Curtido Recipe (Salvadoran Cabbage Slaw) (2024)

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by Tamara J. 4 Comments

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A delicious Salvadoran curtido recipe that is made with cabbage, red onions, carrots, and spices that are all fermented in a spicy vinegar mixture. The perfect side or topping to go with your pupusas, tacos, and more!

Make sure you check out this amazing Pupusa Recipe and these Chicken Birria Quesatacos while you are here.

Curtido Recipe (Salvadoran Cabbage Slaw) (1)

If you are a fan of fermented foods, such as sauerkraut or kimchi, this is the perfect recipe for you. It has a delicious tangy, pickle-like flavor that tastes better and better each day it sits.

Jump to:
  • What is Curtido?
  • What does curtido taste like?
  • Ingredients needed for this curtido recipe:
  • How to make Salvadoran curtido slaw:
  • How to store curtido:
  • Is curtido the same as Kimchi?
  • Making curtido recipe ahead of time:
  • What to eat with curtido:
  • 📖 Recipe

What is Curtido?

Curtido is a traditional side dish of sorts that originates in El Salvador. It is is a pickled cabbage slaw that is full of robust flavors.

It is fermented by the addition of vinegar, and therefore has some probiotic properties that would benefit your gut health. Most often, curtido is eaten with pupusas as a topping, alongside salsa roja.

Curtido Recipe (Salvadoran Cabbage Slaw) (2)

What does curtido taste like?

It most resembles the flavor of a pickle relish, as it has a sour-like flavor from the vinegar. Although this curtido recipe is not too spicy, you can make it more spicy by adding more thinly sliced jalapenos.

Ingredients needed for this curtido recipe:

The best part about this recipe is how few ingredients you need to yield a lot of this spicy slaw.

Here is what you will need to make curtido:

  • Cabbage: a large head of green cabbage that is thinly sliced.
  • Red Onion: red onion is preferred because it is more mild than white onion.
  • Carrots: use whole carrots instead of baby carrots because you will need to shred them. You can also purchase pre-shredded carrots for this recipe.
  • Jalapenos: fresh jalapenos that are thinly sliced.
  • Spices: oregano is a MUST for this recipe. Add salt to taste as well.
  • Vinegar: white vinegar is preferred, but apple cider vinegar can be used as well.
Curtido Recipe (Salvadoran Cabbage Slaw) (3)

How to make Salvadoran curtido slaw:

You want to start by boiling a pot of water. The water will be used to help soften up the cabbage prior to mixing it with the other ingredients.

Next you will finely slice your cabbage using a knife and a cutting board. Or you can simply grate the cabbage so that it is in thinly shredded pieces.

Add the thinly sliced cabbage into a fine mesh strainer, and gently pour the hot water over it. Then you want to rinse the cabbage with cold water. Strain as much water off as possible.

Place the cabbage into a large bowl, and add in the red onion, shredded carrots, and thinly sliced jalapenos. Now add the oregano, salt, and vinegar directly into the bowl.

Use a large spoon and thoroughly mix the cabbage slaw until everything is fully combined.

How to store curtido:

Once the Salvadoran curtido recipe is fully combined, you can place it in a bowl with an air tight lid, and put it in the refrigerator.

Alternatively, you can scoop the curtido mixture into large jars with lids and refrigerate for up to one week. The longer it sits, the more delicious it tastes!

Curtido Recipe (Salvadoran Cabbage Slaw) (4)

Is curtido the same as Kimchi?

Although both of these native side dishes are made with cabbage, they are not the same. Kimchi is a Korean staple that is made with familiar Korean ingredients such as Korean chili powder, and fish sauce.

Both Kimchi and Curtido are fermented cabbage because of the vinegar that is added as a pickling agent.

Making curtido recipe ahead of time:

You can make the curtido ahead of time and store it in an airtight container for up to one week. The longer the cabbage has to ferment in the vinegar mixture, the more pungent and delicious the flavor.

Curtido Recipe (Salvadoran Cabbage Slaw) (5)

What to eat with curtido:

Enjoy this delicious spicy slaw as a topping for your bean and cheese pupusas. Additionally, you can add these to your tacos, in your ramen, on top of your enchiladas, or to top your pozole.

📖 Recipe

Curtido Recipe (Salvadoran Cabbage Slaw) (6)

Yield: 8 Cups

Curtido Recipe (Salvadoran Cabbage Slaw)

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

A delicious Salvadoran curtido recipe that is made with cabbage, red onions, carrots, and spices that are all fermented in a spicy vinegar mixture. The perfect side or topping to go with your pupusas, tacos, and more!

Ingredients

  • 6 cups Water, boiled
  • 1 head Green cabbage, shredded very fine
  • 4 whole Carrots, shredded very fine
  • 1 medium Red Onion, sliced thinly
  • 2 fresh Jalapenos, thinly sliced (optional but recommended)
  • 2 teaspoons Dried Oregano
  • 1 teaspoon Salt, (or enough to taste)
  • 1 ½ cup Vinegar, white or Apple Cider will work

Instructions

  1. Bring 6 cups of water to a rolling boil.
  2. Once cabbage is very finely shredded, place it in a fine mesh strainer and place it over a large bowl. Carefully pour the hot water over the cabbage. Then rinse the cabbage with cold water over the sink, and try to drain out as much water as possible.
  3. Place the drained cabbage into a large bowl and add in your shredded carrots, sliced onions, jalapenos, Oregano, and salt. Next, pour the vinegar over the slaw mixture.
  4. Use a large spoon or gloved hands and mix the slaw until everything is fully combined. You can also place a lid on the bowl and shake until it is all completely mixed up.
  5. Add the curtido to large glass jars with lids, or a bowl with a lid, and refrigerate it until you are ready to use.
  6. Curtido is absolutely delicious after it rests overnight, or for a few hours before enjoying.
  7. Store in the fridge for up to one week.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 74Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 300mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 4gSugar: 9gProtein: 2g

This website provides approximate nutrition information as a courtesy and for convenience only.

Did you make this recipe?

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Curtido Recipe (Salvadoran Cabbage Slaw) (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between curtido and sauerkraut? ›

Curtido, curtido! It's an El Salvadoran slaw, similar to sauerkraut in that it is made primarily from fermented cabbage. It's so dang tasty. Aside from the cabbage, it's made with carrots, onion, garlic, and oregano, and is a traditional accompaniment to pupusas.

Is curtido good for your gut? ›

Fermented foods like curtido have a myriad of health benefits. By helping to maintain healthy gut flora, probiotics in fermented foods aid digestion and may even help certain digestive disorders like IBS and GERD.

What's the difference between coleslaw and slaw? ›

The real difference is that the raw, chopped vegetables in coleslaw are primarily cabbage: Napa, red, savoy, or bok choy. Slaw without the cole can feature any crunchy veggie in place of cabbage, including chopped or shredded broccoli, carrots, snow peas, jicama, and more.

What is curtido made of? ›

Curtido is a Salvadoran cabbage slaw or relish made with finely shredded cabbage, red onion, carrot, oregano, and vinegar. This is a must-try, authentic Salvadorian recipe. In Central America, curtido is often served with pupusas (corn cakes) and salsa roja.

Which cabbage makes the best sauerkraut? ›

Danish Ballhead, Late Flat Head and Premium Late Dutch are good cabbage varieties for sauerkraut. Krautman is one of the most popular varieties for making sauerkraut, and growers are encouraged to try new varieties as well.

Does curtido need to be refrigerated? ›

Typically fermented curtido is served after three days of fermenting when the cabbage is sweet and sparkling. So I recommend stashing your curtido in the fridge after 2 to 3 days to stop the fermentation. It will still be packed full of flavor and probiotics.

Is cabbage bad for leaky gut? ›

White Cabbage

They are not only rich in fiber, but they are also loaded with good bacteria. White cabbage helps a healthy gut microbiome balance, promote smooth digestion, and helps to prevent the leaky gut syndrome.

Can you eat curtido by itself? ›

Really, this curtido just gets better with time! I love it on sandwiches, salads, soups, or just by itself! It's such a healthy and delicious item to have in the refrigerator!

Why did KFC stop selling coleslaw? ›

The fast food chain was forced to stop selling its coleslaw tubs when a supply issue meant the slaw would have to be served up without the dressing. “We are currently experiencing a supply issue with our KFC coleslaw dressing,” a KFC spokesperson said. The slaw is made up of cabbage and carrots coated in mayonnaise.

Why is KFC coleslaw so good? ›

Fresh ingredients are key to a good slaw, and KFC does alright for a fast food restaurant. You won't find any wilted cabbage pieces, and the carrots are nice and hard as well. What's more, KFC finely dices everything so you don't have to chew that much, and all the flavors and textures blend perfectly.

Which is healthier cabbage slaw or broccoli slaw? ›

Is Broccoli Slaw Healthier Than Cabbage Slaw? Broccoli slaw is packed with many antioxidants and other nutrients that cabbage does not offer.

Why do Salvadorans eat pupusas? ›

But the pupusa also has a deep cultural significance. Pupusas are family meals, Sunday dinners, and, importantly, the taste of home. Just as the indigenous people used corn tortillas to sustain themselves on their travels, many Salvadorans today seek refuge in pupusas when they are outside of El Salvador.

What food is El Salvador known for? ›

El Salvador's most notable dish is the pupusa, a thick handmade, tortilla-like corn flour or rice flour flatbread stuffed with cheese, chicharrón (cooked pork meat ground to a paste consistency), refried beans or loroco (a vine flower bud native to Central America).

Is curtido good for gut health? ›

Well, as it travels through the small intestines, it helps feed the healthy gut bacteria to promote a healthier gut microbiome. However, if you're looking to also get prebiotic's partner in crime—probiotics—from this fermented food, you'll have to consider how it's prepared.

Are sauerkraut and kimchi similar? ›

4. Vegetables: You can make kimchi in many different ways, whereas sauerkraut has more defined limits. Baechu-kimchi is the closest to sauerkraut in that it has a simple cabbage base without any additional veggies. Sauerkraut is always cabbage, whereas kimchi can encompass a panoply of fermented vegetables.

Is pickled red cabbage as good as sauerkraut? ›

No. Although the flavours can be similar, pickled cabbage is created by adding vinegar, whereas sauerkraut is made through fermentation, resulting in a more nutritious food.

What is the Chinese version of sauerkraut? ›

Suancai (also called suan tsai and Chinese sauerkraut; lit. 'sour vegetable') is a traditional Chinese pickled Chinese cabbage (napa cabbage) or Chinese mustard, used for a variety of purposes. Suancai is a unique form of paocai, due to the ingredients used and the method of production.

What is the French version of sauerkraut? ›

Choucroute is the French word for Sauerkraut, a side dish made by fermenting cabbage and other vegetables. The term refers both to the dish and to an earthenware casserole in which it is cooked. A traditional Alsatian dish, Choucroute is eaten throughout France, especially during Christmas.

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