Not your usual Coleslaw – this is Slaw the Jamaican way! A refreshingly tangy side salad with unmistakable tropical vibes thanks to the vibrant yellow dressing and juicy little pops of pineapple. The perfect accompaniment to bold flavoured Jamaican mains!
Welcome back to Jamaican week!
It’s Jamaican week here on RecipeTin Eats! A week where I’m sharing a set of recipes so you can enjoy a Jamaican-themed dinner in the comfort of your own home! Here’s the menu:
🌴 Jamaican menu 🌴
Main – Jerk Fish
Side salad – this Jamaican Slaw
Side – Jamaican Coconut Rice and Peas (beans)
Dessert – rum and raisin ice cream without an ice cream maker!
Today’s Jamaican Slaw and Jamaican Coconut Rice and Peas was featured as side dish with the Jamaican Jerk Fish recipe I shared on the weekend:
CHECK OUT THAT JERK SEASONING CRUST on the Jerk Fish!! It’s nuts how good it is – and how simple it is to make!
Distracted. Time to get back to today’s recipe – Jamaican Slaw!
Jamaican Slaw
Trust Jamaicans to take the classic coleslaw in all its creamy mayo-laden glory and turn it into a (healthier!) gloriously tropical side salad. It’s tangy and vibrant, with little bursts of fresh juicy sweetness from pineapple as well as chewy sweetness from raisins.
Finely sliced cabbage and shredded carrot are familiar slaw players, but that’s about it. The Jamaican slaw dressing is mayonnaise free, has a hint of warmth from jalapeño, freshness from finely chopped green onion, and owes its bright yellow colour (plus some of its tang) to this magical ingredient:
Yes, that’s right folks. Your hot dogs’ best friend – basic yellow mustard – is the secret ingredient in Jamaican Slaw. AND WE LOVE IT!
What goes in Jamaican Slaw
Well, I’ve already revealed the secret ingredient, so this section is going to be rather dull, isn’t it??? 😂 Nevertheless, I shall plough on.
The dressing
Yellow mustard – The secret ingredient! Provides flavour, tang, bright yellow colour and thickens the dressing. I use mild American yellow mustard. Any yellow mustard will be fine but steer clear of Hot English Mustard – too spicy! Dijon Mustard will also work just fine (but is more expensive, you’ll use most of a standard size jar).
Apple cider vinegar – An excellent all-rounder fairly smooth vinegar.
Olive oil – Use extra virgin olive oil if you have it, otherwise just ordinary olive oil.
Green onions – Finely chopped, for fresh oniony flavour.
Jalapeño – For a hum of authentic Jamaican warmth! Feel free to skip it or reduce the quantity.
The slaw
Cabbage – Just your everyday green cabbage.
Carrot – Peeled then shredded using a standard box grater.
Pineapple (see below) – Fresh if it’s ripe, otherwise canned is fine!
Raisins – Or sultanas. A traditional inclusion in Jamaican slaw, and I love it!
How to make Jamaican Slaw
An essential step with any slaw is to set it aside to give the cabbage time to wilt so it becomes floppy and juicy. That’s the way slaw is supposed to be! Nobody wants slaw with pokey bits of cabbage sticking out everywhere!
Shake dressing ingredients in a jar until well combine. Admire vibrant yellow colour.
Toss slaw salad ingredients with dressing.
Set aside for 1 hour+ to allow the cabbage to wilt.
Toss again then transfer into a bowl to serve!
See how the cabbage is flopping and sagging rather than like twigs poking out in all directions? Floppy is what we want.
Side salad for our Jamaican feast to accompany the Jerk Fish, done.
Now, if you haven’t already, pop over and get the Jamaican Coconut Rice and Peas recipe. It’s so good!! I could absolutely just eat a big bowl of that rice for dinner.
And to complete your Jamaican feast, rum and raisin ice cream without an ice cream maker! This is one of those recipes I deem to be something money-can’t-buy because it has real rum flavour that you just won’t get in tubs from the shops. I really hope you try it! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
Disappointed that I couldn’t find a ripe pineapple on the day I filmed this. But, I survived.
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Jamaican Slaw
Ingredients
Jamaican Slaw:
- 4 heaped cups green cabbage , finely shredded
- 2 cups shredded carrot (2 – 3 carrots)
- 1 1/2 cups diced pineapple , 1cm / 1/2" cubes (fresh or canned in juice) (Note 1)
- 3/4 cup raisins (or sultanas)
Jamaican Slaw Dressing:
- 3 tbsp yellow mustard , American or other (Note 2)
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp jalapeño , deseeded, finely minced
- 1/4 cup green onion , finely chopped (Note 3)
- 1/2 tsp cooking/kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Dressing: Shake ingredients in a jar until combined.
- Wilt: Place all the Slaw ingredients in a large bowl. Pour over Dressing and toss. Leave to wilt for at least 1 hour.
- Serve: Toss well to coat in the juices & dressing pooled at the bottom of the bowl. Transfer to bowl and serve!
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Life of Dozer
It’s Jamaican week. Let me amuse myself. (Related photo in Life of Dozer in Jamaican Coconut Rice and Peas…. it’s even better!)
Hi Nagi, thank you for this awesome Jamaican Slaw recipe. It is a most delicious reprieve from the usual slaws heavy on the mayo. Love Dozer bobsledding! He’s a champ 😉
Wow this is just soooo delicious! I used fresh pineapple which i think makes this the best. Ugh! I can eat the whole thing!
Loved this slaw. We had it with lime/coriander chicken and will have the rest with tacos tomorrow night. Looking forward to making it to have with pork.
Jamaican slaw is amazing. We used tinned pineapple which gave excellent results. It’s a perfect accompaniment to the Jerk fish .
It’s so easy to prepare and it’s already a family favourite.
Use sweet ripe pineapple! My pineapple failed me but I will try it again with a ripe one or canned, if it’s not sweet enough.
This one is going on a list for an 80th birthday buffet.
Really enjoyed this coleslaw. Perfect for these hot days 😀
I know it’s odd, but I don’t really like raisins so I don’t have any. I do have dates, though. Could I use them instead if I chop them into raisin size pieces? Also, Dozer is adorable and very patient!
This slaw was awesome. For some reason we have a hard time of finding cabbage (white or purple) here in France. We used radicchio instead and it worked well.
Love the picture of Dozer on your foot. I do the same with our cat when he falls asleep on my lap. It doesn’t matter what I want to do I wait till Tommy moves.
Im definitely making this for our get together with friends on the weekend.
Just a comment to ask you when you make it next time to please use Aussie tinned pineapple (if using tinned). The brand you have there is not an Aussie brand. Golden Circle is the best 👍💕
Why should she make a recipe just for youŕ countries product? She writes her recipes for people in ALL countries, so she uses products she can purchase locally!
I just read elsewhere that in Australia a tablespoon is 4 teaspoons not 3 as it is here in the USA. If so, that explains why I have wanted to adjust some of your recipes.
Love the pic of Dozer in John Candy’s movie (Cool Runnings) which was shot in Calgary, Alberta (where I’m from).
Not tried the recipe yet but will this weekend. Love the concept of doing themed meals. My question is why not brown rice? I use a long grain brown basmati and think it would be fine. Maybe it needs to be parcooked?
Where is the rice? Have I missed something?
This looks so good except I haaaate raisins. What could I use instead? Cranberries?
Or course. Any dried fruit in raisin-sized pieces would work.
This feast sounds perfect for our Valentine’s Day dinner just around the corner. So fresh & vibrant, perfect for a hot summer night with a tasty chilled beverage – any suggestions?
Pinot noir wine, depends which country you are in 👌!
Love the sound of this one Nagi. Something different from the usual. Might make it tonight to go with my Kangaroo Steak. Aussie meets Jamaica. 😉
This looks fantastic. I grew up eating Lithuanian coleslaw, when someone gave me American coleslaw made with mayo I told them it could be slaw!!! This looks so yummy making it soon!!!
Hi Nagi
I have been looking forward to get the Coleslaw and Rice recipe…. BUT I hate, hate, hate pineapple, what could I use instead ?
I add fresh mango to my coleslaw when they are in season. They would go with the Jamaican theme
I like nectarines or oranges in my salads but haven’t tried in coleslaw though.
Mango or apple.
100% agree. I put apple in slaw all the time and nice firm cubes of mango would be perfect too. Smooth pineapple is really hit and miss – I prefer to use Roughs but they’re so hard to find.
Hi Pam,
I once ate at a Caribbean restaurant in London and they used watermelon which was quite fresh. Could be worth a shot?