I’m always looking for simple salad ideas to increase my veggie intake. Some of my family’s favorite recipes include fresh and colorful corn salad, light and healthy cucumber tomato salad, zesty black eyed pea salad and this fabulous red cabbage slaw. When I need a salad to go alongside some grilled chicken thighs or to bring to a potluck, I often turn to this red cabbage slaw. This brightly colored dish is unexpected, but the bold, fresh flavor is always welcomed at any gathering. Cabbage slaw pairs perfectly with so many main course options including mushroom chicken, Instant Pot chicken thighs and Cuban picadillo.
Cabbage Slaw Ingredients
The vegetable components of this recipe are cabbage, carrots and red onions. Parsley and green onions provide a lot of color and enhance the flavor of the veggies. The dressing is a sweet and savory blend of ingredients that you probably already happen to have in your kitchen including extra virgin olive oil, cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt and black pepper.
How Do You Make Red Cabbage Slaw?
Start by shredding red cabbage, carrots and red onions. Place the vegetables in a bowl along with sliced green onions and fresh parsley. Whisk together apple cider vinegar, olive oil, honey and Dijon mustard for the dressing. Pour the dressing over the veggies, then toss until well combined. Add a little more parsley for garnish if desired, then serve and enjoy.
Tips For The Perfect Dish
To save on prep time, you can buy bags of shredded carrots and cabbage at the grocery store. I typically shred my own veggies with the use of a mandoline. The mandoline produces uniform shreds of cabbage, ultra thin slices of onion, and I use the julienne blade for the carrots. When the cabbage is mixed with the dressing, the color may bleed into the other ingredients. If this bothers you, try tossing the shredded cabbage in a little lemon juice or vinegar before proceeding with the recipe, as the acid will help the cabbage retain its color. If you prefer a creamy slaw, you can swap out this vinegar based dressing with a mayonnaise based dressing. Simply combine 1/2 cup mayonnaise with 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper.
Red Cabbage Slaw Flavor Variations
While this coleslaw recipe is great as-is, you can add other ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes.
Veggies: Amp up the nutritional value by mixing in thinly shaved fennel, zucchini noodles, diced cucumbers or jicama. Avocado, corn or thinly sliced bell peppers are also great choices for this salad! Fruit: Add in some fresh diced apple, dried cranberries,raisins or sliced grapes for a sweet and savory flavor. Nuts: Give your slaw some extra crunch with sliced almonds, chopped cashews or even pecans. Protein: Add extra protein by incorporating cooked crumbled bacon, diced grilled chicken or canned white beans. Flavorings: Stir some extra seasonings into the dressing such as celery seed, lime juice or garlic powder.
I make this red cabbage slaw recipe on a regular basis because it’s full of flavor, inexpensive, and goes well with almost any main course!
