Asian Coleslaw with Sesame, Soy & Ginger - Healthy Seasonal Recipes (2024)

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Asian Coleslaw with Sesame, Soy & Ginger - Healthy Seasonal Recipes (1) by Katie Webster
July 10, 2020 (updated 5/15/23)
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I promise this Asian Coleslaw will be your go-to side dish salad this summer. You can whip it up in minutes and the super yummy sesame-flavored dressing turns the crunchy cabbage and carrots into a mouth-watering bite.

Asian Coleslaw with Sesame, Soy & Ginger - Healthy Seasonal Recipes (2)

I originally shared this recipe on February 11, 2014. I have updated the images and some of the text today.

Table of contents

  • Why You’ll Love This Asian Coleslaw with Sesame and Ginger
  • Ingredients For This Asian Coleslaw
  • How To Make Asian Coleslaw
  • FAQs and Expert Tips For Asian Coleslaw
  • More Healthy Coleslaw Recipes

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Why You’ll Love This Asian Coleslaw with Sesame and Ginger

This Asian-inspired coleslaw is mayo-free and made with an oil and vinegar dressing, loosely inspired by my Asian Sesame Dressing. We’ve added crunchy colorful red and green cabbage, a necessity in traditional coleslaw, but we have also added in more colorful crunchy veggies for color, texture and flavor!

Serve it with Maple Teriyaki marinated chicken, Sesame Noodles or pair with our Sweet and Spicy Slow Cooker Short Ribs.

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Ingredients For This Asian Coleslaw

For the Dressing:

  • White vinegar: You can also use cider vinegar learn more about vinegars here.
  • Maple syrup: You can sub in white sugar if you like.
  • Tamari: This is a type of gluten-free soy sauce. If you are following a paleo diet you can use Coconut Aminos instead.
  • Oil: I use a blend of toasted sesame oil, avocado oil and flax seed oil (for a nutritional boost because it is a great source of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids.)
  • Seasoning: You’ll need ginger, salt and pepper. I recommend grating the ginger for the best flavor and so that it blends into the dressing well.

For The Slaw:

  • Cabbage: You can use green, a mix of green and red (or purple) or even savoy or Napa cabbage if you prefer. Here’s how to cut the cabbage for the slaw.
  • Vegetables: These add contrasting color and crunch. Shred the carrots on a box grater, and julienne cut the peppers and radishes. Then simply slice the scallions finely.
  • Toasted sesame seeds: for garnish
Asian Coleslaw with Sesame, Soy & Ginger - Healthy Seasonal Recipes (3)

How To Make Asian Coleslaw

Asian Coleslaw with Sesame, Soy & Ginger - Healthy Seasonal Recipes (4)
Asian Coleslaw with Sesame, Soy & Ginger - Healthy Seasonal Recipes (5)

To make the dressing whisk together the vinegar, maple syrup, ginger, flax oil, avocado oil, toasted sesame oil and salt, pepper and garlic powder.

Once the dressing is made add in the veggies and sesame seeds and toss the coleslaw combine.

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Asian Coleslaw with Sesame, Soy & Ginger - Healthy Seasonal Recipes (6)

FAQs and Expert Tips For Asian Coleslaw

Make Ahead Instructions

  • You can make the dressing ahead. Do so up to a week in advance.
  • The cabbage and other veggies can be cut one day ahead. Keep in a resealable container, or in a bowl covered with plastic wrap.
  • If the oils in the dressing become solid, set the jar in a bowl of warm tap water to warm up to room temperature. Shake the dressing well before pouring over the salad.

Leftovers

This Asian Coleslaw sits well for a picnic or barbecue. Serve with a slotted spoon or tongs as it will get watery in the bottom of the bowl. It can be made up to 8 hours in advance. Leftovers will last up to three days.

What To Serve with this Asian Coleslaw

  • I love these Peanut Noodles. They have plenty of ginger!
  • You could make these Hoisin Glazed Asian Turkey Meatballs and rice for a nice meal.
  • I adore this Maple Tahini Roasted Salmon, and this coleslaw would be a great side dish.
  • This Thai Coconut Lime Grilled Skirt Steak is always very popular and would make a nice compliment to these Asian flavors.
  • Or try it with short grain brown rice and these uber delicious Korean BBQ Meatballs.
Asian Coleslaw with Sesame, Soy & Ginger - Healthy Seasonal Recipes (7)

More Healthy Coleslaw Recipes

We have amassed quite a few coleslaw recipes here at Healthy Seasonal Recipes. Between celebrating the month of May for National Salad Month and making healthy side dishes for summer potlucks, backyard barbecues and picnics, there are too many opportunities to whip up another bowl of coleslaw. We have more than a half dozen slaws here!

Kohlrabi Slaw
Healthy Coleslaw
Mexican Coleslaw
Cucumber and Napa Cabbage Coleslaw
Festive Kale Slaw with Raspberries and Almonds
Easy Holiday Slaw with Apples and Pomegranate
Brussels Sprouts Slaw with Bacon and Blue Cheese
Creamy Blue Cheese and Walnut Coleslaw
Creamy Kohlrabi Slaw with Blue Cheese
Kale and Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

Thanks so much for reading! If you are new here, you may want to sign up for my email newsletter to get a free weekly menu plan and the latest recipes right to your inbox. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought!

Happy Cooking! ~Katie

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Asian Coleslaw with Sesame, Soy & Ginger - Healthy Seasonal Recipes (18)

Asian Coleslaw

★★★★★5 from 11 reviews
  • Author: Katie Webster
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 8 cups 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free
Print Recipe

Description

I promise this Asian Coleslaw will be your go-to side dish salad this summer. You can whip it up in just minutes and the sesame dressing goes well with so many dishes.

Ingredients

UnitsScale

3 tablespoons white vinegar, or cider vinegar

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1 tablespoon reduced-sodium tamari, see **ingredient note

1 tablespoon flax seed oil, see *ingredient note

1 tablespoon avocado oil or organic canola oil

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

1 teaspoon grated ginger (optional)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black or white pepper

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

8 cups finely chopped cabbage

1/2 cup grated carrots

1/2 cup sliced bell peppers

1/4 cup sliced scallions

1/4 cup radishes

1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds

Instructions

  1. Whisk vinegar, maple syrup, tamari, flax oil, avocado oil, sesame oil, ginger, salt, pepper and garlic powder in a large bowl.
  2. Add cabbage, carrots, peppers, scallions, radishes and sesame seeds and toss to coat.

Notes

**Ingredient note: to make this PALEO, substitute coconut aminos for the tamari.
*Ingredient note: Flax seed oil, or FLAX OIL is a great source of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids. Flax oil can be found in the refrigerated section of health food stores and large supermarkets. It is heat sensitive, so don’t cook with it and be sure to store it in the refrigerator. It has a slight nutty/fishy flavor, so it is best when paired with bold flavors like those in this dressing. You can sub avocado oil or organic canola oil for the flax if you don’t have it.

  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: Asian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Calories: 95
  • Sugar: 5 g
  • Sodium: 322 mg
  • Fat: 6 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 10 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 2 g

Keywords: Sesame Coleslaw,Asian Coleslaw

Asian Coleslaw with Sesame, Soy & Ginger - Healthy Seasonal Recipes (19)

About the Author

Katie Webster

Katie Webster studied art and photography at Skidmore College and is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute. She has been a professional recipe developer since 2001 when she first started working in the test kitchen at EatingWell magazine. Her recipes have been featured in numerous magazines including Shape, Fitness, Parents and several Edible Communities publications among others. Her cookbook, Maple {Quirk Books} was published in 2015. She launched Healthy Seasonal Recipes in 2009. She lives in Vermont with her husband, two teenage daughters and two yellow labs. In her free time, you can find her at the gym, cooking, stacking firewood, making maple syrup, and tending to her overgrown perennial garden.

More About Katie »

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38 comments on “Asian Coleslaw”

  1. Fae September 5, 2023 @ 6:37 pm Reply

    Hey Katie, wanna try this coleslaw recipe. Not sure what tamari is. Is there a substitute for it that would work? Thx

    • Katie Webster September 6, 2023 @ 6:33 am Reply

      It is similar to soy sauce but made without wheat. If you don’t have it soy sauce works the same way/ use 1:1 ratio as a swap.

  2. Jeannie August 31, 2023 @ 9:06 am Reply

    I must make this, always LOVE the napa in chinese dishes,etc. when we dine.

    So looking at the size of them in the store, how to keep onehalf (ventilated,non ventilated) in the fridg and how long it will keep?

    Safely a week between using half each time?

    • Jeannie September 2, 2023 @ 7:12 am Reply

      never mind, found the info elsewhere

  3. Kristine S April 23, 2023 @ 7:30 am Reply

    This is so delicious! I had 24-26 cups of cabbage, so I increased everything else. I added three jalapeños, chopped as well and I would add more if you like them. I never eat radishes, so they are a delicious addition. I sliced the cabbage on thin with the food processor. And the carrots are so much nicer grated rather than sliced or chopped. I think I will try with a peanut dressing, served on the side as some have allergies to nuts. Right now I am eating the leftovers for breakfast. ☺️

    • Katie Webster April 25, 2023 @ 7:13 am Reply

      I love the fact that you are eating the leftovers for breakfast. That is a true testament. Haha! Thank you for coming back by to rate and review. I appreciate that so much!

  4. Julie Guggenbiller July 29, 2020 @ 9:32 pm Reply

    Stellar!! I can’t believe how delicious this is! It’s a keeper!

  5. Virginia Smith July 16, 2020 @ 2:33 pm Reply

    As always with Katie, I learn far more than how to make a dish: this one a great coleslaw that even little grandchildren will enjoy. Readers learn about different oils and vinegars and their uses. If I had wanted to investigate the cutting of cabbage heads, I could have done that as well. Healthy Seasonal Recipes is a favorite for this cook with gluten intolerance, Crohn’s Disease, and a diabetic husband. I’ll be making this coleslaw again many times.

    • Katie July 20, 2020 @ 6:37 am Reply

      Hi virgina. Thank you so much for your kind words! I appreciate it and I am thrilled you like this Asian slaw so much! Yippee!

  6. Marcene Austin July 13, 2020 @ 10:41 am Reply

    We were getting our menus and foods ready for camping. I had seen this recipe and decided it would be an excellent dish to make and take with us. It looked so good that my husband wanted to try it for dinner. Welllll…..we each had two healthy-sized servings! The salad sat in the fridge for a couple of hours. The veggies were all tender-crisp and the flavors had married. This recipe will be a keeper! What a perfect, healthy, rainbow-colored dish to take to potlucks! Thanks for sharing…

  7. Toni July 11, 2020 @ 7:27 am Reply

    This is such an amazing coleslaw recipe!! My family loved it!

  8. Lauren k July 10, 2020 @ 2:03 pm Reply

    Not only delicious but this has such a gorgeous presentation!

  9. Beth July 10, 2020 @ 1:37 pm Reply

    This is so delicious and tasty! I can’t wait to make this again!

  10. Toni March 17, 2020 @ 9:30 am Reply

    I love it! Really refreshing and easy to make!

Asian Coleslaw with Sesame, Soy & Ginger - Healthy Seasonal Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is coleslaw healthy or unhealthy Why? ›

Yes, coleslaw can be healthy! The base of coleslaw is shredded vegetables (traditionally cabbage), so inherently coleslaw is vitamin- and fiber-packed and good for you. The issue is the dressing. Most traditional creamy coleslaw dressing is made with high fat ingredients like mayo and has sugar added too.

Is supermarket coleslaw healthy? ›

Avoid store-bought coleslaw mixes, as they often contain preservatives and added sugars. When making coleslaw at home, use fresh and healthy ingredients like those mentioned above. Adding fruits and vegetables will give the coleslaw extra nutrients.

Why is it called coleslaw and not cold slaw? ›

However cold your coleslaw may be, you are wise to spell it coleslaw. The word comes from a Dutch word (koolsla) that combines the Dutch words kool, meaning "cabbage," and sla, meaning "salad." Etymology is the main course.

Why is coleslaw better the next day? ›

Freshly made coleslaw is at its crunchiest, creamiest best if eaten on the day it's made. The longer it sits, either on a picnic table or in the refrigerator overnight, the more liquid is released from the shredded cabbage, which can make the salad soggy.

Is coleslaw OK for weight loss? ›

And keep in mind that this high-fat side is also typically served alongside already high-calorie foods like fried chicken or seafood. Yes. Coleslaw can absolutely be part of a healthy eating plan as long as you choose your dressing carefully.

When should you not eat coleslaw? ›

In the U.S., most coleslaw recipes call for Greek yogurt, mayo, sour cream, and other foods with a short shelf life. For this reason, coleslaw should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator and served within three to five days.

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? ›

KFC's coleslaw stands out because of its sweet and tangy dressing, but the slaw's texture is what makes it one of a kind. The very finely chopped cabbage and carrots are a stark contrast to the typical stringy shredded veggies found in bagged coleslaw mix.

Which is healthier potato salad or coleslaw? ›

While you're likely to put both these items on your picnic or barbecue plate in Bermuda, coleslaw is the better option. “Coleslaw is lower in fat and lower in sodium and has natural vegetables,” said Hannah Simpson, Clinical Dietitian at KEMH.

What country invented coleslaw? ›

The dish was initially created in the Netherlands. In fact, the term coleslaw originates from the Dutch expression koosla, which means “cabbage salad.” Recipes similar to coleslaw have been found and used in American homes from as early as 1770.

What's the difference between cabbage slaw and coleslaw? ›

Or coleslaws — what's the difference? Really nothing. Technically, coleslaw involves cabbage, whether green, red or napa, while the category of slaws can include all kinds of chopped or shredded crunchy vegetables. The two words are used interchangeably for the most part however.

What is the difference Cole slaw 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.

What is the food poisoning in coleslaw? ›

Listeria is a foodborne illness caused by bacteria that is able to grow at refrigeration temperatures. Outbreaks in recent years have been linked to contaminated coleslaw, milk, and cheese. Listeria is caused by bacteria frequently found in soil, water and plant matter.

Why do you soak shredded cabbage in water? ›

Crisp it up: Shredded cabbage stays perky if it's soaked in cold water.

What is KFC's coleslaw made of? ›

KFC coleslaw is a sweet and tangy side dish made with shredded cabbage and carrots, coated in a creamy dressing. The dressing is made with a blend of mayonnaise, buttermilk, vinegar, sugar, and spices, which gives it its distinctive flavor. The cabbage is finely chopped, so it has a crisp and refreshing texture.

Is cabbage in coleslaw good for you? ›

Including this epic healthy coleslaw recipe. Both red and green cabbages help promote a healthy gut (which is what we're all about these days), fight inflammation, boost your immunity, and contain plenty of nutrients your body needs.

Why is coleslaw so high in calories? ›

Coleslaw

It's a salad, right, so it must be healthy? But even though it's based on carrot and cabbage, coleslaw is dressed in a mayonnaise based dressing which is high in fat. Check the nutrition information on pack and look out for reduced fat and yogurt dressed versions instead.

Is mayonnaise good or bad for health? ›

Consuming mayonnaise in excess can increase the risk of heart disease. About 1.6 grams of saturated fat is found in one tablespoon of mayonnaise. In this case, if you eat more mayonnaise, it can increase cholesterol. High cholesterol in the body increases the risk of heart disease.

Is coleslaw bad for your gut? ›

The high fiber content in cabbage and other vegetables can aid in regulating bowel movements and preventing constipation. Additionally, the probiotics found in fermented versions of cole slaw, such as sauerkraut, can promote the growth of healthy gut bacteria and improve overall gut health.

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