A versatile food, such as coleslaw, never fails to surprise me. You can see it in barbecues, simple dinners, and even in fast-food takeouts. I was so intrigued by why it’s such a sensation, and from then on I’ve always made a couple of homemade versions of this cabbage dish. I wanted to create a coleslaw that would stay true to how it is really made but with a twist coz that’s how I normally roll while letting you explore the full potential of a dish. Today’s version will surely get a thumbs up from adults and as well as the little ones. You’ll see why. 😉

What is Coleslaw?

Coleslaw is such a peculiar word, maybe for English speakers, but the dish and the word both originated as far back as the 18th century in the Netherlands. The word is an Anglicized version of the original term which was “koolslaw” meaning cabbage salad. It was originally prepared by mixing thinly cut strips of cabbages with melted butter, vinegar, and oil. The coleslaw recipe then developed into the modern mayonnaise-based dish we know and love today. Although some versions of the coleslaw dressing have been commercialized and are readily available in grocery stores, I still prefer mine handmade! If you’re like me, you’d want people you feed to feel the effort and love in your dish. The best part about this is that the coleslaw dressing recipe is super easy to make.

Easy Coleslaw Ingredients

Don’t get too intimidated when you look at the finished product. Although it looks like it requires so many ingredients, it’s actually just made of two parts – the thinly sliced veggies and the rich coleslaw dressing. Sliced Veggies The key to a great-tasting coleslaw recipe is that it should be enjoyable to eat. That’s why it is essential to have the cabbages and carrots thinly sliced. You can prepare your veggies in two ways.

Sliced Thinly. One is to use your trusty knife and chop the cabbages thinly by angling the knife and cabbage about 80 degrees from the chopping board. You’ll end up with thinly shredded cabbages. Diced Carrots. The carrots can be diced into small brunoise bits.

(If you want to see an easy overview of veggie cuts, you can visit our How to Cut an Onion story. Alternatively, you can use a box grater to shred your veggies.) Coleslaw Dressing The second part of our dish is the rich coleslaw dressing recipe. This recipe involves mostly wet ingredients. Mustard, heavy cream, honey, and mayonnaise are thick liquids that will generate the volume of our dressing. Moreover, white vinegar, onion powder, black pepper, and celery seeds are here to add a kick of flavor that would make our coleslaw stand out! Pro Tip: Add salt in moderation to adjust the flavor for your preference but be careful not to add too much because salt can draw out water from the veggies through the reverse osmosis process giving you a watery coleslaw.

Recipe Variations

Aside from those mentioned in our recipe box, you can actually throw in any add-ins you like and put your own stamp in this simple coleslaw recipe. Here are just among the things that you can add to this cabbage salad.

Apples Dried Cranberries Sliced Almonds or Pecans Cheddar or Bleu Cheese Pineapple Bits or Diced Ripe Mango Poppyseeds Fresh Berries Diced Celery

Storing Homemade Coleslaw

Coleslaw in general must always be kept cool #CoolAsAColeslaw. If you leave it at room temperature for around 2 hours, it will surely go bad. To prevent this, use plastic wrap to cover the top of your bowl, make sure it doesn’t get exposed to air, and just pop it in the fridge chiller, don’t put it in the freezer unless you want coleslaw icicles, even if you thaw it out. It wouldn’t be as fresh as properly stored coleslaw. When stored properly, this slaw recipe will last for about 3 to 5 days.

Different Coleslaw Recipes

Want to see my other Coleslaw variations? Check these ones out below. Go play along with this simple dish and let me know which one you love the most.

Vinegar Coleslaw Caribbean Coleslaw Creamy Coleslaw Dressing

What to Serve with Easy Coleslaw?

As we all know, coleslaws are a big-time hit during the summer season. In case you’re wondering which are the top dishes that are usually paired with coleslaw, then read below.

Baby Back Ribs Pulled Pork Grilled Shrimp Kabob Smoked Chicken Fried Fish Sandwich

How to Make Coleslaw

Making the Coleslaw Dressing

Mix the dressing ingredients. In a small bowl whisk together mustard, salt, sugar, honey, vinegar, mayonnaise, sour cream, pepper, onion powder, and celery seeds. (Photos 1-2) Then refrigerate until ready to use.   

Mix the Veggies & Dressing

Mix the veggies. In a salad or another bowl, mix together green and purple cabbage, and carrots. This step may be done an hour ahead or even a day ahead. (Photo 3) Add the dressing. Pour the coleslaw dressing into the cabbage mixture and mix it together. Start with a small amount at a time until fully combined. (Photo 4) Season with salt and pepper. Keep refrigerated until ready to be used. 

Watch How To Make It

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”g26edOnz” upload-date=”2021-06-29T08:10:25.000Z” name=”Easy Coleslaw” description=”Thick, silky, and crunchy, this homemade Easy Coleslaw is more than just a sweet tangy side dish. It’s a bedazzling superstar when we talk about having a full meal as it elevates the flavor and texture of any simple meal. So give your next dish some sweet personality with the best coleslaw recipe in town.” player-type=”static”] This blog post was first published in July 2020 and has been updated with additional information and a video.   Nutrition Facts Easy Coleslaw Amount Per Serving Calories 194 Calories from Fat 99 % Daily Value* Fat 11g17%Saturated Fat 3g19%Cholesterol 13mg4%Sodium 681mg30%Potassium 308mg9%Carbohydrates 23g8%Fiber 3g13%Sugar 16g18%Protein 2g4% Vitamin A 7456IU149%Vitamin C 32mg39%Calcium 69mg7%Iron 1mg6% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
 

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