This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Red Cabbage Slaw is dressed up with shredded carrots and a tasty homemade Apple Cider vinaigrette. It’s light, crunchy, and full of zingy flavors, making it a great side dish or even an excellent starter.
Red Cabbage Slaw with Carrots
Cabbage Slaw and homemade moonshine, friends! It’s the summer life of a Macedonian! 😊 Thus, please dive right in and enjoy the bright, tasty goodness of our cabbage slaw. It’s a real treat for your taste buds! This recipe features an exquisite blend of shredded red cabbage, carrots, and thinly sliced green onions, deliciously combined to create a salad that is as nutritious as it is appetizing.
Remember those barbecue ribs from the other day? THOSE with THIS = summer-food-heaven! Add shots of homemade moonshine to the mix and you’ve got 4 happy people singing patriotic songs from sun-up to sun-down. Yeah. That happened.
What Is The Difference Between Cabbage Slaw and Slaw?
A cabbage salad typically features just one vegetable seasoned and dressed, whereas coleslaw often incorporates additional ingredients like shredded veggies, fruits, or various seasonings for added variety. While both highlight cabbage as the main ingredient, the unique dressings are what distinguish one from the other.
Apple Cider Vinaigrette
My cabbage slaw is set apart by a tangy, homemade apple cider vinaigrette. Made with a mix of Dijon mustard, minced garlic, and extra virgin olive oil and complemented by apple cider vinegar, this dressing adds a perfect tangy counterpoint to the crunchy vegetables. The additional freshness of lemon juice, a hint of sweetness from honey, a sprinkle of chili powder for a bit of heat, and a dash of vanilla extract for a nuanced flavor make this vinaigrette a must-try!
How To Make Cabbage Slaw
Creating a delicious and refreshing red cabbage slaw is very simple. With just a few crisp ingredients and a homemade vinaigrette, you’ll have a light, crunchy, and flavorful dish. Follow these simple steps to whip up your own batch of this beloved summer recipe.
- Combine the ingredients. Start by arranging the shredded cabbage, carrots, and green onions in a large salad bowl.
- Make the dressing. Next, mix together the Dijon mustard, garlic, olive oil, unfiltered apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, honey, vanilla extract, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
- Toss it all together. Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and give it a good toss to evenly coat the vegetables.
- Season it. After combining, give it a taste and tweak the seasoning as necessary to suit your taste.
- Rest. Let the cabbage slaw chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes and up to 1 hour. This step allows the flavors to meld and enhances the overall taste of the salad.
Recipe Tips for Making Slaw
Remember, the best part about a recipe like this is that it’s flexible. Feel free to adjust it to your taste or mix in other veggies you might have on hand.
- Thinly cut. Shred your cabbage and carrots as thinly as possible. This will give the slaw a nice texture and allow the dressing to better penetrate the vegetables.
- Let it rest. Allow the slaw to sit for at least 15 minutes or even a couple of hours if you have time. This allows the flavors to meld together and the vegetables to soften slightly in the vinaigrette.
- Season to taste. Always taste your slaw before serving. Depending on the acidity of your apple cider vinegar or the sweetness of your carrots, you may need to adjust the seasoning.
- Use fresh ingredients. Crisp and fresh ingredients are key for a great coleslaw.
Serving Suggestions
A great salad is all about balance, and this slaw perfectly marries the crisp, fresh veggies with the tangy vinaigrette to create a dish that you’ll want to make again and again. From hereon, we just need to properly celebrate what is in our present —flip-flops, barbecues, and a fantastically textured Cabbage Slaw.
This slaw pairs beautifully with a variety of dishes. Try it with grilled carne asada, chicken skewers, in a pulled pork sandwich, or alongside a simple grilled cheese sandwich. Its refreshing crunch makes it a versatile side.
But I like cakes, too. I just inhaled a slice of this cinnamon roll coffee cake for breakfast. For the rest of the day, looks like I’ll be enjoying protein shakes. 😁 I could’ve just reached for my uber-healthy blender muffins, but nah, I didn’t.
How Long Does Slaw Keep?
Since this slaw is made with a vinaigrette instead of a mayo dressing, it can last a bit longer. However, the salt and vinegar in the vinaigrette start to break down the cabbage and draw out moisture, so for the best results, I recommend serving it within a few hours after adding the dressing.
- If you have leftovers, they can still be enjoyed the next day, but the dressing will soften the veggies.
- For make-ahead prep, you can mix the vinaigrette up to 3 days in advance. Just pour it over the cabbage mixture when you’re ready to serve.
ENJOY!
More Delicious Coleslaw Recipes
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
Red Cabbage Slaw with Carrots
Ingredients
FOR THE SALAD
- 1 small head red cabbage,, shredded
- 4 large carrots,, shredded
- 4 green onions,, thinly sliced
FOR THE APPLE CIDER VINAIGRETTE
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 clove garlic,, minced
- ⅓ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- ¼ cup Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon honey,, as needed, for sweetness
- ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract,, for flavor, optional
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder,, or to taste
- salt and fresh ground black pepper,, to taste
- chopped fresh parsley,, for garnish
Instructions
- Place shredded cabbage, carrots and green onions in a large salad bowl. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the Dijon mustard, garlic, oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, honey, vanilla, chili powder, salt, and pepper; whisk until well combined.
- Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss to combine.
- Taste for seasonings and adjust accordingly.
- Place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes and up to 2 hours.
- Remove from fridge and garnish with chopped parsley.
- Serve.
Notes
- Shredding: Cut the cabbage and carrots super thin. It’ll make the slaw extra tasty because the dressing can get into the veggies better.
- Wait Time: Let your slaw chill in the fridge for 15 minutes or longer. It gives time for the flavors to mix and makes the veggies a bit softer.
- Taste Test: Try a bite before serving. Add more salt, pepper, or honey if you need to, based on how sour your vinegar is or how sweet your carrots are.
- Use fresh ingredients for a better slaw. Fresh lemon juice and garlic make a big difference.
- Serving Tips: You can eat this slaw with grilled meats, pulled pork sandwiches, or even grilled cheese.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
Sounds good and I am making it today for tomorrow. Can the salad be made completely and eaten the next day? TY
Hi!
Yes, the salad can definitely be made and enjoyed the next day. Personally, I love a cabbage slaw that’s had a few hours to sit, as the flavors really meld together nicely. It’s a personal preference, but I think you’ll find it even more delicious the next day.
I made this for a church function and it was a great hit.
That’s wonderful to hear! It’s always a great feeling when a dish is well-received, especially at a gathering like a church function. Thank YOU! 🙂
Excellent slaw for any type of BBQ sandwich. My whole family enjoyed it, and that rarely happens.
Delicious! I like to add a julienned green apple- adds a nice sweetness and tartness!
I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂
This recipe is FABULOUS. I have a question though- since even the smallest head of cabbage makes so much, can I freeze, say, half the slaw either with or without the dressing? I find that it keeps very well in a freezer bag just in the fridge.
What do you think?
Made this today. Absolutely delicious. Thank you. I just added some unsalted sunflower seeds.
That’s great! I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank YOU! 🙂