No Mayo Coleslaw

This No Mayo Coleslaw recipe is light and creamy, sweet and tangy, and vegan, too. It's super simple, and using a pre-shredded cabbage mix brings the whole thing together in just 5 minutes. Pile it on BBQ sandwiches and serve alongside all your summer meals!

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Everyone needs a basic coleslaw in their repertoire. Here's yours!

Easy, creamy, and totally plant based. Very low calorie and fat, thanks to substituting the mayo, and absolutely perfect for BBQs, cookouts, tacos, fish dinners, or really just any old weeknight. Use No Mayo Coleslaw to top Shredded Tofu BBQ Sandwiches, or Refried Beans Tacos.

Heart Health Benefits of No Mayo Coleslaw

Our heart healthy ingredients in this slaw come together to be overall low calorie, and regularly including recipes like this in your diet can help lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol, improve blood sugar control, and reduce inflammation.

Macronutrients

A hearty one cup serving of this no mayo coleslaw is a great option for heart health and weight management. Only 44 calories per serving, it's also very low in total fat and saturated fat, as well as total carbohydrates and sodium. Technically also low in fiber, it still contributes over a gram of fiber, helping you to reach your daily requirements.

Micronutrients and Bioactive Components

Bioactive compounds are substances that have effects within the body that promote good health. Here are some of the most abundant bioactive compounds in this coleslaw:

• Glucosinolates - (in cabbage) a sulfur-containing phytochemical found almost exclusively in cruciferous vegetables that is considered a potent anticancer agent, as well as anti inflammatory (1, 2);
• Vitamin C - (in cabbage) an important antioxidant that can regenerate other antioxidants in the body. It also plays a vital role in wound healing and collagen synthesis, as well as immune function (3);
• β- and α-carotene - (in carrots) these carotenoids can help improve cardiovascular risk factors and increase circulating antioxidants (4, 5); and
• Acetic acid - (in apple cider vinegar) can lower total cholesterol, fasting glucose, and HbA1c, especially in people with type 2 diabetes (6, 7).

Ingredients

Here is what you'll need for this recipe, along with some applicable substitutions and notes.

• Shredded coleslaw veggies - pre-shredded veggies are great for this or you can do it yourself if you prefer
• Cashew yogurt - unsweetened, plain cashew yogurt is needed for this, or any plain, unsweetened nondairy yogurt alternative you like
• Apple cider vinegar - or red wine vinegar
• Dijon mustard
• Maple syrup - 100% pure maple syrup is what you want
• Spices - black pepper, celery seed, onion powder, and garlic powder
• Salt is optional, and not pictured. I found it wasn't needed for my tastes, but you can add a little if needed.

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Making this coleslaw recipe really couldn't be easier! Here's how.

1. Step 1: Measure all the dressing ingredients into a small bowl.

2. Step 2: Mix the dressing ingredients until they are completely combined.

Variations

Try these variations on this easy, creamy, no mayo coleslaw!

• Sweet coleslaw - add a shredded apple into the coleslaw. You can also double the amount of maple syrup you use in the dressing, but know this is added sugar, and should be counted as such
• Spicy coleslaw - add a thinly sliced/shredded or chopped jalapeño pepper in with the shredded cabbage, or add ¼ - ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper into the dressing, adjusting to your taste
• Smoky coleslaw - add a little smoked paprika or a drop of liquid smoke into the dressing for a bit of smoky flavor
• Ranch coleslaw - omit the mustard and spices, and use ½ - 1 tablespoon Ranch Seasoning in the dressing. Add more or less to your tastes.

See this Red Cabbage Vinegar Slaw for a non-creamy coleslaw version!

Equipment

No special equipment is needed for this recipe! Isn't it great when that happens?!

Storage

Store the coleslaw in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Do not freeze.

Food safety

Safety is our top priority in the kitchen! Always keep these tips in mind.

• Wash hands before touching food, and after touching raw meat, your hair, face, pets, etc.
• Thoroughly wash all produce before cutting and using in this recipe
• Use cutting boards and knives that are thoroughly washed and sanitized, especially if they have been used for raw meat before
• Keep this vegan creamy coleslaw cold at all times, and discard if out of refrigeration longer than 2 hours (or 1 hour in hot weather)

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.