Coleslaw With Creamy Tangy Dressing

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 09/2/21
Coleslaw With Creamy Tangy Dressing

The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 15 mins
Servings: 8 to 10 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
239 Calories
21g Fat
13g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 10
Amount per serving
Calories 239
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 21g 27%
Saturated Fat 3g 16%
Cholesterol 12mg 4%
Sodium 246mg 11%
Total Carbohydrate 13g 5%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 10g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 34mg 172%
Calcium 50mg 4%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 209mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

There are as many versions of coleslaw as there are neighborhood cookouts, but a traditional recipe often seems to be the party favorite. This coleslaw recipe has a tangy, sweet, and creamy dressing made of mayo, sugar, vinegar, and celery seed. Feel free to experiment a bit with the amounts of sugar and vinegar in the recipe to get the balance of flavors to your liking.

This is an excellent coleslaw to fix for a cookout served alongside baked beans and other salads. It is also great as a condiment for barbecue sandwiches; pile a few tablespoons of coleslaw on a pulled pork sandwich or even a hot dog. It is also perfect with fried fish or seafood and a side of crispy French fries. You may also want to try it on fish tacos.

Ingredients

  • 1 medium head green cabbage, about 2 pounds

  • 1 carrot, shredded

  • 1 tablespoon minced onion

  • 1 to 1 1/4 cups mayonnaise, or to taste

  • 1/3 cup sugar

  • 1/4 cup vinegar

  • 1/4 teaspoon celery seed

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste

  • Salt, to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Coleslaw With Creamy Tangy Dressing ingredients

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

  2. Shred cabbage into a large bowl; add carrot and onion.

    Shredded cabbage in a large bowl with carrot and onion

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

  3. Combine mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, and celery seed in a bowl or jar and whisk or shake. Taste and adjust seasonings, adding salt and pepper to taste, or more mayonnaise and a bit more vinegar if too sweet for your liking.

    mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar, and celery seed in a bowl

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

  4. Gradually add dressing to the shredded cabbage mixture, tossing as you add, until the cabbage is well moistened.

    cabbage mixture and dressing in a bowl

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

  5. Refrigerate to chill thoroughly.

    Coleslaw With Creamy Tangy Dressing

    The Spruce / Eric Kleinberg

Tips

  • If you like your coleslaw crunchy, you may want to salt the cabbage beforehand—this will remove any moisture from the vegetable and help retain its crispness over time. Place the shredded cabbage in a colander and toss with about 1 tablespoon of salt. Let sit for 1 to 2 hours and then using a wooden spoon, press to remove any water; or place cabbage in a towel and squeeze to remove all of the moisture. While the cabbage is sitting, it will seem as if it is getting soggy and limp, but once you remove the water, you are left with a firm and crisp strand of cabbage.
  • If time allows, give the slaw at least 1 to 2 hours in the refrigerator for the best flavor.

Recipe Variations

  • For quicker preparation, replace the cabbage with about 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of purchased shredded coleslaw mix.
  • Add about 1 cup of shredded purple cabbage for extra color; just keep in mind that the coleslaw will take on a pink color as the mixture sits.
  • If you are trying to cut down on sugar, you can replace all or part of the sugar with the equivalent of a sugar replacement.

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