Tangy No-Mayo Coleslaw Recipe (2024)

Alisa InfantiPublished:Updated:

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This tangy no-mayo coleslaw is made with a vinaigrette base giving it a lively tangy taste that is perfect on its own as a side dish or to top off pull pork sandwiches, tacos, burgers or alongside some fish and chips!

Tangy No-Mayo Coleslaw Recipe (1)

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This recipe was originally published in May 2018 and has been updated to include more information as well as process shots.

I am not a huge fan of mayo!Actually, I am being polite I kinda hate it… not dislike, detest. With a vinaigrette-based homemade coleslaw, you can rest assured that a day at the park won’t result in a day in the loo thanks to curdled mayo-based salads sitting in the sun. And… let’s face it a coleslaw recipe without mayo is a little nicer on the waistline too.

Another one of my favourite no-mayo salad recipes is this Potato Salad. This one has eggs so it won’t do well in the hot sun for long but I love it just the same because it is vinegar-based instead of using mayo.

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Where did coleslaw originate?

Coleslaw originated from the Dutch word Koolsla which means cabbage salad. It can be made with mayo or vinegar bases but traditional European Coleslaw is made with vinegar.It was only in America during the 18th century when mayonnaise arrived on the scene that vinegar-based salads like coleslaw became used mayonnaise in salads.

Is coleslaw good for you?

Cabbage itself is low on the glycemic index and very high in fibre.Since the bulk of coleslaw is made up of green and red cabbage, coleslaw when made without the addition of creamy sauces is a very good salad to load up your plate.

Tangy No-Mayo Coleslaw Recipe (3)

what makes this Vinegar based coleslaw great?

  • Loaded with veggies!
  • Super quick and easy to make
  • Requires only simple ingredients you likely have in your pantry plus the coleslaw mix itself
  • Can be made and served immediately or made the night before
  • Will not spoil or risk turning if served outside on a hot day since this coleslaw recipe is made with no mayo or dairy of any kind
  • A very inexpensive recipe requiring no seeds, lettuce, fruit or cheese
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ingredients & substitutions

  • Shredded cabbage mix – commonly called coleslaw mix. It is a mixture of green and red cabbage along with slivered carrots. If you can’t find a prepared mix you can also shred half a green cabbage with a 1/4 red cabbage and 1 cup of carrots to make your own mixture. Shred the cabbage in a food processor or use a sharp knife to cut 1/2″ shavings from the head.
  • Corn kernels – cut the kernels off a cob of corn or use 1 cup of steamed frozen corn kernels. For even more colour and flavour, you can also roast a cob of corn on the barbecue to get nice char marks on the corn and then trim the kernels. This is my favourite thing to do in the summer!
  • Olive oil – Used as the base for the coleslaw dressing.
  • White wine vinegar – Adds acidity to the dressing and also keeps the veggies bright. Apple cider vinegar is a great substitute.
  • Honey – Adds a touch of sweetness to balance out the acidity. Replace honey with maple syrup or your favourite vegan sweetener.
  • Salt & pepper

how to make vinegar based coleslaw

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Add the olive oil, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper to a bowl. Whisk to mix well. The honey will take a little longer to mix in so keep mixing until it is dissolved into the oil and vinegar mixture.

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Add the coleslaw mix and corn to a large bowl. Top with the coleslaw dressing and mix well to combine. Serve immediately or store in a tightly sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

I like to make this the night before to allow the vinaigrette to marry with the cabbage and corn a bit. I find that it just adds a more intense flavour.

Don’t be alarmed if the red cabbage bleeds into the green cabbage a bit. This is normal.

What to serve coleslaw with

  • Air-Fryer Salmon Croquettes
  • Fall Off The Bone Baby Back Ribs
  • Lemon Parmesan Chicken Burgers
  • Spicy Oven Baked Chicken Wings
  • Baja Fish Tacos

Other great salads to try!

Lemon Garlic Vinaigrette Dressing

Carrot Raisin Salad

Beet and Arugula Salad with Goat Cheese

Tangy No-Mayo Coleslaw

Alisa Infanti | The Delicious Spoon

Homemade coleslaw made with a vinaigrette base giving it a lively tangy taste that is perfect on it’s own as a side dish or to top off pull pork sandwiches, tacos, burgers or alongside some fish and chips!

4.65 from 17 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Lunch, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Servings 6 cups

Calories 113 kcal

Equipment

  • Large Bowl

  • Small Bowl

  • Measuring Cups

  • Measuring Spoons

  • Mixing Spoon

Ingredients

  • 5 cups shredded cabbage/coleslaw mix
  • 2 cobs corn cooked; kernels removed
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 ½ tbsp white wine vinegar
  • 1 ½ tbsp honey
  • ¾ tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Add shredded cabbage mix, olive oil, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper to a medium bowl.

  • Remove corn kernels from the cob by cutting kernels from the cob with a sharp knife. Add corn to the bowl. If you do not have corn on the cob use 1 cup of frozen corn kernels.

  • Mix well.

  • Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for 1-3 days.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1cupCalories: 113kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 1.6gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0gMonounsaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 305mgPotassium: 176mgFiber: 7gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 0IUVitamin C: 0mgCalcium: 250mgIron: 0.2mg

Notes

If you are following the 21 Day Fix or 80 Day Obsession Meal Plan the container counts are: 1 green, 1/2 yellow, 1 tsp.

Storage:

Store in the fridge inside a tightly sealed container for up to 3 days.

Please Note:

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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For the step-by-step version of this recipe, check out the How To Make No-Mayo Coleslaw Story.

Tangy No-Mayo Coleslaw Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is white vinegar better than apple cider vinegar in coleslaw? ›

However, there is a best vinegar to use, and it's apple cider vinegar. The reason is threefold: taste, chemical makeup, and health benefits. Though there's no shortage of other types of vinegar, none has this ideal trifecta to best complement your cabbage and its other coleslaw vegetable ingredients.

What is a substitute for sour cream in coleslaw? ›

Full-fat Greek yogurt will offer the closest approximation of sour cream's flavor and texture, and can be used as a one-to-one replacement for sour cream. If you'd like, you can stir some heavy cream into any percentage of Greek yogurt to give it a somewhat richer body and higher fat content.

What's the difference between coleslaw and slaw? ›

The real difference is that the raw, chopped vegetables in coleslaw are primarily cabbage: Napa, red, savoy, or bok choy. Slaw without the cole can feature any crunchy veggie in place of cabbage, including chopped or shredded broccoli, carrots, snow peas, jicama, and more.

Why does my homemade coleslaw taste bitter? ›

Cabbage Core:Issue: The core of the cabbage can be bitter, especially if it's not removed before shredding. Solution: Ensure that you remove the core of the cabbage before shredding it. Cut the cabbage in half, then cut out the triangular core from each half. Old Cabbage:Issue: Older cabbage may develop a bitter taste.

What can I use instead of apple cider vinegar in coleslaw? ›

Distilled white vinegar is a great substitute for apple cider vinegar. Lemon Juice.

Why add vinegar to coleslaw? ›

It has a sweet-sour flavor that adds a little brightness to coleslaw dressings with and without mayo.

What can I substitute for mayonnaise in coleslaw? ›

9 Scrumptious Mayonnaise Substitutes (Including Vegan Options)
  • Sour cream. Sour cream can add a fresh zip of flavor to almost any recipe that calls for mayonnaise. ...
  • Pesto. Pesto is a popular paste-like sauce made from pine nuts, basil, garlic, cheese, and olive oil. ...
  • Greek yogurt. ...
  • Mustard. ...
  • Eggs. ...
  • Olive oil. ...
  • Avocado. ...
  • Hummus.
Mar 19, 2021

Can I use Miracle Whip instead of sour cream? ›

"I didn't have any sour cream so I added 2 or 3 tablespoons of miracle whip instead. It turned out very tasty.

What can I use if I don't have enough sour cream for a recipe? ›

Mayo is a great sour cream substitute. It can be used as a 1:1 replacement in both baking and dips. You'll lose some of that tang that sour cream offers, but it still does a great job at adding moisture to baked goods.

Why did KFC stop selling coleslaw? ›

The fast food chain was forced to stop selling its coleslaw tubs when a supply issue meant the slaw would have to be served up without the dressing. “We are currently experiencing a supply issue with our KFC coleslaw dressing,” a KFC spokesperson said. The slaw is made up of cabbage and carrots coated in mayonnaise.

Why is KFC coleslaw so good? ›

Finely diced ingredients

Fresh ingredients are key to a good slaw, and KFC does alright for a fast food restaurant. You won't find any wilted cabbage pieces, and the carrots are nice and hard as well.

Why doesn t Chick fil A have coleslaw? ›

"But as our sales volumes grew, it just wasn't feasible to keep adding to the menu without taking anything away." Chick-fil-A cut cole slaw from the menu in January to make room for a new "superfood" side of kale and broccolini in a maple vinaigrette dressing.

Why does coleslaw go bad so quickly? ›

The more cut surface area a food item has, the more moist nooks and crannies there are for bacteria to thrive in. So when looking at a cookout staple like coleslaw, where the cabbage is shredded, there's plenty of opportunity for bacterial growth.

Why does homemade coleslaw go watery? ›

Cabbage contains lots of water. Alton Brown suggests salting the cabbage and letting the water drain for two hours, then rinsing the cabbage and spinning it dry before dressing it. That purges the excess water out of the cabbage before it is dressed, so it doesn't get watery.

Is it better to make coleslaw the day before? ›

Coleslaw has the best texture and flavor the day it's made, but it still keeps well for several days in the fridge. If you're making this coleslaw more than a day ahead, don't skip the salting step above.

Can you substitute apple cider vinegar for white vinegar in coleslaw? ›

If it's just white vinegar I would suggest substituting with apple cider vinegar or an herb-infused vinegar. You could also try lemon juice for the tartness.

Can I use white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar for salad dressing? ›

It's the most versatile vinegar and makes a good substitute for almost any other. Apple cider vinegar substitute: Your best apple cider vinegar 1:1 substitutes are rice wine vinegar, distilled white vinegar, or white wine vinegar.

Is it OK to use white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar? ›

According to Burdeos, if you're going to be using it for cooking, white vinegar can be successfully substituted for apple cider vinegar. Just note that it will taste slightly different and obviously won't have that hint of apple flavor if that's also what you're after.

Should I use apple cider vinegar or white vinegar? ›

While ACV is favored for its health benefits and mild taste, white vinegar is a popular choice for its strong cleaning properties and versatility in cooking. It's recommended to consume 1-2 tablespoons of ACV diluted in water daily for health benefits or take apple cider vinegar capsules or gummies.

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