Our easy red cabbage coleslaw recipe without mayo is a great side dish for a potluck or served on sliders! With a tangy and sweet dressing, bell peppers and carrots, if you loved our Hawaii coleslaw this will be a hit too.
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- Ingredient Notes
- Made without Mayonnaise
- How do you shred red cabbage for coleslaw?
- Can you shred cabbage with a cheese grater?
- Tips for Success
- How long do you let coleslaw sit?
- Red Cabbage Coleslaw Recipe
- What food goes with coleslaw?
- Can you mix coleslaw the night before?
- How long will red slaw last in the fridge?
- How do you know if coleslaw has gone bad?
Slaw with red cabbage is not just a side dish. Added inside your favorite pulled pork sliders it can add extra crunch and a ton more flavor. After you give this easy side dish a whirl and let us know what you think!
I was not always a lover or simple cabbage recipes growing up. My grandmother cooked it in some way for every meal though, so I did try a few. Fast forward to me turning 40 and I don’t know what happened, I love everything about it now!! I usually use green cabbage for everything but this color is so much prettier.
There is a lot you can add into this for flavor, or omit depending on your taste buds. When it comes to seasonings it is really up to you but I will always add simple ingredients this time in the recipe card below.
Ingredient Notes
You will of course start off with a whole head of red cabbage, of course. Sometimes this is called purple cabbage because of it’s color but they are both the same thing. The thinner the slices the easier it will be to eat. In this case I recommend shredding it or dicing real fine so the dressing can soak in nicely.
- Carrots should be peeled and sliced thin too
- Green onion diced is best to add flavor and texture
- Bell pepper cut into small bits we like
- Dijon mustard – add amount listed, then taste and adjust as needed
- Apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar if you prefer
- Fresh lemon juice is best but bottled will work
- Honey or maple syrup for added sweetness
- Olive oil is best, avocado oil would be the best alternative
- Some like celery seeds with salt and pepper
- Vanilla – just a touch is great but can omit
Made without Mayonnaise
Some like to add a bit of mayonnaise to create a creamy coleslaw version but this one is made to cut that out. You can add a bit more depth with cheese if you like, like our blue cheese coleslaw has. Of course you’ll need a large bowl to toss it all together too. Tongs are helpful too.
How do you shred red cabbage for coleslaw?
It doesn’t matter whether it is red or green, you should slice the head in half when making easy cole slaw. Slice the cabbage in half again and remove the core. Put the flat side down and cut at a diagonal. You could use a mandolin too once it’s cut into quarters if you’d rather. We show you here how to cut cabbage for cole slaw but the most common and one I suggest is shaved with a mandoline
Can you shred cabbage with a cheese grater?
You could if you wanted the pieces to be really really fine. I prefer to use this to just shred carrots to include inside. You can find shredders that give you more of a slice though instead of the small holes, that would work in this case.
Tips for Success
To create the uber flavorful cole slaw dressing it is easiest to use a large mixing cup that has a spout like you see here already. Then you can just pour it on and toss well. Or use a large bowl to whisk together. Our favorite way to serve this is with slow cooker pulled pork shoulder as sliders.
How long do you let coleslaw sit?
The minimum for me is 30 minutes, I think 1-2 hours is ideal. Chilled while it is soaking in nicely is the ideal way to make it if you ask me. Once it’s chilled nicely in an airtight container you’ll be ready to enjoy it. I wouldn’t leave it open in the fridge or it will dry out a bit. Same goes for when you’re making our simple potato salad no mayo too.
Red Cabbage Coleslaw Recipe
Equipment
- 2 bowls
Ingredients
- 1 head red cabbage, shredded
- 3 small carrots, shredded
- 4 small green onions, chopped
- 1 small green pepper, diced
Cole Slaw Dressing
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp vanilla, optional
Instructions
- Peel carrots, slice thin, rinse and dice other vegetables and slice cabbage into very thin pieces.
- Mix together all vegetables in a bowl. In another bowl whisk together liquids to create the dressing.
- Pour dressing on top and stir so each piece is nicely coated.
- Best if covered refrigerated for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What food goes with coleslaw?
Well if you love cabbage as much as we do I would make it in other ways other than just a side. You can make lots of main dishes with it too like purple Crockpot red cabbage soup. Want a warm way to make another head of this and serve with your favorite protein? Give our roasted red cabbage steaks a whirl too.
You can just serve it with the best baked pork chops or a cooked frozen roast in Instant Pot for dinnertime. 😉 Easy peasy idea.
Can you mix coleslaw the night before?
You can. Just remember that sitting beyond a few hours will make it less crisp and crunchy but if you’re trying to meal prep for a large gathering this could be something prepared beforehand and covered.
How long will red slaw last in the fridge?
If stored properly in a well sealed container this and our pickled red cabbage will easily last up to 5 days. Keep in mind though, the longer it sits the less crispy each bite will be. For me I only like it a day after with leftovers warmed up, after that I’m done.
How do you know if coleslaw has gone bad?
Obviously if there is mold present, throw it out. If the colors have changed that is another bad sign. Smell it, is there a strange odor? Toss it if it tastes bad too. You can kinda tell though, it will get kinda’ sticky and wilted looking.
