Why This Salad Is Good for You
This seasonal salad isn’t just tasty — it’s packed with important nutrients:
- Cabbage & Red Cabbage – loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants to support your immune system as the seasons change.
- Fennel – high in fiber and great for digestion, with a bright, fresh flavor.
- Carrots – rich in beta-carotene (vitamin A), helping your eyes, skin, and immune system.
- Apples – add natural sweetness plus fiber to keep you full longer.
- Pumpkin Seeds – full of magnesium and zinc, supporting energy, sleep, and hormone balance.
- Goat Cheese – creamy and easier to digest than many cow’s milk cheeses, while adding protein and calcium.
Every ingredient brings its own benefit while creating a beautiful, crunchy mix that feels like a celebration of late summer.
The Mindful Eating Touch
This recipe is also a perfect fit for Mindful Eating — paying attention to color, texture, and taste, and letting your body guide how much you need. When you sit down with a bowl of this salad, notice the crunch of the vegetables, the sweetness of the apple, and the creamy contrast of goat cheese. Eating becomes an experience, not just a task.
Recipe: Late Summer Salad
Ingredients:
- 2 cups shredded cabbage
- 2 cups shredded red cabbage
- 1 fennel bulb, thinly sliced
- 2 carrots, peeled and shredded
- 1 apple, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds (toasted if you like)
- ¼ cup crumbled goat cheese
- Extra virgin olive oil, to taste
- Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, combine the cabbage, red cabbage, fennel, and carrots.
- Add the apple slices on top.
- Sprinkle with pumpkin seeds and goat cheese.
- Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Toss gently and serve right away.
Kitchen Tip
To keep apple slices from turning brown, toss them in a little lemon juice (or orange juice) before adding them to the salad. It keeps them fresh-looking and adds a light citrus flavor.
For more salad recipe inspiration, grab my Salad e-book over on Amazon
