Greek Salads
Politiki Salata Recipe (Constantinople-Style Cabbage Slaw)
Πολίτικη σαλάτα poh-LEE-tee-kee sah-LAH-tah · Politiki salata
In short
Politiki salata is a finely shredded cabbage salad, mixed with carrot and red pepper, that traces to the Greek cooking of Constantinople, dressed simply and sharply with olive oil and lemon. It is a fixture of winter tables across Greece, particularly at Christmas.
Politiki salata takes its name directly from Poli, the short form of Constantinople still used by Greeks with roots there, and it is one of the dishes that entered wider Greek cooking through the population that left the city over the course of the twentieth century, carrying their specific style of cabbage salad with them.
It is built almost entirely from finely shredded white cabbage, with carrot and red pepper for colour and sweetness, and it appears constantly through winter, particularly as part of the Christmas table, where its sharp, crunchy freshness is a welcome contrast to heavier roasted dishes.
The technique is almost entirely about the cut: everything needs to be shredded genuinely fine, closer to a slaw than a chopped salad, so the vegetables soften slightly under the dressing and take on its flavour properly rather than sitting in large, raw, undressed pieces.
Key preparation steps
- Shred cabbage, carrot and pepper very finely.
- Salt the cabbage lightly and let it soften briefly.
- Dress with olive oil, lemon and a touch of vinegar.
- Let it sit at least twenty minutes before serving.
The cut matters more than the ingredients
White or pointed cabbage, carrot and red pepper, all shredded as finely as you can manage, ideally with a mandoline or the shredding attachment on a food processor rather than a knife, which gives a far more even, genuinely slaw-like texture. Thick, roughly chopped cabbage simply does not work the same way in this dish.
Salting the shredded cabbage lightly and letting it sit for ten minutes before dressing draws out a little water and softens its rawness slightly, without turning it limp the way a long salt-and-drain would.
The dressing
A generous amount of good olive oil, a proper squeeze of lemon, and a small splash of vinegar for extra sharpness, seasoned well with salt. The dressing should taste distinctly sharp rather than mild, since it needs to cut through a large volume of raw shredded vegetable.
Toss everything together thoroughly, making sure the dressing reaches right through the cabbage rather than pooling at the bottom of the bowl.
Letting it rest
Unlike a delicate lettuce salad, politiki salata genuinely benefits from sitting for twenty minutes to an hour before serving, which lets the cabbage soften slightly and take on the dressing properly. It also keeps well in the fridge for a couple of days, arguably improving slightly as the flavours settle.
Tips from my kitchen
Shred everything very fine
This is a slaw, not a chopped salad. A mandoline or food processor gives a far more even texture than a knife.
Let it rest before serving
Twenty minutes to an hour softens the cabbage slightly and lets it absorb the dressing properly, unlike a delicate lettuce salad that wilts if dressed too early.
Keep the dressing sharp
A generous amount of lemon and a splash of vinegar is needed to cut through the volume of raw cabbage.
Politiki Salata Recipe (Constantinople-Style Cabbage Slaw)
Πολίτικη σαλάτα · by Kalliopi Andreou · updated 2026-07-31
- Prep
- 20m
- Cook
- None
- Total
- 20m
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
Ingredients
Method
- Shred the cabbage, carrot and red pepper as finely as possible, ideally with a mandoline or food processor.
- Toss the shredded cabbage with the salt in a large bowl and leave to soften for 10 minutes.
- Add the shredded carrot and red pepper.
- Whisk the olive oil, lemon juice and vinegar together, then pour over the vegetables.
- Toss thoroughly, making sure the dressing is distributed evenly throughout.
- Let sit for at least 20 minutes before serving, or refrigerate for up to 2 days.
Nutrition, per 1 side portion
- Calories
- 112
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 9 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Sat fat
- 1 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
These figures are calculated estimates based on the ingredients listed, not laboratory analysis. Actual values vary with brands, cuts and portion size.
Frequently asked questions about Politiki salata
Why is it called politiki salata?
Poli is the short form of Constantinople (Istanbul) used by Greeks with roots there, and the salad traces to the cooking of that community, entering wider Greek food culture through their migration and resettlement.
When is politiki salata usually served?
Throughout winter, and especially as part of the Christmas table, where its sharp crunch offsets richer roasted dishes.
Can you make politiki salata ahead?
Yes, it keeps well refrigerated for up to two days and the flavour arguably improves slightly as it sits and the cabbage softens further.
