I have the BEST dairy free coleslaw recipe for you that does NOT use mayo! I know, I know. Mayo-less coleslaw? Is that even a thing? But trust me on this one.
This recipe makes a delicious, fresh, and crunchy coleslaw with none of the added sugar and oils found in packaged mayonnaise. It’s quick and easy to make, is vegan, and can be made nut free, so everyone can enjoy it.
It’s the perfect side dish for a picnic, barbecue, or potluck. And it’s also great to make in advance for weeknight meal prep or packed lunches. If you’re looking for a healthy and easy recipe, this one is sure to please!
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💕 Why You’re Going to Love This Coleslaw Recipe
This Dairy Free Coleslaw Recipe is as versatile as it is delicious. Because the main ingredient is cabbage, it is very hardy and so stores very well. This makes it ideal for meal prepping for the week ahead.
Here are some fast and fabulous meal ideas to give you some inspiration:
- Stir into some extra salad ingredients such as baby spinach leaves, walnuts and chicken to make an instant salad. No added dressing needed!
- Mix in some tuna for a crunchy sandwich filling
- Add on top of a hot baked sweet potato
- Or even use as a side for burgers, grilled meat or falafel
📋 Ingredients
This coleslaw is made with a mixture of red and white cabbage, and a simple dressing, plus the addition of a beautifully tangy granny smith apple.
Red and White Cabbage
Red and white cabbage are the main go-to cabbages for coleslaw. They are crunchy yet tough so are best shaved, grated or sliced thinly to make them easier to eat. This will also help to coat the cabbage with as much flavour as possible. Both red and white cabbage have a slightly peppery taste, however, the white variety is ever so slightly milder.
Granny Smith Apple
The granny smith apple is one of the least sweet apple varieties, so it is great on the candida diet, and it’s tangy sourness also pairs beautifully with the cabbage. A little goes a long way as only one granny smith apple easily adds enough flavour and subtle sweetness for up to 8 servings of coleslaw.
Cashew or Sunflower Cream
This recipe also calls for cashew cream or sunflower cream (I have a recipe for this here), which is what gives the coleslaw a smooth and satisfying flavour to offset the apple, lemon and vinegar in the dressing. If you are in the early stages of your candida diet or you are not able to eat nuts, then sunflower cream is the favoured option.
And as for preparation time, it takes as little or as long you need to grate your cabbage and then assemble the rest of the ingredients, meaning you’ll have a delicious salad ready in only a few minutes!
💫 Substitutions
For a perfect slaw, cabbage is the number one ingredient – but are all cabbages the same?
All cabbages are a great source of nutrients, however, red probably gets the edge in terms of health benefits. This is thanks to the higher level of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
I will use whichever I have on hand at the time, so just adjust according to what you have too.
Using entirely red cabbage will give a more earthy flavour, however, I prefer combining half white, and half red. This is because you get a milder flavour, but can still enjoy the added health benefits and purple hue.
If you prefer an even milder taste still, then you could also substitute the lot for sweetheart cabbage instead.
The only cabbage you should not substitute in coleslaw is savvoy cabbage. This is because the leaves are tougher and thinner making it harder to chew, so these are best when cooked.
This recipe for dairy free coleslaw is a great healthy alternative to the mayo-based version. It's sugar and gluten free, and it's easy to make.
If you try it, let me know what you think in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
🥗 Looking For More Salad Recipes?
Why not try one of the following:
Quick and Easy Baked Chickpea Hummus Salad
Healthy Coronation Chicken Salad (No Mayo)
Crunchy Chickpea Salad With Tahini Dressing
Dairy Free Coleslaw Recipe Without Mayo (vegan)
Ingredients
- 500 g red or white cabbage 300g white and 200g red works well, grated
- 1 granny smith apple grated
- 100 g cashew cream or sunflower cream
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice approx half a small lemon
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley approx one small handful
Instructions
- Using a box grater or shredding attachment in your food processor, grate the cabbage and add to a bowl.
- Grate the apple with the skin on and stir in the lemon juice to coat the grated apple.
- Combine the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
- Although the salad can be eaten immediately, it tastes better if it is left for a couple of hours in the refrigerator, so that the cabbage has time to soak in the flavours.
Notes
Last step! If you make this recipe, will you do me a huge favour and leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review letting me know what you thought? It really helps! Thanks for your support!!
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!