Classic Coleslaw Recipe and How to Make it Your Own!

Isn’t coleslaw lovely – almost a miracle!

Even at its most basic, just shredded cabbage, onion and mayonnaise coleslaw is delicious. It is also quick, cheap, easy, healthy and if you use light mayonnaise (and personally, so far as Hellman’s is concerned, I can taste very little or perhaps no difference) not too fattening either.  So, finding myself in possession of a surplus of cabbage I recently made myself some …

Very Basic Coleslaw 

300g finely shredded cabbage – red or white or both

1 medium sized onion – red or white or both
1 carrot – coarsely grated
3 tbsp mayonnaise
salt and black pepper to taste

~   Finely shred or chop the cabbage.

~   Similarly cut the onion and add to the cabbage together with the carrot.

~   Add the mayonnaise and stir and toss all together till everything is coated with mayo.

~   Taste and season. 

Here is a romantic portrait of my finished coleslaw!

I really enjoy this simple salad but there are so many delicious ways vary it, for instance use a flavoured mayonnaise – see here for 38 Delicious Mayonnaise Variations all of which work well in coleslaw. 

Or try half mayonnaise and half sour cream in the above recipe plus a teaspoon of white wine vinegar and a teaspoon of caster sugar to dress the slaw.

It is also possible, of course, to make coleslaw with no mayonnaise whatsoever.

No-Mayo Coleslaw

If you don’t like mayonnaise, can’t eat eggs, are vegan or just fancy a change here are some ideas.

~   Try dressing your coleslaw with a vinaigrette, lots of vinaigrette and dressing ideas here.

~   Sour cream dressing – mix together 240g sour cream, 1 tbsp cider vinegar plus salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper to taste. I would also advise using a lot of onion in the coleslaw when using this dressing or adding finely chopped red onion to the sour cream.

Spicy Peanut Coleslaw Dressing

60ml runny honey

60ml vegetable oil

60ml rice vinegar
1 rounded tablespoon peanut butter – smooth or crunchy

1 tablespoon soy sauce

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1 tsp of sweet chilli sauce
salt to taste, depending on the peanut butter you use

~  Whisk all together except the salt.
~  Taste and seaon.
~  Dress your slaw.

Or try ...

Carolina Red Slaw - recipe here

Now then, whichever dressing you use, make this slaw your own …

Great Coleslaw Additions

Try adding one, two or even more of the following …

~   Lemon or lime juice which brightens the taste
~   A couple of teaspoons of delicious vinegar such as cider vinegar
~   A teaspoon of sugar
~   A little whole grain mustard
~   A little horseradish sauce

~   Spring onions (scallions) cut finely on the diagonal make a tasty and pretty addition

~   Coarsely grated apple – leave the skin on if you like, especially if it is pretty, and toss with a little lemon juice to stop it browning

~   Coarsely grated mature cheddar goes well in an apple coleslaw

~   Finely shredded raw beetroot which makes lovely pink coleslaw – see here for beetroot coleslaw
~   Fresh fennel bulb, shredded – garnish with some of the pretty fronds. This is an excellent accompaniment to fish dishes
~   Fresh herbs
~   Shredded chorizo
~   Adding shredded ham with thinly sliced red and/or yellow pepper and shredded Asiago cheese added to your mayonnaise based coleslaw makes the Italian dish - Insalata Capricciosa

~   Hot sauce, sweet chilli sauce or chipotle paste
~   Nuts or seeds, roasted, salted or otherwise
~   A little dried fruit – cranberries, for instance, at Christmas
~   Olives - best stoned and chopped.