Healthy Coleslaw Recipe

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Get ready to jazz up your next meal with my fantastically simple Healthy Coleslaw Recipe! This Bulgarian recipe is a crunchy delight that is a testament to the magic of humble 🌿 ingredients. The perfect combination of crisp cabbage, fresh veggies, and a zesty dressing, creates a very refreshing flavor. Whether you pair it with ribs, 🔥 grilled meats or heap it atop a sandwich, this slaw adds a burst of freshness to every bite. Plus, it’s guilt-free! Packed with nutrients, it proves that simplicity really can be delicious.

Why You’ll Love This Healthy Coleslaw Recipe

If you’re a fan of crisp cabbage salads, this Healthy Coleslaw Recipe is a must-try. Elevate your dining experience with this 🥕 flavor-packed slaw that’s sure to leave you craving more! Whether you pair it with some roasted or stewed meat, a sandwich, or enjoy it on its own, its versatility shines. Packed with nutrients and guilt-free goodness, it’s a delicious addition to your table that everyone will love!

How to Prepare This Healthy Coleslaw Recipe

🔪 Slice the cabbage thinly by placing the quartered cabbage wedge on its side and using a sharp knife, or use a food processor with the slicer attachment, or a mandolin. Be cautious with knives and mandolins.

🥕 Julienne or peel the carrots using a julienne peeler or standard vegetable peeler. Alternatively, grate them using a cheese grater or a food processor.

🥣 Transfer the sliced cabbage and julienned carrots to a bowl, add a pinch of salt, and gently massage the mixture with your hands to soften it.

🌿 Add finely chopped parsley, olive oil, and white balsamic vinegar to the bowl, toss everything together, and enjoy!

Nonna’s Tip

Adjust ingredients according to personal taste preferences, and feel free to double the recipe for a larger batch. The salad can be stored in the fridge for a few days.

Healthy Coleslaw Recipe

Variations and Substitutions for Healthy Coleslaw Recipe

Feel free to get creative and make this Healthy Coleslaw Recipe to suit your preferences or based on what ingredients you have on hand.

  1. You can add other vegetables such as thinly sliced 🫑 bell peppers, red onions, or shredded kale.
  2. Experiment with different herbs 🌿 such as cilantro, mint, or dill in place of or in addition to parsley.
  3. Instead of olive oil and white balsamic vinegar for the dressing, you can use different types of vinegar such as 🍎 apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar. You could also try a creamy dressing using yogurt or mayonnaise as a base.
  4. Add a touch of sweetness by incorporating a sweetener such as a bit of 🍯 honey, maple syrup, or agave nectar to balance the flavors.
  5. For added crunch and nutrition, toss in some toasted nuts or seeds like almonds, sesame seeds, or sunflower seeds.
  6. If you enjoy 🧀 cheese, consider adding your favorite, such as crumbled feta, grated Parmesan, or shredded cheddar.

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Common Questions

What type of salt do you use?

I use Redmond Real Salt, please note that depending on the salt you use, your dish may be less or more salty. Salt is to taste so please always taste and adjust as you cook.

Can I omit the parsley or use a different herb?

Yes, you can omit the parsley from the Healthy Coleslaw Recipe or substitute it with other herbs like cilantro, mint, or dill, depending on your preference.

How finely should I chop the cabbage and carrots?

Aim for uniform pieces that are easy to eat and mix well with the dressing.

Can I add additional ingredients to this slaw?

Yes, you can customize this Healthy Coleslaw Recipe by adding extra ingredients such as sliced bell peppers, onions, nuts, seeds, or cheese to suit your taste preferences.

How can I prevent the slaw from becoming soggy?

To prevent the Healthy Coleslaw Recipe from becoming soggy, it’s best to dress it just before serving. You can also drain any excess liquid from the cabbage after massaging it with salt before adding the other ingredients.

What type of peeler should I use?

You can use a julienne peeler if you like, but you don’t have to. You can easily slice the carrots thinly into strips with a regular peeler or even grate them on a cheese grater. 

How can I quickly chop the cabbage?

You can use a food processor with the thin slicer attachment if you don’t want to slice the cabbage yourself. This trick always saves me time. Also, it’s easier to slice the cabbage on a mandolin than with a sharp knife, but please be careful. If you’re in a hurry, buy a bag of pre-shredded slaw mix at the store and use that instead. 

Healthy Coleslaw Recipe

This Healthy Coleslaw Recipe is always on rotation in my household. It's proof that sometimes the most humble ingredients make for the best recipes. It's light, crunchy, and healthy.
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Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Makes: 2
Author: The Modern Nonna
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients 

  • ¼ head of green cabbage
  • 2 carrots
  • salt, to taste
  • handful of fresh parsley , finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar

Instructions 

  • Note: Everything in this recipe is to taste. You can always add a little at a time, taste, and adjust accordingly. You can make a much bigger salad as it will keep in the fridge for a few days, so feel free to double the recipe if needed.
  • Place the quartered cabbage wedge on one of its sides and slice it thinly with a sharp knife. If you want to skip this step and make life easy, you can also put the cabbage wedge through a food processor with the slicer attachment or use a mandolin to slice it. Please be careful when using a knife or mandolin.
  • Use a julienne peeler or a standard vegetable peeler to julienne or peel the carrots. (A julienne peeler will slice veggies into thin strips.) You can also grate the carrots in the large holes of a cheese grater or in the food processor, using the same attachment as with the cabbage.
  • Transfer the cabbage and carrots to a bowl. Add a pinch of salt and gently massage the slaw mixture with your hands. The salt will pull out the moisture from the cabbage and make it easier to eat.
  • Add the finely chopped parsley, olive oil, and white balsamic vinegar. Give it a toss and enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 198kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 10g, Sodium: 68mg, Potassium: 415mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 10302IU, Vitamin C: 45mg, Calcium: 72mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
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Hi! I'm Sneji. Nice to meet you!

I am more commonly known as “The Modern Nonna” on social media where I create easy home cooked meals with a modern twist. I was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria and learned how to cook at the best culinary school in the world – my grandma’s kitchen. I lived in Greece on the Island of Crete with my parents for a while and then moved to Toronto, Canada when I was in grade 5. I started to really cook and experiment with food 11 years ago when I was 21 years old. Everything I currently know is a reflection of some part of my life…

Keep up to date with me on social media! Follow @themodernnonna

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