Vegan Coleslaw (Classic Recipe!) - The Simple Veganista (2024)

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An easy vegan coleslaw recipe that’s a perfect side dish for summer parties, potlucks and barbecues. Light, flavorful and so much healthier than store-bought and ready in 10 minutes!

Vegan Coleslaw (Classic Recipe!) - The Simple Veganista (1)

Crunchy, healthy and easy to make this classic coleslaw is not overly drowning in dressing and is one of those back pocket side dish recipes that we love making all year round and goes with just about anything!

During summer coleslaw is the ultimate side dish and gets even better the next day, making it perfect for planning ahead. And because vegan coleslaw is dairy-free you won’t have to worry about it spoiling when taking to picnics and potlucks.

So without further ado, let’s make homemade coleslaw!

Vegan Coleslaw (Classic Recipe!) - The Simple Veganista (2)

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Ingredients You’ll Need

Coleslaw is so easy to make at home and this version is a little healthier compared to most recipes. Traditional coleslaw has quite a bit of sugar and dairy. This ‘lighter’ version is dairy-free with minimal sweetener.

What you’ll need:

  • Green and red cabbage – this combo makes for a colorful coleslaw, but feel free to use just green cabbage.
  • Carrots – adds more color and crunch.
  • Homemade Vegan Mayo or good quality store bought – this will be the base of the coleslaw dressing.
  • Apple cider vinegar – adds a little tanginess.
  • Dijon – for added depth.
  • Pure cane sugar or pure maple syrup – a little sweet, but not too much.
  • Salt & pepper – for a boost of flavor and pepperiness.

How To Make Vegan Coleslaw

Making vegan coleslaw is easy and requires just a few simple steps.

1. Shred the cabbage by hand:

  • Remove the outer leaves of the cabbage.
  • Slice the cabbage in half, cut the halves in half. Cut away the inside core with a diagonal slice.
  • Thinly shred the cabbage. You can make the cabbage as thin or thick as you like. Feel free to cut the shred as small as you like if you feel they are too long. Here’s a quick tutorial: How to Cut Cabbage

2. Shred the carrots and make the coleslaw dressing.

3. Assemble the coleslaw: Add the cabbage and carrots to a large mixing bowl, pour the dressing overtop and toss to combine. Finish with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Vegan Coleslaw (Classic Recipe!) - The Simple Veganista (3)

Tips For The Best Coleslaw

  • For convenience, use packaged, pre-shredded cabbage, carrots, or coleslaw mix.
  • If you prefer a mayo-free and oil-free dressing, try the slaw dressing for this Spicy Coleslaw with a simple tahini based dressing. It’s delicious!
  • Vegan coleslaw will last about 4 – 5 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container. After a few days, it will soften and lose it’s crispness, but it will still be delicious.

Can coleslaw be frozen?

No. Coleslaw isn’t very good after it’s been frozen. Raw cabbage does not freeze well.

Can this recipe be made in advance?

Yes, you can make coleslawahead and stored in the refrigerator until ready to use, up to 3 – 4 days. If making ahead for entertaining this coleslaw recipe is best made only a few hours ahead for best presentation. The red cabbage will start to bleed slightly into the dressing after 12 hours or so.

Vegan Coleslaw (Classic Recipe!) - The Simple Veganista (4)

Serving Suggestions

I love coleslaw with this or veggie burgers. It’s also great with veggie dogs & wraps, or can be eaten as a light main meal.

It’s also great with these sides:

  • Healthy Baked Beans
  • Roasted Red Potatoes

You can easily make a hearty meal with sides alone!

Vegan Coleslaw (Classic Recipe!) - The Simple Veganista (5)

More Vegan Side Dish Recipes

  • Spicy Coleslaw
  • Classic Vegan Potato Salad
  • Easy Apple Coleslaw
  • Asian Slaw Salad
  • Radish Cucumber Salad
  • Favorite Vegan Macaroni Salad

If you try this easy coleslaw recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.

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CLASSIC VEGAN COLESLAW

Vegan Coleslaw (Classic Recipe!) - The Simple Veganista (6)
Print Recipe
★★★★★4.9 from 29 reviews

This Vegan Coleslaw recipe is easy to make and absolutely delicious, with just the right amount of creamy dressing to bring it all together!

  • Author: Julie | The Simple Veganista
  • Prep Time: 10 min
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 8
  • Category: Side
  • Cuisine: Vegan

Ingredients

Units Scale

  • 56 cups green cabbage, shredded
  • 2 cups red cabbage, shredded
  • 1 cup carrots, shredded or julienned

Coleslaw Dressing

  • 2/3 cup vegan mayo
  • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon pure cane sugar or pure maple syrup
  • 1/21 teaspoon celery seed powder, optional
  • salt & pepper, to taste

Instructions

Dressing:In a small bowl, whisk the mayo, apple cider vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper.

Assemble:Add the cabbage and carrots in a very large mixing bowl, the larger the better. Pour the dressing all over the cabbage, and toss well to combine. Finish with salt & pepper to taste.

Serve right away, or let the coleslaw rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days, but it’s best within 3 days.

Notes

For convenience, use packaged, pre-shredded cabbage, carrots, or coleslaw mix.

For an oil-free & mayo-free dressing, you might consider the tahini based dressing from this Spicy Coleslaw + Tahini Dijon Dressing. I would up the recipe by 1/2, to even doubling it.

Keywords: vegan coleslaw

Vegan Coleslaw (Classic Recipe!) - The Simple Veganista (2024)

FAQs

Vegan Coleslaw (Classic Recipe!) - The Simple Veganista? ›

Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk the mayo, apple cider vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt, and pepper. Assemble: Add the cabbage and carrots in a very large mixing bowl, the larger the better. Pour the dressing all over the cabbage, and toss well to combine. Finish with salt & pepper to taste.

Who sells vegan coleslaw? ›

Sainsbury's Rich Vegan Deli-Style Coleslaw 300g | Sainsbury's.

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.

Why does my homemade coleslaw go watery? ›

Cabbage contains lots of water. Alton Brown suggests salting the cabbage and letting the water drain for two hours, then rinsing the cabbage and spinning it dry before dressing it. That purges the excess water out of the cabbage before it is dressed, so it doesn't get watery.

How do you keep coleslaw from getting soggy? ›

Taking the extra step of tossing shredded cabbage with salt and then letting it sit to drain before adding the dressing takes that extra moisture out of the equation and keeps the cabbage crisp.

Why did KFC stop selling coleslaw? ›

The fast food chain was forced to stop selling its coleslaw tubs when a supply issue meant the slaw would have to be served up without the dressing. “We are currently experiencing a supply issue with our KFC coleslaw dressing,” a KFC spokesperson said. The slaw is made up of cabbage and carrots coated in mayonnaise.

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 can you substitute for coleslaw? ›

7 Cabbage-Free Slaw Recipes
  • Green Bean Slaw. In this salad, tender haricots verts get tossed with crunchy strips of carrot, red pepper and parsnip.
  • Crunchy Broccoli Slaw. ...
  • Lemony Brussels Sprout Slaw. ...
  • Celery Slaw with Edamame. ...
  • Pickled Pepper Slaw. ...
  • Spicy Raw Beet Slaw with Citrus, Scallions and Arugula. ...
  • Peach-and-Fennel Slaw.
May 24, 2017

Which is healthier cabbage slaw or broccoli slaw? ›

The difference? A more nutritious slaw with a slightly spicier flavor, and an added bonus….. Broccoli is less prone to producing flatulence than cabbage.

Is coleslaw healthy or unhealthy Why? ›

Improves Gut Health

Coleslaw salad is rich in fiber because of the presence of raw cabbage. The RDA of fiber for an adult is 30g per day. It can become challenging to consume this much amount of fiber per day. However, 120 g portion of cabbage is sufficient to meet 10% of daily fiber needs.

When should you not eat coleslaw? ›

After two hours, harmful bacteria can start to grow. Even if the coleslaw was stored in the refrigerator prior to serving, it could quickly dip into what food safety rules call the "Danger Zone" after being set out.

Why is my coleslaw turning GREY? ›

Luckily, it is easy to tell if shredded cabbage has spoiled. The texture will change from fresh and crisp to soggy and wet. Additionally, the leaves will start to shrivel and may take on a grey or black color along the cut edges. If there is any excess moisture, this can lead to a funky smell or mold.

Why do you put salt on cabbage for coleslaw? ›

Salting the cabbage, carrot, and onion purges excess moisture that would otherwise turn the slaw into a soupy mess. Including sugar (another osmosis-inducing ingredient) balances the flavor. Limiting the purge to five minutes keeps the cabbage crunchy.

Should cabbage be washed before making coleslaw? ›

Cabbage. The outer layer isn't going to be eaten—the leaves are tougher and undesirable to many—so why wash cabbage? There's a good reason: Worms or other insects could be inside the cabbage, so to be safe, follow these steps for cleaning and washing it.

How do you reduce the bitterness in coleslaw? ›

For every 2 cups of sliced cabbage, mix it with about a teaspoon of salt. Kenji Lopez- Alt also found it was beneficial to add a teaspoon of sugar too. Both salt and sugar promote osmosis, which draws out any water from the cabbage. And the sugar can balance out some of the bitterness in the cabbage.

How to thicken up coleslaw? ›

You can use a ¼ teaspoon of xanthan gum in your copycat KFC coleslaw to thicken up the dressing, which is made with canola oil, mayonnaise, sugar, apple cider vinegar, and xanthan gum. You'll find this dressing super thick and perfect for binding together the tiny flecks of grated cabbage and carrot in the coleslaw.

Is praise coleslaw dressing vegan? ›

No. This product is not vegan as it lists 1 ingredient that derives from animals and 2 ingredients that could derive from animals depending on the source.

Is Publix coleslaw dairy free? ›

Is it Dairy Free? Yes!

Does Panera sell coleslaw? ›

Looking for coleslaw with a twist? It's right here. Toss cabbage with our delicious Chipotle Ranch, corn, cilantro and red pepper.

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