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    Home » Salads

    Red Cabbage Slaw

    Published: Oct 10, 2022 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    This red cabbage slaw is easy, crunchy, and comforting, just like a regular slaw, and you can make it with or without mayo.

    The sliced apples and chopped walnuts add an irresistible sweet, sour, and nutty crunch that our taste buds love.

    red cabbage slaw on a white platter
    On this page:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Serving suggestions
    • Variations
    • Storage
    • Questions
    • More recipes with cabbage
    • More fall salads
    • Recipe

    Check out our best vegetable sides recipe collection!

    A slaw - also known as coleslaw or cole slaw - is a side dish generally made with thinly shredded raw cabbage commonly dressed with vinaigrette or mayonnaise.

    We use crunchy red cabbage as a base to make red cabbage slaw. Then, we mix it with shredded carrots to add sweetness, sliced green apples to add sour notes, and chopped walnuts to add a nutty and earthy flavor.

    For the dressing, you can use a simple maple syrup vinaigrette (our favorite) or light mayonnaise (we make our homemade mayo without eggs).

    This red cabbage slaw is perfect for any special occasion - Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even new years eve.

    If you want to make this recipe even more unique, you can add candied walnuts. The slaw gets even more crunchy and delicious this way.

    red cabbage slaw with mayonnaise

    Ingredients

    ingredients with cabbage and vegetables

    Red cabbage

    Red or purple cabbage is our favorite type for slaws because it's super crunchy and packed with an incredible amount of antioxidants.

    You can also use regular white cabbage if you can't find red.

    Carrots

    Carrots add crunch, sweetness, and bright orange color.

    Apples

    We like to use green apples such as Granny Smith in this red cabbage slaw, as they are less sweet, tarter, and acidic and are great with the sweet dressing.

    Golden delicious or other varieties are also acceptable.

    Walnuts

    You can substitute pecans, almonds, and hazelnuts for walnuts. However, if you want to make the red cabbage slaw even more unique, try making candied walnuts. They get super crunchy and irresistible.

    Dressing

    To make our dressing, we use:

    • Pure maple syrup: you can substitute honey, agave syrup, or brown sugar for maple syrup.
    • Extra virgin olive oil: you can substitute canola oil for olive oil.
    • Apple cider vinegar: you can substitute citrus juices (lime juice, lemon juice, or orange juice for a sweeter variation) for the apple cider vinegar. You can also use other types of vinegar, such as red and white wine.
    • Salt: we use sea salt or kosher salt.
    • Black pepper: freshly ground if you can. You can also add ½ teaspoon of celery seeds if you have them.
    • Dijon mustard is optional; you can replace it with yellow or American mustard.

    Alternatively, you can use mayonnaise or our homemade vegan mayo.

    Instructions

    Slice the veggies

    Cut the red cabbage in half, then in half again to have four pieces.

    Take one part and slice it thinly with a chef's knife, a mandoline slicer, or a food processor with a slicing disk attachment.

    finely sliced red cabbage

    Try to cut the cabbage into thin strips, as thinly as possible, then add it to a large bowl.

    Note: ¼ of a medium size red cabbage feeds about 4 to 6 people if you serve the slaw as a starter or side dish.

    red cabbage in a white bowl

    Cut the apple into four pieces and remove the core and seeds.

    Slice the apple into chunks. Like with the cabbage, you can use a knife or a mandoline slicer. Add the apples to the bowl with the cabbage.

    cut apples into slices

    Grate or shred the carrots, chop the walnuts, and add them to the bowl.

    Note: you can shred the carrots with a box grater, julienne peeler, the fine grating cone attachment of an electric salad shredder (we use that), or a food processor with a shredding disc with small holes.

    mixing veggies and apples

    Make the dressing

    Whisk together maple syrup, extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.

    add dressing to the slaw

    Pour the dressing into the bowl with the chopped veggies and mix well with two spoons.

    Transfer the red cabbage slaw onto a serving platter or serve right from the mixing bowl.

    serve the cabbage slaw on a platter

    Serving suggestions

    This vibrant cabbage slaw is perfect as a holiday side dish and winter salad, as you can easily pair it with soups, pasta, tacos, and stews. Here are some of our favorite dinner ideas:

    Serve with a wholesome pasta dish:

    • Mushroom pasta with cherry tomatoes and chewy mushrooms
    • Garlic and oil pasta with authentic Italian flavor and plenty of parsley
    • Broccoli pasta with mashed broccoli takes only 20 minutes to make!

    Serve next to a warming and nutritious soup or stew:

    • Cauliflower soup with a velvety smooth texture, perfect as a winter appetizer or main!
    • Butternut squash soup: creamy and easy to make with easy-to-find ingredients
    • Lentil curry: a wholesome and easy-to-make curry that will please everyone around the table
    • Chickpea soup with rosemary, a rich and rustic Italian recipe
    • Cauliflower Soup
    • Butternut Squash Soup
    • Lentil Curry
    • Chickpea Soup

    Variations

    Red cabbage slaw with homemade mayo

    red cabbage slaw with mayonnaise and fork

    If you want a more traditional red cabbage slaw recipe, you can substitute our maple syrup dressing with a couple of tablespoons (it's up to you how many) of mayonnaise or vegan mayonnaise.

    Of course, the slaw will be delicious!

    Red cabbage slaw with candied walnuts

    Red cabbage slaw variation with candied walnuts

    This variation is the ultimate holiday recipe. Candied walnuts are so tasty, shiny, sweet, nutty, and crunchy; everyone will love them (especially kids).

    candied walnuts for red cabbage salad-1

    You only need three ingredients to make them: walnuts, sugar, and a pinch of salt.

    Check out our candied walnut recipe.

    Storage

    Store red cabbage slaw in the refrigerator for 2 - 3 days, ideally in an airtight container. The salad will lose some of its crunch as time passes.

    We don't recommend freezing this recipe.

    Questions

    How do you cut red cabbage for coleslaw?

    There are several ways of shredding or cutting red cabbage for coleslaw.

    You can use a chef's knife and thinly slice the cabbage julienne(thin strips)

    You can also use a food processor with a slicing disk attachment. That's the fastest way if you don't have much practice with a chef's knife.

    You can also use a mandoline slicer, making sure you use a hand guard to protect yourself from accidentally cutting yourself.

    We don't recommend using a box grater to shred the cabbage for coleslaw.

    Can you eat red cabbage raw?

    Yes, eating red cabbage raw is safe and will nourish you with plenty of antioxidants and plant compounds.

    What is the difference between coleslaw and cabbage?

    Coleslaw is the name of a dish, more precisely, a salad made with cabbage, while cabbage is a vegetable and an ingredient in coleslaw.

    Is it ok to use red and white cabbage together in a slaw recipe?

    Yes, you can mix red and white cabbage in a slaw recipe.

    More recipes with cabbage

    • Red cabbage salad with orange and a light maple syrup dressing
    • Roasted Brussels sprouts with a finger-licking good marinade
    • Tuscan soup with cabbage and kale; it's a wholesome Italian dinner recipe
    • Lentil soup with savoy cabbage and fresh Italian herbs
    • Roasted Brussels Sprouts
    • Tuscan Soup
    • Lentil Soup
    • Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower

    More fall salads

    • Pear salad with ricotta and balsamic dressing
    • Fennel salad with orange wedges and pomegranate seeds
    • Shaved Brussels sprouts salad with cranberries, a perfect side salad for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners
    • Sweet potato and lentil salad with a creamy cumin dressing and fresh parsley
    • Cauliflower salad with chickpeas and tahini dressing
    • Black bean salad with fork-tender sweet potatoes
    • Chickpea pasta salad: an easy lunch and dinner idea ready in 20 minutes!
    • Green bean salad with mustard dressing and crumbled feta
    • Fennel and Orange Salad
    • Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
    • Cauliflower Salad
    • Pear Salad
    • Moroccan Carrot Salad
    • Chickpea Pasta Salad
    • Black Bean Salad
    • Green Bean Salad

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

    Recipe

    red cabbage slaw with apple and walnuts

    Red Cabbage Slaw

    Author: Nico
    This red cabbage slaw is easy, crunchy, and comforting, just like a regular slaw, and you can make it with or without mayo.
    The sliced apples and chopped walnuts add an irresistible sweet, sour, and nutty crunch that our taste buds love.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    5 from 5 votes
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 0 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Side dish, Starter
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 people
    Calories 167 kcal

    Equipment

    • Chef's knife or mandoline slices, or food processor with slicing disk attachment

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 pound red cabbage that's about ¼ of a whole red cabbage
    • 2 carrots
    • 2 green apples
    • ½ cup walnuts

    VINAIGRETTE

    • 2 tablespoons maple syrup or more to taste
    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 twists black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Cut the red cabbage in half, then in half again to have four pieces.
      Take one part and slice it thinly with a chef's knife, a mandoline slicer, or a food processor with a slicing disk attachment. Add it to a large bowl.
      finely sliced red cabbage
    • Cut the apple into four pieces and remove the core and seeds.
      Slice the apple into chunks. Like with the cabbage, you can use a knife or a mandoline slicer. Add the apples to the bowl with the cabbage.
      cut apples into slices
    • Grate or shred the carrots, chop the walnuts, and add them to the bowl.
      mixing veggies and apples
    • Whisk together maple syrup, extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.
      add dressing to the slaw
    • Pour the dressing into the bowl with the chopped veggies and mix well with two spoons.
      cabbage slaw with walnuts
    • Transfer the red cabbage slaw onto a serving platter or serve right from the mixing bowl.
      serve the cabbage slaw on a platter

    Video Recipe

    Red Cabbage Slaw is a fun Side Dish

    Notes

    Nutrition information is an estimate for 1 portion of red cabbage slaw out of 4.
    TIPS
    • You can substitute mayonnaise or our vegan mayo for the vinaigrette if you prefer a creamier slaw.
    • You can shred the carrots with a box grater, julienne peeler, the fine grating cone attachment of an electric salad shredder (we use that), or a food processor with a shredding disc with small holes.
    • To make a special holiday slaw substitute candied walnuts  for walnuts. They are crunchy, sweet, and delicious.

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    Red Cabbage Slaw
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 167 Calories from Fat 81
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 9g14%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Trans Fat 0g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 5g
    Monounsaturated Fat 3g
    Cholesterol 0mg0%
    Potassium 377mg11%
    Carbohydrates 22g7%
    Dietary Fiber 4g17%
    Sugar 14g16%
    Protein 3g6%
    Vitamin A 4270IU85%
    Vitamin B6 0.3mg15%
    Vitamin C 47mg57%
    Vitamin E 1mg7%
    Vitamin K 35µg33%
    Calcium 63mg6%
    Folate 29µg7%
    Iron 1mg6%
    Manganese 1mg50%
    Magnesium 35mg9%
    Zinc 1mg7%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    If you liked this recipe, you might also like:

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