Sweet Vinegar Coleslaw (No Mayo)

This healthy coleslaw with a sweet vinegar coleslaw dressing is a no-mayo alternative to the classic coleslaw version, covering all the potluck salad bases.

Opposites do attract. It’s why anything that’s both sweet and tangy always taste so good. And when you try this healthy, vinegar coleslaw recipe made with apple cider vinegar and sweetened with just a bit of sugar, you’ll believe it with each and every forked bite.

I’m a fan of any crunchy slaw that comes together fast and balances out a meal, and this recipe is right up there with my best creamy coleslaw recipe. But sometimes I’m more in the mood for a lighter zesty bite than a creamy one.

This coleslaw’s tangy dressing lightens bbq sauced slow cooker pulled pork sandwiches and is the crunchy compliment to classic potluck salads like my mom’s recipe for the best potato salad or the classic macaroni salad.

It’s time to round out the bevy of side dish salads and add this one to your bookmarked recipe list.

How to Make Sweet Vinegar Coleslaw

Dutch in origin and popular in England, this basic shredded cabbage salad is called “cole”slaw, not “cold”slaw, and has so much flavor it’s not really that basic at all.

Most cooks will use a coleslaw mix straight from the bag, which is totally fine. But adding a few more freshly shredded veggies to the mix for color and even more healthy crunch makes it so much better.

Here’s what’s in this coleslaw recipe:

• Shredded coleslaw mix
• Shredded carrot
• Shredded purple cabbage
• Thinly slivered red onion

At first glance this will seem like a large amount of cabbage and veg, but because cabbage shrinks in the dressing as it sits, 10 cups compacts to about 6 cups within an hour’s time.

My Favorite Gadgets for Shredding and Slicing Vegetables

I like my veggies in coleslaw crunchy and finely sliced so they meld together and have an equal presence in each bite.

Use a super sharp chef’s knife like this one to thinly shave the red onion and red cabbage. Or, use one of my favorite kitchen gadgets, this handheld mandoline with an adjustable blade to cut and shred both consistently whisper thin without any effort at all.

I use this set of 3 vegetable peelers to easily peel and then julienne the carrot into long strips.

And then, I also use this vegetable peeler/shredder I bought at a market in Vietnam. It’s the same one all of the women making fresh Vietnamese noodle salads used, so of course I had to have it. Word to the wise however, it is NOT dishwasher safe.

The Secret to the Sweet Tang in Coleslaw

I’ve replaced the classic mayo-based coleslaw dressing with a simple and somewhat sweet vinegar-based dressing to give this salad it’s signature tang.

The ingredients in the dressing are:

• canola oil
• apple cider vinegar
• sugar
• caraway seeds
• celery seed
• kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Because of its neutral flavor, canola oil is best in this dressing recipe.

Of the many varieties of vinegar, I use apple cider vinegar in this recipe for it’s more pronounced tang. White vinegar, champagne vinegar or lemon juice can be substituted for apple cider vinegar but won’t carry quite the same tangy pucker.

Just a dash of sugar adds the right amount of sweetness to the dressing. You can substitute honey if you’d like, but I suggest warming the honey a bit before mixing so it whisks together evenly and not clumpily.

Coleslaw Seasonings

Two seasonings to be sure are included in this vinegar-based coleslaw are caraway seeds and celery seeds.

Gently crush the celery seeds between your fingers before adding to the dressing to release the oils and bring out the flavor.

The celery seeds will soften slightly in the dressing, adding flavor as they do.

As always, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper finish off the job.

Refrigerate the coleslaw for about an hour before serving for the flavors to meld. Coleslaw will last in the refrigerator for 3-5 days—if it lasts that long :)>.

Recipe Ideas to Serve with Coleslaw

• Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Crunchy Slaw
• How to Make the Best Grilled Salmon
• Baby Back Ribs In the Instant Pot
• Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
• Slow Cooker Smoky Pulled Pork Tacos

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment below or take a photo and tag me on Instagram or Twitter with #foodiecrusheats. 

More Salads With Crunch to Make Too

• How to Make the Best Creamy Coleslaw
• Asian Ramen Noodle Salad Recipe
• How to Make the Best Broccoli Salad
• Easy Mexican Coleslaw Recipe
• Chopped Mexican Kale Salad
• Kale and Cabbage Coleslaw with Marcona Almonds
• Fresh and Easy Vietnamese Noodle Salad

Craving more life balance, less stress, and better health? Check out my Nourished Planner, the daily planner to help create simplicity and under-schedule your life.

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