Coleslaw

Just a great, creamy, traditional Coleslaw recipe with a terrific homemade Coleslaw dressing. Everything you want, none of the unnecessary extras. A staple for that’s even better the next day!

For a healthier version with no mayo, make this Cole slaw with a Creamy Yogurt Coleslaw Dressing (it’s so good!) OR try the RecipeTin No Mayo Coleslaw.

A great Coleslaw doesn’t need a ton of ingredients.

All you need is cabbage, carrot and a terrific Coleslaw dressing for this summertime classic. Along with Macaroni Salad and Caprese Salad, this is the salad we take to gatherings, that we lay out on buffets – because we know it’s a sure thing!

It lasts for days in the fridge so we have a great standby side for dinners and quick additions to lunchboxes. A traditional Coleslaw recipe is a classic that will never go out of fashion!

Coleslaw dressing

I’m a firm believer that Coleslaw should be JUICY. Just like it’s served up at KFC and other popular takeout chains. And juicy means plenty of dressing!

I like BUT if you just load up your dressing with tons of mayo, it weighs it down with too much fat, making the Cole slaw excessively rich and soaking the cabbage to the point of being soggy mush.

So I like to make plenty of dressing with a combination of both mayonnaise and sour cream, plus mustard and celery salt for flavour, and vinegar to cut through the richness.

Why does my Coleslaw get watery?

Most likely because you are not using enough dressing. Coleslaw is meant to be set aside to wilt before serving, during which time water is extracted from the cabbage which thins the dressing.

So you need to ensure there’s enough Dressing otherwise your Coleslaw becomes watery!

Key Tip: Give it time

To achieve that perfect Coleslaw texture, it needs time to soften so you don’t have stiff prints of cabbage poking out all over the place. At least 20 minutes, better at 2 hours or overnight.

The salt and sugar in the dressing draws out the moisture from the cabbage, thinning out the rich dressing and making the Coleslaw ultra juicy, as well as giving time for the flavours to meld.

Serve this with BBQ Pulled Pork (make sliders!), BBQ Brisket or these terrific sticky Country-Style Chicken Thighs with a  side of steamed corn for a summer cookout indoors! – Nagi x

MORE SUMMER SALADS to take to gatherings 

• Italian Pasta Salad
• Potato Salad and Lemon Potato Salad
• Pearl Couscous Salad <– personal fave!
• Macaroni Pasta Salad
• Wild Rice Salad <– reader fave!
• 12 Minute Sun Dried Tomato Couscous Salad
• Browse all Pasta Salads and Rice Salad

WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT

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Coleslaw

Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 20 mins

Resting: 20 mins

Total: 30 mins

Side

Western

4.96 from 43 votes

Servings6 - 8 people

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RECIPE VIDEO ABOVE. A really great Coleslaw doesn't have tons of ingredients in it - just cabbage and carrot. It's really all about the dressing! Serve as a side salad or pile onto sandwiches. A terrific summer salad that's even better the next day. Try this on BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches! User slider to scale recipe - click on servings.

Ingredients

• 7 cups green cabbage , finely shredded (Note 1)7 cups green cabbage , finely shredded (Note 1)
• 1 medium carrot , shredded (1 1/2 cups)1 medium carrot , shredded (1 1/2 cups)

Dressing

• 1/2 cup Hellman's mayonnaise (or other whole egg mayo)1/2 cup Hellman's mayonnaise (or other whole egg mayo)
• 1/2 cup sour cream or yoghurt, full fat is best1/2 cup sour cream or yoghurt, full fat is best
• 1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (or sub with white wine vinegar)1 1/2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (or sub with white wine vinegar)
• 2 tsp Dijon mustard2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 2 tbsp white sugar2 tbsp white sugar
• 3/4 tsp celery salt3/4 tsp celery salt
• 1/4 tso black pepper1/4 tso black pepper

Instructions

• Mix Dressing ingredients together.
• Place cabbage and carrot in a bowl. Pour over Dressing, toss well. Set aside for at least 20 minutes before serving, preferably 2 hours - this will make the cabbage go limp as it should, and also draw moisture out of the cabbage and carrot to thin out the dressing. Overnight is even better!
• Toss well before serving. 

Recipe Notes:

1. 7 cups of shredded cabbage is less than half a medium sized cabbage, 1/4 of a large one (i.e. just smaller than the size of a basketball).

2. MAKE AHEAD: Coleslaw that's already dressed is terrific for 2 days, still very good on Day 3, and still good up to 5 days.

You can also place carrot and cabbage in a ziplock bag, squeeze out excess air then refrigerate for up to 5 days. Make the dressing and store in the fridge separately. Then dress before serving (remember to set aside to wilt!).

3. This recipe serves 6 - 8 as a side. It makes enough for one batch of the BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches.

3. VARIATION suggestions from readers (and some from me!):
Add chopped or sliced onions
Add shallots/scallions finely sliced on the diagonal
Swap out some of the green cabbage for red cabbage (love the colour)
Granny smith apples cut into batons (YUM that would be fantastic!)

4. Nutrition per serving, assuming 8 servings.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 169cal (8%)

Keywords: Coleslaw, Coleslaw Recipe

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