Creamy Coleslaw
Cabbage and carrot in a dressing balanced between mayonnaise, vinegar and sugar. The technique that matters is salting the cabbage first, which is what stops the bowl filling with water an hour later.
Photograph credit: Coleslaw by Red Lobster Lover Joe twitter:RLLoverJoe · Public Domain Mark 1.0 · Flickr
Method
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Toss the shredded cabbages and carrot with the tablespoon and a half of salt in a colander set over a bowl.
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Leave for 1 hour. A surprising volume of water will collect underneath.
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Rinse the vegetables thoroughly under cold water to remove the excess salt, then spin or squeeze them very dry in a clean cloth.
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Whisk the mayonnaise, buttermilk, vinegar, sugar, mustard, celery seeds, remaining salt and pepper until smooth.
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Fold the dressing through the drained vegetables and the onion.
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Chill at least 2 hours before serving so the flavours settle and the cabbage relaxes into the dressing.
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Taste before serving and adjust with more vinegar for sharpness or sugar for balance.
Chef’s Tips
- Rinse well after salting or the slaw will be inedibly salty. Then dry it thoroughly.
- Shred the cabbage as finely as you can — a mandoline or a food processor slicing disc is worth using.
- This is one of the few salads genuinely better made a few hours ahead.
Common Substitutions & Variations
- Out of buttermilk? Stir a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar into the same amount of ordinary milk and let it sit five minutes before using.
Pairing Suggestions
- Pulled pork or fried chicken
- Burgers and hot dogs
- Barbecue of any kind
Storage & Reheating
Refrigerate up to 4 days. It softens over time but stays good; drain off any liquid before serving.
Common questions
How long does Creamy Coleslaw take to make?
About 15 minutes of hands-on work — 15 minutes of preparation and of cooking — plus 3 hours of chilling, so allow 3 hours 15 minutes from start to finish. The recipe serves 8.
What are the key tips for making Creamy Coleslaw?
Rinse well after salting or the slaw will be inedibly salty. Then dry it thoroughly. Shred the cabbage as finely as you can — a mandoline or a food processor slicing disc is worth using. This is one of the few salads genuinely better made a few hours ahead.
What should I serve with Creamy Coleslaw?
Pulled pork or fried chicken; Burgers and hot dogs; Barbecue of any kind.
How should Creamy Coleslaw be stored?
Refrigerate up to 4 days. It softens over time but stays good; drain off any liquid before serving.
Is Creamy Coleslaw suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free and low-carb. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Creamy Coleslaw?
About 248 kcal per serving, with 2 g protein, 16 g carbohydrate and 20 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Nutritional Highlights
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.