Name: Veggie Slaw Formula
Prep time: 10 min
Ingredients: 2 cups shredded veggies (cabbage, kale, coleslaw mix, carrots, grated broccoli stems); 1 tbsp creamy ingredient (mayo, olive oil, tahini, yogurt, or pre-made dressing of choice); 2 tbsp acidic ingredient (fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice, apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, or red wine vinegar); 2 tbsp nuts or seeds (sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sliced almonds, crushed peanuts, cashew pieces, sesame seeds); 1/2 cup fresh chopped fruit (apples, mango, peach, berries); 1/4 cup dried fruit (cranberries, raisins); 1 tsp sweetener of choice (honey, agave, maple syrup, etc.); 1 cup chopped cilantro or parsley; pinch of salt and pepper (to taste); dab of Dijon mustard (to taste); pinch of celery seeds (to taste); pinch of cumin (to taste); 1 garlic clove (minced finely or pressed)

I’m a texture girl, and I am obsessed with slaws. The crunch, the tang, the infinite variations and pairings… I just can’t get enough. At some point in my slaw eating career, I started to notice that all my favorite slaws followed a similar formula. Veggies, fat, tang, sweet, and crunch. Sure enough, there’s a simple, flexible way to think about tasty veggie slaw that is great for using whatever you have on hand. So without further ado, here is a general template for slawin’ it up all year long.

Formula for a Great Veggie Slaw:

Veggies + Creamy Ingredient + Tangy Ingredient + Crunch + Sweetness + Seasonings

Tips for a Great Slaw:

With the shredded veggies, the thinner sliced the better, to soak up all that yummy dressing and also because nobody likes a giant piece of raw cabbage in their mouth. You can slice your veggies thinly with a knife, or you can use a mandolin or slicing attachment of a food processor. Or, just buy pre-shredded cabbage or bagged coleslaw mix!
Don’t skip the aromatics. Fresh herbs make allllll the difference in a slaw. My go-to’s are cilantro and parsley.
For an extra delicious crunch, toast the nuts or seeds before adding them by tossing them in a dry pan over medium heat for a few minutes. This makes them super fragrant, delicious, and extra crunchy!

What to Eat With Your Slaw

My favorite slaw pairing is anything with barbecue sauce. I just LOVE the combination of bright and crunchy with sweet and smoky. YUM. It’s like a summer picnic in your mouth. I recommend my Vegan Baked Beans, Easy BBQ Tempeh, or just some chickpeas or white beans simmered for a few minutes in BBQ sauce. If you really want to go all out, pair your slaw with a delicious potato salad. Veggie slaw also makes a wonderful side dish for a heavier meal that is lacking in veggies, such as Easy Cheesy Vegan Noodles.

Fun Dressing Ideas:

Try these dressings out for a slightly different flavor direction:

Want a recipe to follow instead of a formula?

Sometimes you just don’t want to have to make decisions. Here are my go-to slaw recipes:

I love seeing what you do with these recipe templates! If you make a version of this veggie slaw formula, tag me in your meal pics on Instagram @katiesconsciouskitchen, or join my free private facebook group to inspire others!

Veggie Slaw Formula

A simple, delicious veggie slaw template for using whatever you have on hand.

5 from 1 vote

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Active Time: 10 minutes

Servings 4

Ingredients

Shredded Veggies

2 cups shredded veggies, cabbage, kale, coleslaw mix, carrots, grated broccoli stems

Creamy Ingredient

1 tbsp creamy ingredient, mayo, olive oil, tahini, yogurt, or pre-made dressing of choice

Tangy Ingredient

2 tbsp acidic ingredient, fresh squeezed lemon or lime juice, apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, or red wine vinegar

Crunchy Ingredient

2 tbsp nuts or seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sliced almonds, crushed peanuts, cashew pieces, sesame seeds

Sweet Ingredient (Choose One)

1/2 cup fresh chopped fruit, apples, mango, peach, berries
1/4 cup dried fruit, cranberries, raisins
1 tsp sweetener of choice, honey, agave, maple syrup, etc.

Aromatic Fresh Herbs

1 cup chopped cilantro or parsley

Seasonings (Choose a Few, To Taste)

pinch of salt and pepper, to taste
dab of Dijon mustard, to taste
pinch of celery seeds, to taste
pinch of cumin, to taste
1 garlic clove, minced finely or pressed

Instructions

First mix together the creamy ingredient and tangy ingredient in a cup with a fork to make a dressing (e.g. mayo and vinegar or oil and lemon juice). Stir in your seasonings of choice, and liquid sweetener if using.
Pour the dressing over the veggies and mix well with your hands or tongs. Gently toss in the chopped herbs, nuts or seeds, and the fruit (if using).
Taste and adjust seasonings and ingredients to taste. Add vinegar or lemon juice for more brightness and tang, and salt to enhance flavor.
Keeps well in the fridge for a day or two. Be creative! There are no slaw rules!

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