Classic Swedish Pizza Salad

The first pizzerias in Sweden were owned by immigrants. Most Swedish pizzerias are still owned and run by people born in other countries. So, pizza salad is not at all a Swedish invention. It was immigrants who gave us this raw green cabbage salad. Now it can be found in every dining place where they sell pizzas in Sweden.

Pizza salad has a sourish flavour. It is well known that sour things provoke appetite. But it also serves the purpose of keeping the guest occupied while waiting for the pizza to cook. Order your pizza, go to the salad bar, take a plate, pile it up with pizza salad, and eat it as a healthy and tasty side dish. It's usually free.














Here's an excellent cabbage salad recipe to try at home.
INGREDIENTS:
* 500 grams/1 lb cabbage, very finely shredded
* 5 teaspoons white wine vinegar
* 5 teaspoons vegetable oil
* 2 tablespoons sugar
* 1 teaspoon salt
* ½ teaspoon black pepper
* ½ teaspoon oregano (optional)
* ½ teaspoon basil (optional)

METHOD:
1. Combine vinegar, oil, sugar, salt, pepper, oregano and basil.
2. Place the cabbage in a large bowl and pour the dressing over.
3. Using clean hands, squeeze and knead the cabbage well to release juices.
4. Do a taste test and adjust the flavor to your liking.
5. Put a heavy bowl on top of the salad and weigh it down.
6. Leave the salad to rest overnight in the refrigerator.

I usually make a bigger batch than I have written up here because this cabbage salad makes a marvelous accompaniment to other dishes too. It keeps perfectly for up to 5-6 days in the fridge. When the salad starts to smell like an old scouring cloth, it's time to throw it away.

Here's another take on a pizza salad that I use. A cabbage salad with carrot, paprika and onion.
Pizza Salad