I love coleslaw! It may sound like a strange food to have such strong feelings about. But I think this humble side dish tends to get overlooked. Some might feel that coleslaw is bland. Or maybe versions that you’ve had contain more fatty dressing than actual veggies. But your coleslaw experience doesn’t have to be this way! Today I bring you this Classic Creamy Coleslaw: a recipe that will dispel any and all negative feelings you might have about this modest salad.
Why Is Classic Creamy Coleslaw a Showstopper
Addictive Taste
Cabbage can be a bit bitter. But when salt and vinegar combine, it creates a magical solution that removes that bitterness. In this slaw, we add carrots, apples, green onion and cilantro- flavors that hit every part of your palate. The dressing is creamy but light, slightly sweet with an apple cider vinegar tang. This ultimate combination creates an addictive taste that will keep you coming back for seconds and thirds!
Homemade for Good Health
You might not think that a mayonnaise-based dish was healthy. But that’s why making dishes from scratch is so important! All of these vitamin rich veggies are coated in just enough homemade dressing to give it that classic creaminess, without being overwhelming. We also use Homemade Mayonnaise made with heart healthy avocado oil in the dressing. Even creamy dishes can be healthy when using simple, antioxidant rich, immune boosting ingredients!
Made Ahead for Ease
This Classic Creamy Coleslaw will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. It actually gets better as it sits and the flavors meld. It comes together quite quickly, especially if you use a food processor to shred your veggies.
Endless Serving Options
What doesn’t go well with coleslaw? (Ok, I’m sure there are a few meals.) But a healthy serving of slaw goes great alongside:
Any fish or seafood dishes including, baked salmon, fish tacos, shrimp scampi, and more
Any picnic food like hamburgers, hot dogs, bratwursts. We just discovered a delicious version of Publix’s Greenwise Fresh Chicken Sausage: Butternut and Kale. Wow is it yummy and goes perfectly with this slaw. (Side note for any SCD’ers: This Butternut and Kale Chicken Sausage and Publix’s fresh Bratwurst are mostly SCD legal and well tolerated by my daughter who is following the Specific Carbohydrate Diet.)
The Classic Creamy salad features cabbage, carrots, apples, green onion and cilantro- flavors that hit every part of your palate. The dressing is creamy but light, slightly sweet with an apple cider vinegar tang. This ultimate combination creates an addictive taste that will keep you coming back for seconds and thirds!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Salad:
About 5 cups cabbage- (I use 1/2 of a small-medium green cabbage, napa cabbage, savoy cabbage or 10 oz bagged pre-shredded coleslaw mix)
2 medium carrots- shredded
1 large apple- cored and shredded
2 green onions- chopped
1/2 cup cilantro/parsley (I prefer cilantro but whatever you have on hand works great!)- rough chopped
Mix all dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Taste and adjust salt/pepper/vinegar as desired. Set aside.
Squeeze about 1 Tbsp lemon into a large bowl. Shred the apple into the bowl and toss with the lemon juice. This will keep the apple from turning brown.
Add shredded carrots, cabbage, chopped green onion and cilantro.
Toss everything in the large bowl with the dressing.
Refrigerate for an hour to allow the flavors to blend. Toss with optional add-ins if desired before serving.
