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Home Side Salads

Our Best NO MAYO Coleslaw

By:Nagi
Published:5 Aug '20Updated:18 Dec '22
43 Comments
Recipe v Video v Dozer v

No mayonnaise definitely does NOT mean boring with the RecipeTin No Mayo Coleslaw!  We love this Slaw because it’s interesting enough to compensate for no mayo in the dressing, refreshing enough to pair with rich mains, but still has the signature Coleslaw “juiciness”.

Made with cabbage, fennel, apple, dill and caraway seeds, this is the side we love to serve alongside Southern foods like Fried Chicken, brisket, BBQ Chicken, pulled pork and ribs.

Serving No Mayo Coleslaw (Apple Slaw)

No Mayo Coleslaw

This is the RecipeTin Family recipe for a Coleslaw made without mayonnaise that we truly believe stacks up to traditional Coleslaw in all it’s mayo-laden glory.

Don’t get me wrong. I love a good creamy Coleslaw.

But typically, Coleslaw gets suggested when we’re planning rich Southern menus for a family dinner. Think – meat, sweet BBQ sauce, and sometimes, full throttle deep frying.

And typically, someone sensible suggests that mayo Coleslaw might be too rich with all that meat, shouldn’t we opt for a lighter salad?

And typically (in pre-No-Mayo-Coleslaw-invention days) someone else would huff and puff about how Coleslaw is a classic side for a Southern blow out, and how we’re clearly not counting calories for this meal so why skimp on Slaw?

And so on, back and forth, until the family WhatsApp thread to decide the menu for a “simple” family dinner is many, many swipes long.

There is still much back and forth on family dinner menus. But since the creation of this No Mayo Slaw, there is no back and forth about slaw!

Plate piled high with No Mayo Coleslaw (Apple Slaw)

The combination of ingredients in this No Mayo Slaw might be surprising – but it’s addictive! The fennel and caraway seeds are quite subtle, and dill brings a wonderful freshness.

What you need for Coleslaw without Mayonnaise

Here’s what goes in our No Mayo Coleslaw:

Ingredients in No Mayo Coleslaw (Apple Slaw)
  • Cabbage – any green cabbage works fine here (but not Chinese cabbage which is more delicate so it will get too soggy);

  • Fennel – shaved thinly so the flavour is quite mild, brings a fabulous freshness to this Slaw;

  • Dill – this herb is the perfect match in this salad! Use more than you think you need;

  • Apple – shaved finely, it adds a subtle sweet juiciness. Once dressed, it stops it from going brown (the pictured salad is a day old!);

  • Caraway seeds – adds pops of minty-aniseed flavour that complement the fennel and dill, but we don’t use much and it is subtle. Yet this is a secret ingredient that makes people pause when they take their first bite, wondering what that flavour is and why it’s so good!

  • Dressing ingredients – nothing ground breaking here, but note there is a deliberately high ratio of acid to oil. This slaw should be bright, punchy and have backbone to stand up to any rib-sticking main dish. A dainty French leaf salad vinaigrette this ain’t. We also use less salt (1/2 tsp) and more sugar (2 tsp) than you might expect. This is because we like the salad to lean equally sweet and salty, akin to traditional creamy Coleslaw.


How to make No Mayo Coleslaw

Lots of shredding and mandolin action for the vegetables. Then just toss it all together and ideally leave it to wilt for a good hour or two. (Because nobody likes coleslaw with stiff cabbage sprigs sticking out all over the place. We want it floppy and juicy!).

How to make No Mayo Coleslaw (Apple Slaw)
No Mayo Coleslaw (Apple Slaw) in a bowl

What we serve with No Mayo Slaw

As I mentioned in the opening, we (well, my brother!) created this No Mayo Slaw as a more refreshing alternative to traditional mayonnaise Coleslaw to pair with rich mains. In particular, Southern foods where Coleslaw is a traditional side option:

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Close up of Pulled pork with BBQ Sauce
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Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich - Perfectly seasoned, tender pulled pork tossed in a homemade BBQ sauce, piled onto bread with coleslaw. Slow cooker, pressure cooker or oven. recipetineats.com
Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich
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Slow Cooker Beef Brisket with BBQ Sauce
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KFC Baked Oven Fried Chicken Tenders

One of my personal favourite “special treat” dinners is a Fried Chicken Southern Feast. Here is a menu for dishes that we made for a recent family dinner:

Southern Fried Chicken Dinner

Photo of Fried Chicken with fries and potatoes and gravy
Fried Chicken
Close up of a piece of Cornbread with butter and honey
Cornbread recipe
Pot of Southern Baked Beans with Bacon
Homemade Baked Beans with Bacon (Southern Style)
KFC Potato and Gravy recipe
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Green Bean Salad with Cherry Tomato Feta

Having said that though, the flavour is neutral enough that it will go with anything (non Asian). Delicate enough for fish and prawns, refreshing enough for big roasts.

Also, a couple more serving ideas:

  • Meal salad – toss through tuna or shredded chicken

  • In sandwiches – ham, tuna, smoked salmon or gravlax, chicken, avocado


Keeps for days and days!

One of the best things going for this salad is that it keeps for 3 to 4 days, much like creamy Coleslaw. In fact, I think it’s better made the day before, after all the flavours have had a chance to meld together.

So make a big tub of it, and bring it out day after day!! – Nagi x

PS Forgot to mention – if you love creamy slaw but want to skip the heavy mayo version, try a Yogurt Slaw Dressing. It’s very, very good!


Watch how to make it

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No Mayo Coleslaw (Apple Slaw)

Our best No Mayo Coleslaw

Author: Nagi
Prep: 15 mins
Wilting time: 1 hr
Sides
Western
5 from 17 votes
Servings10 – 12
Tap or hover to scale
Print
Recipe video above. This Slaw is addictive! The combination of ingredients in this might seem surprising but the flavours work extremely well together. With a subtle, refreshing flavour yet somehow at the same time has that "juiciness" that we love about traditional mayo based Coleslaw.
The flavour of the fennel and caraway seeds it quite subtle – in fact, many people don't even realise it's in there, they just know it's delicious!
We love serving this refreshing salad with rich Southern Foods like Fried Chicken, Brisket, BBQ Chicken, Pork Ribs and BBQ Pulled Pork. It's a perfect match!

Ingredients

Coleslaw:

  • 1/4 large head green cabbage (or 1/2 small head) , shredded (~12 cups, Note 1)
  • 1 medium fennel bulb , trimmed, halved and shaved at 1.5 mm on a mandolin (Note 2)
  • 1 red apple (any kind is fine), halved and thinly sliced (1.5 mm thick)
  • 1 cup dill leaves, roughly chopped (about 1 whole bunch)
  • 2 tsp caraway seeds (Note 4)

Dressing:

  • 2 small clove garlic , minced
  • 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar , or less to taste (Note 6)
  • 5 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 1/2 tsp caster sugar (Note 5)
  • 1/2 tsp salt (Note 5)
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper

Instructions

  • Dressing: Shake Dressing ingredients in a jar.
  • Toss! Place cabbage, fennel, apple and dill in a very large bowl. Pour over Dressing, toss well.
  • Sprinkle with caraway seeds then toss again.
  • Set aside for at least 1 hour to allow cabbage to wilt. Give it a good toss, then transfer to serving bowl and serve!
  • Storage: Keeps perfecty for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Dressing stops apple from going brown. Best to bring to room temperature before serving.

Recipe Notes:

1. Cabbage – about 12 cups packed (ie push cabbage in), approx 600g/1.2lb (after removal of thick cabbage core).
2. Fennel – the body of a medium one is about the size of a baseball (small is tennis ball size).
3. 1.5 mm = 0.06 inches thick. Not sure how millimetres are expressed in the US!
4. Caraway seeds have a similar aniseed flavour to the fennel and dill. Don’t want to use too much, just a touch to add an extra something-something to this Slaw!
5. Salt & sugar – this dressing specifically has less salt and more sugar than you’d expect because we like it to have a Coleslaw-like flavour which errs more towards a bit sweet than salty.
6. Vinegar – Vinegars can vary in acidity, so taste as you go. We like apple cider vinegar because it’s a natural match with the fresh apple and is lower in acidity than other vinegars. You can sub with other (white) vinegars, but start conservatively (eg. 1.5 tbsp) and increase gradually until you feel the balance is right.
7. Nutrition per serving.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 99cal (5%)Carbohydrates: 9g (3%)Protein: 1g (2%)Fat: 7g (11%)Saturated Fat: 1g (6%)Sodium: 151mg (7%)Potassium: 224mg (6%)Fiber: 3g (13%)Sugar: 4g (4%)Vitamin A: 100IU (2%)Vitamin C: 26mg (32%)Calcium: 39mg (4%)Iron: 1mg (6%)
Keywords: No mayo coleslaw
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @RecipeTinEats.

Life of Dozer

A Physio taught me to use tennis balls to loosen tight muscles in my back (ie lying on them on a rug). It will come as no surprise to anyone that the balls keep going missing, and I keep finding them in Dozer’s not-very-clever hiding places  – such as buried under cushions and blankets on his bed.

Dozer ball thief

Dozer – that innocent look on your face ain’t fooling anyone!

Dozer ball thief
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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

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43 Comments

  1. Ren says

    February 21, 2023 at 1:30 pm

    5 stars
    This is such a great salad!! I added some capsicum and radishes, as they needed to be used from my fridge. This was served with chicken breast using your recipe “Just a Great Chicken Marinade”. My hubby is trying to lose weight so this was a relatively low carb yet very healthy meal packed with flavour!
    Once again, thank you, Nagi.
    R x

    Reply
  2. Iris says

    October 22, 2022 at 7:38 am

    5 stars
    Yum! Super simple and tasty. I had to leave out fennel, apple, and caraway seeds (I know, like half the recipe) as I didn’t have any on hand and just needed to throw something quickly together as a side. I added carrots instead. It was so good! Next time will try to make it with all the ingredients and I’m sure it’ll be even better.

    Reply
  3. Montserrat says

    June 21, 2022 at 3:28 pm

    5 stars
    We loved this salad, quick to make and very tasty and refreshing!
    Thank you Nagi xx

    Reply
  4. Kathi Urban says

    May 8, 2022 at 11:00 pm

    My husband doesn’t care for dill. Is there a substitute ?

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      May 9, 2022 at 3:51 pm

      You could try tarragon, fennel or parsley if he likes any of those! N x

      Reply
  5. Peter says

    January 17, 2022 at 1:10 pm

    5 stars
    Everyone loved it: So I made this coleslaw with a couple of additions. Red Cabbage, radish and some fresh dill.

    Then I used your mayo recipe, to finish it off.

    The result was fantastic. This is the first time I have made a coleslaw. Just a dad cooking for his family. Everyone loved the coleslaw. You can always tell when people are asking ‘where is the coleslaw?’ when sitting at the table.

    Thanks Nagi, love your recipes.

    Reply
  6. Emma says

    January 16, 2022 at 8:09 am

    5 stars
    DELICIOUS 😋 I had already made a coleslaw and needed a dressing and new straight away where I’d go to find one as your website is my go to! Such a lovely light and tasty dressing.

    Reply
  7. Susan says

    July 15, 2021 at 10:37 am

    I would like to know how many servings this recipe is for

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      July 16, 2021 at 12:07 pm

      Hi Susan, the servings is just under the heading – 10-12 🙂 N x

      Reply
  8. Louisa Paul says

    June 17, 2021 at 7:17 am

    Thank you for this recipe. I have been looking for a nomayo coleslaw. I will admit, I did not add the dill and the apple, but instead julienne carrots. I love adding it to sandwiches (most often a combo of either flour tortilla or roti, cheese, and this wonderfulness). It is very tasty and keeps me full. Thank you! thank you! thank you!

    Reply
  9. Kelsey says

    May 15, 2021 at 4:34 am

    Texan here! This recipe looks delicious and I can assure y’all that no-mayo coleslaw is very much authentic. 🙂

    Most of the BBQ places around my city dress theirs in a zesty peppery vinegar sauce that goes well with the savory flavors of Texas-style barbecue.

    Reply
  10. Marianne E LaRiccia says

    March 31, 2021 at 7:56 am

    5 stars
    Best Ever! thank you for this recipe. Did not have all the “green” ingredients, but made due with what I had. Best dressing ever!

    Reply
  11. Delia Vel says

    January 29, 2021 at 12:26 pm

    5 stars
    This was delicious. Ok, I did not have fennel or caraway so I used mint to enhance the flavours. No caraway, and still great. Who knew dill would be that good in a salad. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  12. Rhonda says

    November 27, 2020 at 3:25 pm

    I have just made this for our American Thanksgiving dinner for tomorrow night. (we have 5 yanks in our immediate family). This smells so amazing & it was hard for me not to tuck into it straight away. Took the advice & made it the day before needing it. The dill, fennel combo is such a beautiful smell.

    Reply
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Hi, I'm Nagi!

I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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