The Only Coleslaw Recipe Our Editors Make (2024)

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Emma Christensen

Emma Christensen

Emma is a former editor for The Kitchn and a graduate of the Cambridge School for Culinary Arts. She is the author of True Brews and Brew Better Beer. Check out her website for more cooking stories

updated Aug 31, 2023

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The Only Coleslaw Recipe Our Editors Make (1)

Classic coleslaw with shredded cabbage, carrots, and a creamy dressing is the perfect side for your next backyard party.

Serves10 to 12

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The Only Coleslaw Recipe Our Editors Make (2)

This coleslaw is a classic. As in, the classic, with green cabbage, shredded carrots, and creamy dressing. If you’re looking for a show-stopping creamy coleslaw that promises to play nice with all the burgers and hot dogs at your next backyard party, we have you covered.

This recipe for creamy coleslaw is the epitome of what a good slaw should be: green cabbage, a few carrots, and a creamy dressing. It is a classic side dish to the cookout fare we’re all eating this time of year. Its cool creaminess, crunchy texture, and tangy flavor balances out the richness of smoked and grilled meats.

This said, I’m not opposed to the occasional riff on the original (case in point: this Tri-Color Coleslaw recipe). Shred some red cabbage alongside the green for a pretty mix of colors. And don’t be shy about adding a few chopped celery stalks or some bell peppers in there — anything crunchy and fresh will only make the coleslaw better.

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Three Creamy Dressings for Coleslaw

There are three different coleslaw dressings that show up again and again in the classic American cookbooks. No matter which version you try, each of these creamy coleslaw dressings are brightened with vinegar (white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar) and balanced with sugar and kosher salt.

  • Mayonnaise dressing:Makes a richer, slightly sweeter dressing.
  • Buttermilk dressing:Makes a lighter, tarter dressing.
  • Sour cream dressing:Makes for a rich and tangy dressing.

I’m a buttermilk girl, personally, but luckily there is a creamy coleslaw dressing for everyone. (And if there’s no buttermilk in the fridge, it’s quick and easy to make a buttermilk substitute.) Zuzh up any of these dressings with a spoonful of mustard, a sprinkle of celery seeds, or a bit of grated onion.

How To Make 3 Easy Coleslaw Dressings

Read More

How To Make Coleslaw in Advance

Freshly made coleslaw is at its crunchiest, creamiest best if eaten on the day it’s made. The longer it sits, either on a picnic table or in the refrigerator overnight, the more liquid is released from the shredded cabbage, which can make the salad soggy.

If you must make coleslaw a day or two in advance, it is best to shred the cabbage and carrots, and then store them, undressed, in a container in the fridge until you need them. Mix up the dressing in a mason jar or other small container; when you’re ready to assemble the salad, just shake up the jar and pour.

Salting Cabbage is Essential for Extra-Crunchy Coleslaw

Salting the cabbage seems counterintuitive since the salt draws moisture from the cabbage, causing it to wilt. But, once sqeezed of that excess moisture the slaw is extra-crunchy, and the salad itself will keep without becoming waterlogged.

How To Serve Coleslaw

Chill the coleslaw in the fridge for about an hour before serving. This gives the flavors time to mingle and relax into each other. For that extra little kiss of coleslaw goodness, save a little bit of the dressing to drizzle over the slaw just before serving.

More Coleslaw Recipes to Make

In the mood for something beyond the usual? Try one of these great recipes:

  • Broccoli Slaw
  • Tangy Carrot Slaw
  • Sesame Ginger Slaw
  • Tri-Color Slaw with Lime Dressing
  • Peanut, Carrot, and Cabbage Slaw
  • Root Vegetable Slaw with Orange-Cumin Dressing
  • Kohlrabi and Carrot Slaw
  • Miso Slaw
  • Collard Green Slaw
Comments

Creamy Coleslaw Recipe

Classic coleslaw with shredded cabbage, carrots, and a creamy dressing is the perfect side for your next backyard party.

Serves 10 to 12

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

For the slaw:

  • 1 small head

    green or red cabbage (2 to 2 1/2 pounds)

  • 1 tablespoon

    kosher salt (optional)

  • 2 to 3

    large carrots (3 to 3 1/2 cups shredded)

  • 1 1/4 cups

    coleslaw dressing (options below)

Dressing Option 1: Mayonnaise

  • 1 cup

    mayonnaise

  • 1/4 cup

    white wine or apple cider vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon

    granulated sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon

    kosher salt

Dressing Option 2: Buttermilk

  • 1/2 cup

    buttermilk

  • 1/2 cup

    mayonnaise

  • 1/4 cup

    white wine or apple cider vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon

    granulated sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon

    kosher salt

Dressing Option 3: Sour Cream

  • 1/2 cup

    sour cream

  • 1/2 cup

    mayonnaise

  • 1/4 cup

    white wine or apple cider vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon

    granulated sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon

    kosher salt

Equipment

  • Chef's knife

  • Food processor with a shredding blade, or box grater

  • Large bowl

  • Small bowl

  • Whisk

Instructions

Show Images

  1. Shred the cabbage. Halve 1 small head green or red cabbage through the core and peel off and discard a few of the thin outer layers. Cut each half into quarters, then cut out the tough core in the middle. Slice each quarter crosswise into thin shreds, or run the quarters through a food processor fitted with a shredding disc.

  2. Salt the cabbage (optional). Salting the cabbage helps it stay crisp a little longer if you're making the coleslaw ahead. Transfer the cabbage to colander and toss it with 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Let stand on a plate or in the sink for an hour or two. Squeeze as much moisture as you can from the cabbage, then transfer to a large bowl and continue making the coleslaw.

  3. Shred the carrots. Peel 2 to 3 large carrots, then either shred them using a food processor with the shredding disc, on the large holes a box grater, or cut by hand into very small matchsticks (3 to 3 1/2 cups shredded). Add the carrots to the bowl with the cabbage and toss to combine.

  4. Make the dressing. Place all the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Taste and season with more kosher salt, sugar, or vinegar as needed.

  5. Toss the slaw with the dressing. Pour the dressing over the shredded cabbage and carrots. Toss gently to combine, making sure all the shreds are coated evenly. (If you're making this more than an hour or two ahead of your party, save a little dressing to toss with the salad just before serving.)

  6. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Coleslaw has the best texture and flavor the day it's made, but it still keeps well for several days in the fridge. If you're making this coleslaw more than a day ahead, don't skip the salting step above. For extra creaminess, drizzle a little reserved dressing over the top of the slaw, or fold an extra spoonful of mayo into the slaw just before serving.

Recipe Notes

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

The nutritional information has been calculated with the mayonnaise dressing.

Filed in:

Dairy-Free

dinner

Dinner for a Crowd

easy

Gluten-Free

How To

The Only Coleslaw Recipe Our Editors Make (2024)

FAQs

What is Kowalski coleslaw? ›

A traditional blend of crunchy cabbage and shredded carrots tossed with our creamy Signature Coleslaw Dressing. Serves 20. Made with gluten-free and vegetarian ingredients.

Which country invented coleslaw salad? ›

The dish was initially created in the Netherlands. In fact, the term coleslaw originates from the Dutch expression koosla, which means “cabbage salad.” Recipes similar to coleslaw have been found and used in American homes from as early as 1770.

Who discovered coleslaw? ›

Its origins can be traced back as far as the ancient Romans, who served a dish of cabbage, vinegar, eggs and spices. The Dutch who founded New York state grew cabbage around the Hudson River that they used in a shredded cabbage salad they called koosla (kool means cabbage and sla is salad).

Where did mayo coleslaw originate? ›

Coleslaw (from the Dutch term koolsla meaning 'cabbage salad'), also known as cole slaw or simply as slaw, is a side dish consisting primarily of finely shredded raw cabbage with a salad dressing or condiment, commonly either vinaigrette or mayonnaise. This dish originated in the Netherlands in the 18th century.

What is in Mary Brown's coleslaw? ›

If you're in the mood for something creamy, sweet, and tangy, coleslaw is an excellent option. Mary Brown's shreds fresh cabbage and carrots in house, and tops it with a creamy dressing.

What is Amish coleslaw made of? ›

CABBAGE, MAYONNAISE (SOYBEAN OIL, EGG YOLKS [EGG YOLKS, SALT], HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, WHITE DISTILLED VINEGAR, MUSTARD [WATER, DISTILLED VINEGAR, MUSTARD SEED, SALT, SPICES], WATER, SALT), FRUCTOSE, SUGAR, CARROTS, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, GLUCONO DELTA LACTONE, PEA FIBER, ERYTHORBIC ACID (TO ...

Is coleslaw good for you? ›

Yes, coleslaw can be healthy! The base of coleslaw is shredded vegetables (traditionally cabbage), so inherently coleslaw is vitamin- and fiber-packed and good for you. The issue is the dressing. Most traditional creamy coleslaw dressing is made with high fat ingredients like mayo and has sugar added too.

What is traditional coleslaw made of? ›

It's packed with shredded cabbage and julienned carrots (for health!) and tossed in the holy triumvirate of coleslaw dressing ingredients: apple cider vinegar for acidity, honey for balance, and mayonnaise to tie it all together (feel free to substitute up to half the mayo for tangier Greek yogurt or sour cream for an ...

Why is coleslaw now called slaw? ›

Whatever the reason for the formation, people familiar with the food item began tinkering with its name. For instance, the Latin-based cole was substituted for cold and the spelling variant slaugh was used with cold or cole. The name was also chopped to slaw or slaugh.

What ethnicity is Cole slaw? ›

comes from the Dutch expression koolsla which. means "cabbage salad"? And at Jakes, cole slaw is a delicious topping on. some of our sandwiches or a great side to pair with.

Who invented coleslaw in America? ›

According to NPR, coleslaw originated with the ancient Romans, who made a similar dish using cabbage, vinegar, eggs, and spices. The introduction of the dish to the United States can be traced back to Dutch immigrants.

Is coleslaw a southern thing? ›

In South Carolina, you'll find various coleslaw styles, but the most prevalent is mayonnaise-based, aka Southern-style. The first coleslaw recipes, however, contained zero mayo and for good reason—the condiment hadn't been invented yet. Food historians trace the origins of coleslaw all the way back to ancient Rome.

Does A&W have coleslaw? ›

Your choice of golden fried Cod or our new larger, crunchy Shrimp served with fresh coleslaw and a boatload of hot fries.

Who invented mayonnaise? ›

The most popular theory attributes its birth to Mahon, in the Balearic Islands, in 1756. During the French siege, the Duke of Richelieu allegedly requested his chef to create a sauce with the few ingredients available. From “Mahon” to “Mahonnaise” (sauce made in Mahon), the step was very short.

Where does red slaw come from? ›

Lexington-style slaw is famous for its unique color. When I first heard the term "red slaw," I thought it meant coleslaw made with red cabbage, but in the Lexington area of North Carolina, that's not the case. "Red" refers to the color of the dressing, which uses ketchup in place of the standard mayo.

What's the difference between coleslaw and slaw? ›

The real difference is that the raw, chopped vegetables in coleslaw are primarily cabbage: Napa, red, savoy, or bok choy. Slaw without the cole can feature any crunchy veggie in place of cabbage, including chopped or shredded broccoli, carrots, snow peas, jicama, and more.

What is coleslaw made of? ›

In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayo, apple cider vinegar, mustard, maple syrup, celery seeds, salt, and several grinds of fresh pepper. Make the coleslaw. In a large bowl, toss together the cabbage, carrots, and scallions. Pour the dressing over the top and toss to coat.

Why did Chick-fil-A stop selling coleslaw? ›

"But as our sales volumes grew, it just wasn't feasible to keep adding to the menu without taking anything away." Chick-fil-A cut cole slaw from the menu in January to make room for a new "superfood" side of kale and broccolini in a maple vinaigrette dressing.

What coleslaw was recalled? ›

The products being recalled are 14 oz President's Choice Colorful Coleslaw, Lot codes B318005 and B318006 (UPC code 0-6038322267-3), with Use-by date of 2019 DE 04 and 16 oz Marketside Tri-Color Coleslaw, Lot codes B318005 and B318006 (UPC code 6-81131-38748-4), with Best if Used by date DEC 04 2019, due to a possible ...

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