We had a bunch of cabbage come out of the backyard this 12 months. I principally made one factor with it, a feathery slaw constructed from shredded inexperienced and crimson cabbages, apples, carrots, and scallions tossed with a spicy sesame dressing. Arms down, it’s my favourite coleslaw recipe. Should you’ve ever had asparagus or spinach goma-ae at a Japanese restaurant you’ll acknowledge the inspiration for the dressing. Toss all of it collectively, and also you’ve bought an awesome slaw in your fingers. It’s good by itself. This slaw is incredible on tacos and good as a facet to soba noodles. I’ve even thrown a couple of massive scoops in a bowl of quick pasta with a couple of chickpeas and known as it lunch. Prep an enormous bowl and luxuriate in it for days.
The Key to a Nice Coleslaw
I’m humorous about how I like my coleslaw, and it’s all about knife abilities. I talked about it at size once I posted this Lime & Blistered Peanut Coleslaw years again, and it applies right here as nicely. The cabbage ought to be chopped skinny, whisper skinny. I like every chew to be feathery versus coarse or chunky. My feeling that an awesome coleslaw recipe is created with good knife abilities and a brief checklist of easy-to-find components stands all these years later. Equal significance is positioned on the components and the minimize of the cabbage.
Does Coleslaw Comprise Dairy?
It doesn’t need to, however it will possibly. This one doesn’t and I adore it. The truth is, it’s most likely apparent, however this isn’t a tackle a basic coleslaw recipe. In these recipes you would possibly see spices and accents like celery seed, Dijon mustard, grated onion or apple cider vinegar. Some slaws use mayo because the creamy base. After which, in lots of non-mayo slaws you’ll see Greek yogurt swapped in. Contrastingly, this recipe I wish to makes use of citrus juice for acidity. The sesame dressing is superbly creamy with out dairy or mayo, and a rainbow of shredded crunchy components makes issues lovely.
Spicy Sesame Coleslaw Dressing
The bottom of this coleslaw is fairly easy – cabbage, scallions, carrots, cilantro, and apple. However the dressing is the place issues get fascinating right here. The dressing is creamy sesame deliciousness accented with a jolt of sriracha (or no matter spicy part you want), and a balancing squeeze of contemporary lime juice. The dressing coats all of the slaw components and brings it collectively right into a creamy coleslaw dressing with out mayonnaise. 
There are a couple of methods to grind the sesame seeds on this dressing. I have a tendency to make use of my suribachi, a ridged Japanese grinding bowl. You can too have at it in a standard mortar and pestle, or a couple of pulses in a meals processor (or blender) may even do the trick. You may have choices!
Right here’s the way it appears because the dressing comes collectively, it’s creamy, taste wealthy, and the proper consistency to coat your slaw. You can also make it as spicy (or not) as you want. Additionally, professional tip right here, I at all times make double the dressing and use it all through the week. 
Getting ready Spicy Sesame Coleslaw Substances
Above you may see the slaw components previous to dressing. Other than slicing the apple, you may put together the entire components and the (sesame coleslaw dressing) a day or two earlier than serving. I like to provide the sliced apple a shower in lemon or lime juice simply earlier than tossing to maintain them from discoloring. You’ll see that within the recipe directions so heads up on that entrance. You will get a soar begin on the remainder of the shredding and chopping forward of time. 
Extra Concepts
I wished to focus on a couple of of the methods I’ve loved this coleslaw in earlier weeks. I actually put in on, in, or underneath every part round right here and it’s a bit uncontrolled. The apples and carrots deliver a little bit of candy, good to counterbalance with one thing spicy. You may see tofu marinating up above, I wish to take that and prepare dinner it rapidly in a skillet. Serve the tofu over the coleslaw with a facet of soba noodles. A number of the time I’ve some tofu marinating, so when I’ve this coleslaw within the fridge, boiling some soba turns this right into a tasty ten minute meal – see picture under.
Coleslaw and Tacos
Right here’s the opposite means I wish to benefit from the spicy sesame coleslaw on repeat. You see it pictured under. It’s a taco state of affairs. That marinated tofu up above? I deal with it “fish taco-style” the place it’s dusted with a little bit of cornstarch after which pan-fried till it will get a crispy crust. Right here’s how the taco is assembled. Apply a skinny layer of smashed avocado on a tortilla. Add a layer of well-cooked tempeh bacon (Wayne buys the Lightlife Smoky Tempeh Bacon), after which a few of the cooked tofu. Brown the (crammed) tortilla on each side till golden. Instantly fill with a lot of coleslaw. I like slightly further inexperienced salsa as nicely. That is my favourite lunch proper now! Get the Vegan Fish Tacos recipe.
Right here’s another view of the taco + coleslaw state of affairs from a barely completely different angle so you may actually get a way of what’s taking place inside. My foremost recommendation is don’t skip on the coleslaw. I actually load it up.
Coleslaw Recipe Shortcuts
I’m going to complete with a couple of shortcut solutions right here. As I point out up above you are able to do a lot of the prep for this recipe at any time when you may have a second or two. I sometimes make a double batch of the dressing so it’s prepared within the fridge for me. Then all you want to do is a little bit of chopping, grating, or shredding, and also you’re good to go. I like handy minimize the cabbages right here, so it’s simply to my liking, however past that you’ve got choices. You probably have a grating attachment to your meals processor, you should utilize that for the carrots, apples, and scallions. It undoubtedly makes fast work issues. Alternately you should utilize the massive facet of a field grater for the carrots and apples. I sometimes use a knife for every part (to keep away from extra dishes lol), however go along with no matter you want.
Wrapping issues up, it is a incredible slaw for on a regular basis meals or to take to a bbq. You may see it right here as a part of this publish about feel-good lunch concepts. Selfmade coleslaw is a deal with but when this isn’t your fairly what you’re after, browse these different salad recipes, or do that Lime & Blistered Peanut Coleslaw, or this excellent Cucumber Salad, or this Shredded Egg Salad.
Proceed studying Spicy Sesame Coleslaw on 101 Cookbooks
