Tangy Ginger Coleslaw

Written by
Janet A. Zimmerman
An award-winning food writer, cooking instructor, and author of five cookbooks. She focuses on dinners for two and date night cuisine.
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Janet A. Zimmerman
Updated 09/26/18
Colorful Asian Cole Slaw for Two
Bring a little brightness and tang to your next picnic with this colorful Asian Cole Slaw for Two.

Ansel Olson
  • Total: 35 mins
  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 20 mins
  • Yield: 2 servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
83 Calories
1g Fat
18g Carbs
3g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2 servings
Amount per serving
Calories 83
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 1g 1%
Saturated Fat 0g 1%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 215mg 9%
Total Carbohydrate 18g 7%
Dietary Fiber 6g 21%
Protein 3g
Calcium 84mg 6%
*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.)

Pickled ginger and the pickling liquid are the key ingredients in this coleslaw. I make my own, following the recipe linked to below, but you can buy it in Asian markets as well. Try to find a brand that's refrigerated; it tends to be of better quality.

If you purchase it in jars, look for a brand that does not contain aspartame, which not only can make the ginger bitter but studies show is a dangerous food additive for many. If you can't find any quality pickled ginger, you can use minced fresh ginger and seasoned rice vinegar instead of the pickling liquid.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Place the cabbage in a small colander or the basket of a small salad spinner. Sprinkle with a generous teaspoon of kosher salt and toss to coat.

  2. Let sit for 20 minutes or so, until cabbage has given up some of its water and has collapsed slightly. Rinse very thoroughly and pat dry. (This step makes for a better texture but is optional. If you skip it, add about 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt to the slaw.)

  3. Toss the cabbage with the scallion, carrot, red pepper, chile, minced ginger ​and cilantro. Add the ginger pickling liquid and toss to coat. Adjust seasoning, adding extra salt if necessary.

Red Fresno Chiles

Red Fresno chiles aren't particularly hot. If you prefer a milder slaw, you can leave it out. If you can't find Fresno chiles, you can substitute a small green or red jalapeño.

Article Sources
The Spruce Eats uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Choudhary AK, Lee YY. Neurophysiological symptoms and aspartame: What is the connection?. Nutr Neurosci. 2018;21(5):306-316.  doi:10.1080/1028415X.2017.1288340