Coleslaw - The Plant Based School (2024)

Table of Contents

• How to make coleslaw
• Variations
• Serving suggestions
• Tip
• Storage
• More cabbage recipes
• More creamy salads
• Coleslaw Recipe

You’ll love our homemade coleslaw because it’s easy to make with a few simple vegetables, you can prep it in advance, and it’s tasty and indulgent while being light and refreshing.

The secret is all in the dressing, which we make with a combination of mayonnaise (we use our homemade vegan mayo but any other mayo works) and Greek-style yogurt (non-dairy yogurt works well too).

The yogurt makes the recipe much lighter and healthier while keeping it incredibly creamy and fulfilling.

Seasoned with mustard, apple cider vinegar, and a touch of maple syrup, this coleslaw dressing is a perfect balance of sweet and tangy, and it definitely packs a punch; it’ll make your shredded cabbage taste divine.

This is our favorite way of eating cabbage, and it’s, without a doubt, the best recipe for potlucks, BBQs, pizza nights, picnics, or dinner with friends and family.

Cabbage

We like to use both green cabbage and red cabbage, but you can also use only one of the two.

You can also purchase a coleslaw mix to make things faster.

Carrot

We use regular orange carrots and grate them with the large wholes of a box grater. Carrots add a pleasant sweet flavor to this easy coleslaw recipe.

Parsley

Parsley adds a nice touch of freshness that we like in this creamy slaw. You can keep it out if you don’t.

Coleslaw dressing

• Mayonnaise: we use our vegan mayo but any mayonnaise works here.
• Greek-style yogurt: full-fat, low-fat, and non-dairy yogurt; they all work well.
• Apple cider vinegar: it’s a must in a slaw dressing. Cabbage loves acidity. Substitute red wine vinegar and white wine vinegar.
• Yellow mustard: substitute Dijon mustard.
• Sugar: we love the dressing with a hint of sweetness. If you don’t keep the sugar out. Substitute maple syrup or agave syrup for sugar.
• Salt and black pepper.

We don’t add celery seed because it’s an ingredient that we don’t use in any of our other recipes, and we don’t keep it in our pantry.

Shred the cabbage into thin slices. You can do so with a sharp knife, mandoline slicer, or food processor with a slicing attachment.

Tip: we recommend cutting the cabbage in half, then in half again, then cutting each quarter of the cabbage into 2 wedges. It’s easier to slice small cabbage wedges.

To a large bowl, add shredded cabbage, carrots grated with the large holes of a box grater, and finely chopped parsley.

Make the coleslaw dressing by whisking together mayonnaise, Greek-style yogurt, apple cider vinegar, yellow mustard, sugar, salt, and black pepper.

Pour the coleslaw dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss until the ingredients are well combined.

You can serve this immediately for the best crunch, or make it ahead of time and keep it refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Vegan coleslaw

Vegan coleslaw is easy. Follow our coleslaw recipe, and use vegan mayo mixed with unsweetened plain non-dairy yogurt or vegan sour cream for the dressing. All other ingredients stay the same.

The result is a creamy, tangy, and crisp slaw as delicious as the original. Serve it with our BBQ tofu; it’s out of this world!

No mayo coleslaw

Coleslaw without mayonnaise is not as creamy as classic coleslaw, but it’s still plenty delicious.

To make this healthy coleslaw alternative, we recommend a simple vinaigrette dressing with extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, salt, and black pepper.

Check out our no-mayo coleslaw recipe (coming soon).

Red cabbage slaw

Red cabbage slaw is made with only red cabbage and carrots, but the recipe is identical to our classic coleslaw recipe.

Check out our red cabbage slaw recipe.

Apple coleslaw

Apple coleslaw is every bite as delicious as classic coleslaw, but it has a delightful fruity addition: sliced apples.

You can make it with sweet or tart apples based on your taste, and you can even add some crushed walnuts if you like.

Cranberries and walnuts coleslaw

If you are making this for a holiday or winter, you could try adding dried cranberries and crushed walnuts to have a richer and more festive flavor.

Sour cranberries and nutty walnuts are a match made in heaven with the crisp cabbage and creamy slaw dressing.

In a burger or sandwich

Granted, coleslaw is perfect with fried chicken, hot dogs, or pulled pork sandwiches, but we think it’s a must-try in a bun with our barbecue tofu (the best tofu we have ever had).

The chewy tofu coated in a strong, punchy BBQ sauce pairs perfectly with the cool, crunchy slaw.

As a side dish

As a side for dinners and backyard barbecues with your favorite protein and a selection of veggies:

• Air–fried zucchini (zucchini, olive oil, garlic powder, salt, chili powder, etc.)
• Roasted carrots (carrots, maple syrup, parsley, olive oil, garlic, etc.)
• Grilled eggplant (eggplant, olive oil, garlic, vinegar, parsley, salt, etc.)
• Grilled tofu (tofu, olive oil, sesame seeds, salt, paprika, etc.)
• BBQ tofu (tofu, paprika, BBQ sauce, etc.)
• Black bean soup (black beans, tomatoes, chipotle powder, carrots, bay leaves, etc.)

Save the crunch: this recipe is delicious up to 3 – 4 days after it’s made. However, if you are making it for a special occasion and want the best crunch, we recommend mixing the sauce with the cabbage 3 hours in advance max.

Storage

Make ahead: coleslaw is good up to 4 days after it’s made; however, if you want the best crunch, we recommend mixing the dressing and the cabbage 3 hours before serving it max.

Refrigerator: keep leftovers in the fridge in a bowl covered with a plate or in an airtight container. Coleslaw is delicious and served cold, so you can serve it right out of the fridge.

Freezer: we don’t recommend freezing coleslaw.

If you love leafy greens, you can explore our other crispy cabbage recipes:

• Braised red cabbage (apple, red cabbage, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, sugar, etc.)
• Red cabbage salad (pinto beans, oranges, red cabbage, lettuce, mustard, etc.)
• Tuscan soup (savoy cabbage, white beans, carrot, onion, garlic, celery, kale, etc.)
• Italian lentil soup (dried lentils, kale, green cabbage, canned tomatoes, garlic, etc.)

Get more creamy and easy salad ideas with these tasty dishes:

• Dill potato salad (radishes, yogurt, potato, pickled cucumber, mayonnaise, etc.)
• Broccoli salad (broccoli, sundried tomatoes, yogurt, mayo, seeds, lemon, etc.)
• Avocado salad (cherry tomatoes, red onion, bell pepper, lemon juice, parsley, etc.)
• Creamy pasta salad (cucumber, white beans, red onion, olives, mayo, corn, etc.)
• Tahini salad (tahini, chickpeas, tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, radishes, lemon, etc.)

For many more side dish ideas, check out our sides category page.