Name: Easy Asian Cabbage Slaw: A Refreshing 15-Minute Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 4 cups thinly shredded green cabbage (about 1/2 medium head); 2 cups thinly shredded red cabbage (about 1/4 medium head); 2 large carrots, freshly shredded (about 1.5 cups); 4-5 scallions, thinly sliced (green and white parts); 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (optional); 1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds or cashews; 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds; 1/2 cup crunchy chow mein noodles (optional); 1/4 cup rice vinegar; 2 tbsp toasted sesame oil; 1 tbsp light vegetable oil (canola or avocado); 2 tbsp tamari or low-sodium soy sauce; 1 tbsp pure maple syrup or honey; 1 tsp freshly grated ginger; 1 clove garlic, finely minced

Jump to Recipe

Are you tired of the same old boring side dishes? Let’s be honest, traditional coleslaw, while classic, can often be a heavy, mayo-laden affair. It’s time to introduce a vibrant, crunchy, and utterly refreshing alternative to your table. This incredible Asian Cabbage Slaw is a game-changer. Packed with a rainbow of fresh vegetables and tossed in an addictive sesame ginger vinaigrette, it delivers an explosion of flavor and texture in every single bite. Best of all, this flavor-packed side dish comes together in just 15 minutes, making it the perfect healthy addition to any weeknight meal or weekend barbecue.

Contents

Ingredients for This Crunchy Slaw
Timing
Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Whisk Together the Sesame Vinaigrette
Step 2: Combine the Fresh Vegetables
Step 3: Dress the Slaw
Step 4: Add the Crunchy Toppings
Step 5: Serve Immediately for Maximum Crunch

Nutritional Information
Healthier Alternatives
Serving Suggestions
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Storing Tips
Conclusion
FAQs

Q1. Can I add a protein to make this a full meal?
Q2. How can I easily shred the cabbage and carrots?
Q3. Can I use a bagged coleslaw mix from the store?
Q4. Is there a good substitute for rice vinegar?

Easy Asian Cabbage Slaw: A Refreshing 15-Minute Recipe

Description
Ingredients

For the Slaw
Crunchy Toppings
Sesame Vinaigrette

Instructions
Notes
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?

Ingredients for This Crunchy Slaw

This recipe uses fresh, simple ingredients to create a salad that is anything but ordinary. The homemade dressing is what truly makes it shine!

Component	Ingredient	Amount/Quantity
For the Slaw	Thinly shredded green cabbage	4 cups (about 1/2 medium head)
	Thinly shredded red cabbage	2 cups (about 1/4 medium head)
	Freshly shredded carrots	2 large (about 1.5 cups)
	Thinly sliced scallions	4-5
	Freshly chopped cilantro (optional)	1/2 cup
	Toasted sliced almonds or cashews	1/4 cup
	Toasted sesame seeds	2 tablespoons
	Crunchy chow mein noodles (optional)	1/2 cup
Sesame Vinaigrette	Rice vinegar	1/4 cup
	Toasted sesame oil	2 tablespoons
	Light vegetable oil (like canola or avocado)	1 tablespoon
	Tamari or low-sodium soy sauce	2 tablespoons
	Pure maple syrup or honey	1 tablespoon
	Freshly grated ginger	1 teaspoon
	Finely minced garlic	1 clove

Timing

Get ready for your new favorite quick recipe! This slaw comes together faster than you can decide what to watch on TV.

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps for the crunchiest, most flavorful slaw you’ve ever made.

Step 1: Whisk Together the Sesame Vinaigrette

Let’s start with the star of the show: the dressing. In a small bowl or a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, vegetable oil, tamari (or soy sauce), maple syrup (or honey), freshly grated ginger, and minced garlic. Whisk these ingredients together vigorously until the dressing is well-combined and emulsified. Tip: Making the dressing in a jar is a great shortcut; just add all the ingredients, seal the lid, and shake it well!

Step 2: Combine the Fresh Vegetables

In your largest salad bowl, combine the shredded green cabbage, shredded red cabbage, shredded carrots, and thinly sliced scallions. If you’re a fan of cilantro, go ahead and toss that in as well. Give the vegetables a gentle toss to distribute all the beautiful colors evenly.

Step 3: Dress the Slaw

This step is all about timing! Just before you are ready to serve, pour your prepared sesame vinaigrette over the cabbage and vegetable mixture. Use a pair of tongs to toss everything together thoroughly, ensuring every single shred of cabbage is coated in the delicious dressing.

Step 4: Add the Crunchy Toppings

To give the slaw its signature crunch, add the toasted almonds (or cashews), toasted sesame seeds, and the optional crunchy chow mein noodles. Give the salad one last gentle toss to incorporate these textural elements without breaking them up too much.

Step 5: Serve Immediately for Maximum Crunch

For the best experience, serve the Asian Cabbage Slaw immediately. This ensures that the cabbage stays crisp, the noodles stay crunchy, and the salad is at its absolute peak of freshness and flavor. Enjoy!

Nutritional Information

Here is an estimated nutritional breakdown per serving (assuming 6 side servings). Please note this is an approximation.

Calories: 180 kcal
Protein: 4 g
Fat: 13 g (Saturated: 1.5 g)
Carbohydrates: 14 g (Fiber: 4 g, Sugar: 7 g)

This slaw is naturally vegan (if using maple syrup) and packed with vitamins A and C from the cabbage and carrots!

Healthier Alternatives

This slaw is already quite healthy, but you can easily adapt it to fit your dietary needs.

Lower Sugar: Use a sugar-free maple syrup alternative or simply reduce the amount of sweetener to your taste.
Nut-Free: For a nut-free version, swap the almonds or cashews for an equal amount of toasted pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds for a similar crunch.
Whole30/Paleo: Use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce, a compliant oil, and omit the sweetener and chow mein noodles.

Serving Suggestions

This versatile Asian Cabbage Slaw is more than just a side dish. Here are a few of our favorite ways to serve it:

The Perfect Side: It’s the perfect vibrant, crunchy side for grilled chicken, salmon, steak, or pulled pork.
Taco Topping: Use it as a topping for fish tacos or carnitas to add a refreshing crunch. 🌮
Potluck Hero: Bring a big bowl of this to your next potluck, picnic, or BBQ. It’s always one of the first things to disappear!
As a Main: Make it a light and healthy main course by adding shredded rotisserie chicken, grilled shrimp, or some crispy tofu.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Keep your slaw perfectly crunchy and delicious by avoiding these simple mistakes.

Dressing the Salad Too Soon: This is the #1 rule of slaw! Adding the vinaigrette too early will draw moisture out of the cabbage, leaving you with a soggy, limp salad. Solution: Always, always dress the slaw immediately before serving.
Forgetting to Toast the Nuts & Seeds: Using raw nuts and seeds is fine, but toasting them unlocks a deep, nutty flavor that adds incredible depth to the salad. Solution: Toast nuts and seeds in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently until fragrant.
Uneven Shredding: Having large, chunky pieces of cabbage can make the slaw difficult to eat. Solution: Use a mandoline slicer (carefully!) or a sharp knife to get consistently thin shreds for the best texture.

Storing Tips

While this slaw is best enjoyed fresh, you can easily prep the components ahead of time for a super-fast assembly.

Make-Ahead Veggies: You can chop and shred all the vegetables (cabbage, carrots, scallions) and store them in a sealed container or zip-top bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Make-Ahead Dressing: The sesame vinaigrette can be made up to a week in advance. Store it in an airtight jar in the refrigerator. It may separate, so just give it a good shake before using.
Leftovers: We do not recommend storing leftover dressed slaw, as it will lose its crunch.

Conclusion

Say goodbye to boring salads and hello to your new go-to side dish! This Easy Asian Cabbage Slaw is the perfect combination of crunchy textures and bold, savory-sweet flavors. It’s healthy, incredibly fast to make, and versatile enough to pair with almost any meal. It’s a recipe that proves that simple, fresh ingredients can come together to create something truly special. We hope this vibrant slaw brightens up your dinner table. Try it out and let us know what you think in the comments below. We love to hear your feedback!

FAQs

Q1. Can I add a protein to make this a full meal?

Absolutely! This slaw is a fantastic base for a main course salad. Shredded rotisserie chicken, grilled shrimp, edamame, or crispy pan-fried tofu would all be excellent protein additions.

Q2. How can I easily shred the cabbage and carrots?

The easiest and fastest way is to use the shredding disc attachment on a food processor. A mandoline slicer also works great for uniform shreds (please use the handguard for safety). If you don’t have either, a sharp chef’s knife will work just fine.

Q3. Can I use a bagged coleslaw mix from the store?

Yes, for a super-fast shortcut, you can use a 14-16 ounce bag of coleslaw mix (usually cabbage and carrots). Just be sure to add the fresh scallions and cilantro to boost the flavor.

Q4. Is there a good substitute for rice vinegar?

If you don’t have rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar or fresh lime juice would be the best substitutes. They will provide a similar tangy acidity to balance the dressing.