This super simple Mexican-flavored coleslaw is perfect for picnics, BBQs and potlucks because its mayo-free and takes just a few minutes to toss together.
There are some recipes I slave over. Working, reworking and working them again to make them just perfect.
That’s not this recipe.
Instead, this recipe came together the very first time I made it. It was perfect from the get-go, and I’m not the only one who said so. I made it up to serve for a family BBQ with an upcoming recipe for some DELICIOUS Mexican-inspired pulled pork I made with this salsa that I’ll be sharing soon. Because if you know one thing about pulled pork, you know it needs a little crunchy kick to add to it.
Not that pulled pork is the ONLY thing this coleslaw is good with. It’s tasty as a side for pretty much any chicken, steak or seafood, especially when you’re looking for something with a little texture and crunch. I’m also planning on serving it alongside enchiladas as an alternative to salad. It’s totally adaptable that way.
This recipe is tried, tested and approved, and I KNOW it’s one you’ll have the same success with too.
About the Recipe
When you hear the words “Mexican food” you might conjure up images of becoming a fire-breathing dragon. This slaw is far from that. Rather than spicy with heat, it’s simply spiced with a dressing of classic Mexican flavors.
Lime juice. Garlic. Cumin. Oregano. Coriander. And just a slight dash of hot sauce. Because I just couldn’t help myself and had to add just a dash of heat, but certainly not the whole enchilada.
Rather than mincing the garlic, I’ve totally been into the using a garlic press like my mom always used to do. This one has been a solid helper in my kitchen.
A slither of honey sweetens the dressing that’s then poured over the crunchy slaw with slivers of red onion and freshly chopped cilantro leaves. Then you simply toss and let it sit. If cilantro is not your thing, you can always give good old flat leaf parsley a go or leave it out all together.
Recipe Ideas to Serve With Your Coleslaw
You’ve made this yummy coleslaw, but now what to serve it with?
- Cocktail: Palomas with Spicy Chili Sugar
- Main: Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos
- Main: Spicy Fish Tacos
- Main: The Best Steak Fajitas
- Dessert: Mexican Chocolate Pie
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment below or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
- 1 14-ounce package prepared coleslaw mix
- ¼ small red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro leaves
- ⅓ cup canola oil
- 2 limes, juiced (about ¼ cup)
- 3 cloves garlic, pressed
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 6 dashes hot sauce
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- In a large bowl, toss the colelsaw mix with the sliced onion and chopped cilantro. In a small bowl or jar with a fitted lid, mix the canola oil, lime juice, garlic, honey, cumin, oregano, coriander, hot sauce and kosher salt and freshly ground pepper. Pour over the coleslaw mixture and toss. Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving. This recipe is best eaten day of, but can be refrigerated overnight.
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Nice sharing! Glad to read your post!
Question: Should 1/4 TBSP chopped cilantro read 1/4 CUP??
Whoops! Good catch!!! I’ll fix now, thank you!
I was questioning the 1/4 TBSP cilantro also. From the picture it looks like more.
My husband is a huge coleslaw enthusiast, me? Not so much. I just don’t love the typical coleslaw drenched in creamy dressing. This however, this I would love. Light dressing, bright flavors, and super unique. Definitely giving this a go next time he request coleslaw.
try it it is good
We are huge fans of coleslaw! This Mexican version sounds so good – I need to make it soon!
Yum! Looks so fresh & crunchy!
Kari
http://sweetteasweetie.com/make-garlic-marinara-sauce-zoodles-15-minutes/
When are you people gonna learn that Cumin does not belong in real Mexican food.
This is Tex-Mex style and if you go south of the border, you will be hard pressed to find cumin in any food, except in the resorts that cater to Americans. Use some ground thyme instead. And for hells sake: packaged coleslaw mix? You sound more like a housewife than a foodie or gourmet. if you can’t cook stuff from scratch, you should not give cooking advice.
My mother is from Michoacán, MEXICO. And for your information she uses CUMIN (Comino) in a lot of her recipes and my mom was a hell of a cook. You are just a jerk!
amen sister
How rude! You don’t have to make it so why are you even looking at the recipe if it’s not for you? That’s ok but don’t bad mouth others and their way of cooking. Some mothers and wives work and don’t have time to chop everything by hand!
Thank you Cathy and Jacque. I never have professed to be a gourmet, that’s for sure. And in response to Jose, if you’d like to use coleslaw that isn’t in a mix, I recommend you use a mix of 6 cups shredded cabbage plus 1/2 shredded carrot. That ought to work well. And of course, you can always leave the cumin out.
u r an **** *** so shut up
When are you gonna learn that being rude and arrogant is stupid, ugly and unnecessary?!
jerk
Learn your place honestly peson we make this and love it so buzz off
yo shut up or your fired
So, my stepdad, who is Mexican, and his mother have been making Mexican food wrong this whole time!?!? Yeah, probably not. They put cumin in TONS of dishes. So thanks but no thanks for your rude and incorrect comment. Also, plenty of chefs take short cuts now and then.
Prepared coleslaw because it’s quick. Prepared coleslaw because not everyone wants a ton of leftover cabbage. Prepared coleslaw because not everyone has time to drain the carrots & cabbage first. You gotta be kidding with your ridiculous claim about cumin not being in ‘real’ Mexican food. Wow. Just wow.
Shut up Jose..cooking is about being creative and the great thing about making your own food is that you can taylor it to your personal tastes.Ethnic food tends to be ethnic because of the ingredients that are available in the region,This is America,anything goes,and that includes coleslaw..
Jose… no need to be a jerk. She is posting recipes and I don’t see where she calls herself a chef or a gourmet. If you don’t like what you read, please go elsewhere.
That’s true I usually think of spicy as in heat when I think of Mexican food. I think that I might be tempted to add a bit more heat to this recipe but it looks great the way it is too.
– Harry
http://www.bestsousvidebrands.com
What a refreshing alternative to the usual creamy-sweet slaw – and it really does have possibilities! Although it may not be an *authentic* Mexican recipe, it sure will play nice with all those hot & spicy platos mexicanos just the same. 😉 I’m not a big fan of cumin so I would reduce it to maybe 1/2 tsp (especially when using ground coriander) and double the oregano, but that’s my own preference.
And since when is a shortcut (ahem, pre-sliced cabbage/slaw) grounds for verbal lynching from the likes of a Jose Nobody? All those high-ranking chefs have prep cooks to do all the dirty work in their kitchens – I hardly think they’re chopping, slicing, shredding, and measuring all the ingredients themselves. Right?!
Thanks for slaving in the kitchen, Heidi.
preach it sis
Clarification: My previously posted comment, “When are you gonna learn that being rude and arrogant is stupid, ugly and unnecessary?!” should have specifically been addressed to Jose Comida, and NOT to Heidi who appears to be a lovely and gracious person. Thank you, Heidi. And Jose: If you don’t like her recipe perhaps you could take a lesson from her manners. Comer bien. ;-D
Donna Nordin has a very similar recipe in her cookbook based on dishes served at her now-closed Café Terra Cotta in Tucson. Hers includes avocado and jicama. I arrange avocado to the top just before serving but don’t mix it in – that way, any leftover slaw won’t turn brown or mushy. Looking forward to trying yours!
Very Yummy recipe items . Thanks for sharing this post here . Like this .
hi all merry x mas
Loved this recipe. It saved me in the last minute to put my pork tacos over the top. Please keep posting your great recipes.
This was great on my fish tacos tonight! Thank you.
just made this recipe with my mom as we are wanting something new! we love it, and so does my dad! Very fresh and has great flavor. also very easy!
Can I use olive oil instead of canola?
Great recipe, just what I needed for my tacos tonight! I added sliced fresh jalapenos which gave it a little heat. Will definitely be making this again!